Actual WashPost headline today, p. A2: "Jon Stewart, Enemy of Democracy?"

[Newsjock]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201474.html

By Richard Morin
Friday, June 23, 2006; Page A02

This is not funny: Jon Stewart and his hit Comedy Central cable show may be poisoning democracy.

Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart's faux news program, "The Daily Show," develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.

That's particularly dismaying news because the show is hugely popular among college students, many of whom already don't bother to cast ballots.

... To test for a "Daily Effect," Baumgartner and Morris showed video clips of coverage of the 2004 presidential candidates to one group of college students and campaign coverage from "The CBS Evening News" to another group. Then they measured the students' attitudes toward politics, President Bush and the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.).

The results showed that the participants rated both candidates more negatively after watching Stewart's program. Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media, according to the researchers' article, in the latest issue of American Politics Research.

more

[depakid]

1. Richard Morin....

One of Pravda's lead propagandists.

[snooper2]

10. he is stupid POS

You should read his next piece on racist Democrats....

[depakid]

58. He's well known for manipulating polling

and using the "data" to further far right causes.

The man has zero credibility- just like the newspaper he works for.

[Clark2008]

17. He needs to change his name to Richard MORAN

Geesch. :crazy:

[Cha]

61. Get a brain,

morin!

[EVDebs]

19. Morin's name is misspelled; shouldn't there be an 'O' where the 'I' is ?

[Clark2008]

26. As I said... only in the Freeper vernacular... MORAN

:hi:

[agio]

2. I dunno, distrust and cynicism...

... can be bad, but they can also be healthy.

TDSWJS definitely instills a healthy disrespect for the so-called "journalism" on American TV. That can't be a bad thing.

[wryter2000]

6. Welcome to DU

:hi:

Over here, we all call it TDS. You can save yourself some typing. :)

[agio]

35. thanks

I feel welcome, and I'm happy to save the keystrokes. :D

[wryter2000]

3. Hooo boy

Material for Stewart and Colbert in here.

I wonder if this asshole studied the effect of listening to White House lies.

[saltpoint]

4. Jon Stewart is the lead mastermind in the War Against Boredom.

[Mr_Spock]

5. What an effing maroooon

:eyes:

[Epiphany4z]

7. If this was true

Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart's faux news program, "The Daily Show," develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.



REPUBLICANS WOULD LOVE HIM

[Terran1212]

8. Maybe they'll realize their Democracy isn't theirs?

That it is owned by a bunch of old white men, very powerful ones, in fact.

But if they tune in and watch all the time, well they must at least care about the issues at hand.

Maybe the best case scenario will take place: they'll enter politics with something new and fresh that isn't the crap they see every day on the television.

[the other one]

9. Its a comedy show for fark sake

If the "legitimate" news media did its job and actually informed people, then Jon Stewart wouldn't have much to work with. But if the "legitimate" news media did their job we would have had a revolution by now. Jon Stewart tells the truth (albeit in a comedy context) and the truth is what is discouraging.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. TDS watchers were the MOST INFORMED leading up to elec

2004. Faux watchers were the least informed and on many topics misinformed.

Faux News is the enemy of Democracy.

I'm series. ;-)

[Clark2008]

24. Hey - do you have the links to those figures?

I'd love to email them to Mr. MORAN there.

[Mandate My Ass]

34. this moran guy is full of shit

PHILADELPHIA -- Viewers of late-night comedy programs, especially The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the cable channel Comedy Central, are more likely to know the issue positions and backgrounds of presidential candidates than people who do not watch late-night comedy, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows.

Polling conducted between July 15 and Sept. 19 among 19,013 adults showed that on a six-item political knowledge test people who did not watch any late-night comedy programs in the past week answered 2.62 items correctly, while viewers of Late Night with David Letterman on CBS answered 2.91, viewers of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno answered 2.95, and viewers of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart answered 3.59 items correctly. That meant there was a difference of 16 percentage points between Daily Show viewers and people who did not watch any late-night programming....

But when looking at young people who watch The Daily Show, we find they score higher on campaign knowledge than young people who do not watch the show, even when education, following politics, party identification, gender, viewing network news, reading the newspaper, watching cable news and getting campaign information on-line are taken into account.”

The Annenberg survey found that people who watch The Daily Show are more interested in the presidential campaign, more educated, younger, and more liberal than the average American or than Leno or Letterman viewers.

http://www.business-journal.com/NoJokeDailyShowViewersKnowIssues.asp

This asshat is trying to kill two birds with one stone. He's slamming Stewart and he's trying to shore up the lie the MSM told in 2004 that young people didn't come to the polls. They did, in droves, and extactly these types of kids were the ones recruiting others to do so too.

[spag68]

46. Rupert Murdock

[kaygore]

12. In these times, cynicism is healthy

Both sides of Congress have sold out as have the media. The executive branch of the government is so corrupt that nothing they do should faze us anymore. Their arrogance is amazing. The judicial branch is now stocked with judges who are anti anything that is good for the public in general. And the Supreme Court smells like week old fish left out in the sun.

What the Daily Show illuminates is how those greedy for wealth and power have sold their souls and the future of the United States for 8 pieces of silver.

[EVDebs]

22. No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up.

http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Lily_Tomlin/

[halobeam]

13. Beware, oh the big bad truth brings people down.... ugh.

"Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media" ....

well then, wouldn't that be a "reality check" since the electoral system and news media are ACTUALLY "**cked up"! Hmmm that would make them "question things" and we wouldn't want THAT, now would we.

idiOTS!!

[burythehatchet]

14. My note to Mr. Morin

Mr. Morin -
Jon Stewart presents more REAL news to a starving public than the white house talking points that you and your peers regurgitate upon the American public. If I had one source of news in the world I would choose The Daily Show. The Washington Post would be near the bottom on that list next to the NYTimes and Faux News.

[William Seger]

41. Ditto.

I lived in the DC area in 60s and 70s when the Post was considered to be a bastion of journalism and one of the finest papers in the country. Anything resembling journalism at the Post these days seems to be an accident that slipped past the editors. They should be embarrassed by how far they have fallen, but clearly they are not.

[ccpup]

15. I don't know

where we can find it, but wasn't there a poll done in the last couple of years that found Fox viewers to be the most misinformed? We should find it and send it to the incurious asswipe who wrote this regurgitated piece of propaganda drivel. (nah, I ain't angry) :grr:

On second thought, if they're trying to take down Stewart this way, then they must be afraid his show might affect young people's views of Republican politicians. :woohoo:

[ThomWV]

16. Boy, did that asswipe miss the point or what?

They had less respect for Bush? They had less respect for Kerry?

Well? Who doesn't?

That doesn't mean they are less likely to vote, it just means that they would be less likely to vote for Bush or Kerry.

[Radical Activist]

31. "Washington Post: Enemy of Reality?"

The article only proves that the corporate media dutifully promotes the process like good establishment lackeys while the Daily Show presents the reality that makes young people cynical. If one of the candidates promoted a student loan forgiveness plan instead of talking about social security and prescription drugs for seniors every day, I suspect the results would be different.

[dogday]

18. Read Page 2 of this article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201474_2.html

Democrats and independents were far more generous; on average, they gave Katrina victims on average more than $1,500 a month, compared with $1,200 for Republicans, and for 13 months instead of nine.

But for Democrats, race mattered -- and in a disturbing way. Overall, Democrats were willing to give whites about $1,500 more than they chose to give to a black or other minority. (Even with this race penalty, Democrats still were willing to give more to blacks than those principled Republicans.) "Republicans are likely to be more stringent, both in terms of money and time, Iyengar said. "However, their position is 'principled' in the sense that it stems from a strong belief in individualism (as opposed to handouts). Thus their responses to the assistance questions are relatively invariant across the different media conditions. Independents and Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely to be affected by racial cues."

To test the effects of race, participants in the study were asked to read a news article about Katrina victims. Some read a story featuring a white person. Some read identical stories -- except the victim was black, Asian or Hispanic. Then they were asked how much assistance they think the government should give to help hurricane victims. Approximately 2,300 people participated in the study.

Iyengar said he's not surprised by the latest findings: "This pattern of results matches perfectly an earlier study I did on race and crime" with Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. of UCLA. "Republicans supported tough treatment of criminals no matter what they encountered in the news. Others were more elastic in their position, coming to support more harsh measures when the criminal suspect they encountered was non-white."


This is a smear piece on Democrats... Another Freaked Up Article by WaPo....

[Sequoia]

37. Really true, and what does this so-called "study" have to do with TDS?

I've personally found Repubs to be avid racists.

[dogday]

50. Nothing really, just another way WaPo

smears us any way they can...

[Marr]

38. Republican racism=principles... Democratic principles=racism

Jesus Christ- it must be easy as hell to get an op-ed spot if you're a conservative. These idiots can't be consistent for two straight paragraphs.

[dogday]

51. It's a load of crap

a steaming load.. That's new one for them isn't it.. Now they are going to say we are racist on the basis of some crappy survey we don't know crap about....

[crikkett]

48. oh, barf!!! They print this crap?

(sparing everyone the smilie, which I personally could live without)

[dogday]

49. This was just another way to get in

their smears on the Democrats.. We have been called many things but racists? That is a new one...

[AValdoux]

20. Oh so he undermines democracy...

...with the truth? Maybe the decline in voting has to do with the quality of candidates and the way campaigning has devolved into photo ops & bumper sticker issues. The MSM has nothing to do with that. It is Jon Stewart's fault.


AValdoux

[rock]

21. that could lead them to just say no to voting

Could I say, at least some of them that is, maybe, sometimes, or not. Well, it is a long shot with a limb in the way. Could the pundits get any more mealy-mouthed?

[Radical Activist]

23. Reality and ugly Republican tactics make people cynical.

Its not John Stewart's fault for showing reality in a way that the Washington Post will not.

[me b zola]

25. Well,

"The results showed that the participants rated both candidates more negatively after watching Stewart's program. Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media, according to the researchers' article, in the latest issue of American Politics Research."


IOW, when someone exposes the lies, manipulation, and insanity from the current political process and complicity of the media in that process to a group of people, that group of people are then less trusting of the people doing the lying, manipulation--including the media. And the knucklehead who wrote this article believes that threatens democracy? :crazy:

[Ganja Ninja]

27. Listen to the asshat call the kettle black.

"Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media,"

Or you could say they were wising up.

[Neurotica]

28. What's the background of the researchers?

I'm curious about their biases.

With respect to the Post, the title of the article and the first paragraph are purely sensational. I don't care if it's not a straight news article -- this is unacceptable.

[SteppingRazor]

29. I sent this to Mr. Morin...

Isn't complaining about Stewart's lampooning of politicians an exercise in shooting the messenger? The problem is not that Stewart says politicians are corrupt liars and the journalists who cover them are utterly credulous.

The problem is that politicians are, in fact, corrupt and the journalists who cover them are, in fact, woefully inadequate in their coverage.

The fact that people who watched the CBS News came away with a more-positive outlook about U.S. politics means nothing if that positive outlook is unwarranted.

I grant you that voter cynicism may lead to voter apathy, but I don't think Stewart is to blame. I think the politicians who give him seemingly endless reams of material are at fault.

[Faux pas]

30. To me, Stewart is the thinking man's comic. If he is popular

among college students, all I can say is I'm glad to know they are actually THINKING.

[William Seger]

32. If you aren't "cynical" about politics today..

... then you are simply not well informed. Richard Morin is just another manure-spreading enemy of democracy.

[Marr]

33. A conservative who's concerned about low voter turnout. Riiiight.

There's a first. And of course, his solution is to get rid of one the only television shows that presents uncomfortable facts.

[Roland99]

36. Sounds like Stewart's a BOON to democracy!

Informed voters will force candidates to stop spewing BS rhetoric and hyperbole and focus on details and honesty.

[Hubert Flottz]

39. Richard Moran can't even spell his name!

And he forgot to add the numbers on the group of college students they put in a plywood box...

[Old and In the Way]

40. Clue for Mr. Morin.... Clue for Mr. Morin.....Clue for Mr. Morin

The enemy of Democracy are the people who steal elections. That's what makes us cynical. Your "shoot the messenger" screed adds to that cynicism.

[slor]

42. Yup, Stewart is the threat to democracy that I worry...

about. Not diebold, or the new fascist govt we have. Damn You Daily Show!


PS. Someone send the link to Jon, I want to see The Daily Show respond, as only they can.

[demnan]

43. Everything here is true

but Jon Stewart is not to blame. He merely informs his audience what is going on in the world. The students are cynical because they know the political process is a crock of shit in this country now.

The title should read, "Jon Stewart, the enemy of the illusion of Democracy".

[spag68]

44. cnyical views on politics?????

I had cnyical views on politics since before Jon was born. Did everyone forget Joe McCarthy or any of the southern "dems" of that era?

[Fleshdancer]

45. Here's hoping that TDS picks up this nonsense and runs with it Mon. night!

:rofl:

This is just too ridiculous for words

[Triana]

47. what they mean is that young people might just say no to voting...

REPUBLICAN.

And that is a GOOD thing.

[Toucano]

52. Bullshit research.

I wonder who funded Baumgartner and Morris?

[Beelzebud]

53. Politicians deserve nothing less than what the Daily Show gives.

Maybe if there was more inspiring things to look to in the political realm, the Daily Show wouldn't seem like such a threat.

[madokie]

54. Thats bull shit, I know several, many of the younger crowd

due to the fact I have a couple very well liked young men in my family and they and friends worked on my to watch Jon Stewart for a while before I finally did, wouldn't miss it now, telling me that it is better than the canned news of today. No, Jon Stewart is raising awareness to the importance to the privilege of voting and persisting to do just that.

[kwolf68]

55. John Stewart is SAVING this Democracy

He brings laugther to me and that allows me to PREVENT getting so cynical that I check out. Stewart is certifiably brilliant, has a load of humor (Ben Stein and other rightists say Liberals are always mad), and actually "checks" the powers that be by simply reporting what they say and do.

It is sad that we find out more information from a 30-minute DailyShow than an actual 24-hour "news" program.

Leave Stewart alone...If they fook with him, then I'm going to fight. I would follow Stewart to the gates of Hell...

[Yollam]

56. ANY scrutiny of today's candidates would make people more cynical

and negative. I guess this guy is against young people being informed at all, and would prefer that they just tune into the corporate news shows and sop up all the happy talking points. :eyes:

[jane_pippin]

57. No, reading the news makes young people cynical about politics

Watching the Daily Show just reminds us we aren't the only ones with that reaction.

But, go on, blame the funny guy for it. Surely it has nothing to do with the way politicians act or the way the media reports about politicians and their monkeyshines. Oh no. That's all sweetness and light, and happy little rainbows glittering above a meadow where reporters and politicians are enjoying a delightful afternoon tea, politely discussing the state of the world in a rational way, innocently solving the world's problems for us ignorant ingrates.

Yep. :eyes:

(Ok, so of course watching it will probably have some influence over some people, but for cryin' out loud, WAPO, if you don't like that why not look at why young people feel they can trust TDS over, say, WAPO for news and views. Might some introspection be in order here? Nah, that'd make too much sense.)

[dalaigh lllama]

59. And where are his statistics on their voting record?

Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart's faux news program, "The Daily Show," develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.

Wouldn't it be great if the public could take courses on how to discern bullshit in opeds like these? Nowhere does he offer any proof whatsoever that TDS watchers are voting less than the average American. I would venture to guess that TDS watchers are probably more likely to vote because they care enough to be paying attention.

Aargh!!! :wtf:

[Cha]

60. Yeah, they should watch

faux nusak and get brainwashed to vote repuke.


Jon and the gang of cynics will get a kick outta this!