# Daily Show 7/21 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 22, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681 "2005-07-22T17:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/1 "2005-07-22T17:59:49Z")
I turned in late to the Daily Show to see JS taling with John Kennedy Jr about the autism/Hg link. He seemed to give him a lot of slack. The link is extremely controverisial to be (kind). How did the beginning go? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/2 "2005-07-22T18:19:05Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I turned in late to the Daily Show to see JS talking with John Kennedy Jr… So, _The Daily Shows_ is conducting seances now? I think you mean Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/3 "2005-07-22T18:24:36Z")
D’oh :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/4 "2005-07-22T18:57:38Z")
I just watched it (it’s actually the July 20th episode), and yeah, it was pretty shameful. Lots of softballs, virtually no jokes, tons of misleading information. I can only assume Jon’s not terribly well-informed on the issue (IMHO, mercury from coal is a much likelier candidate than the infinitesimal dose in vaccines), and didn’t do his research this time. That, and one wants to cut RFK jr some slack. The begininng pretty much just launched into the autism rant. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/5 "2005-07-22T20:17:02Z")
I thought this was a soft interview too. I thought it was just Jon cutting an earnest Kennedy with a slight speech impediment some slack. RKJr. never seems comfortable when he does interviews and such. Maybe it was just Jon making him feel as comfortable as possible. But that’s no excuse, seeing as RKJr. _is_ making some fairly controversial claims, and Lord knows Jon usually doesn’t let _anyone_ of the hook with making controversial claims without some sort of devil’s-advocate resistance. I really was surprised after this segment ended, though. Now _Monday_! That’s gonna be entertaining. (Sen. Rick Santorum!!! (R-PA)) Happy ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/6 "2005-07-22T20:18:43Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Lord knows Jon usually doesn’t let _anyone_ of the hook with making controversial claims without some sort of devil’s-advocate resistance. I can tell you didn’t see him interview Michael Moore. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/7 "2005-07-22T20:41:00Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Now _Monday_! That’s gonna be entertaining. (Sen. Rick Santorum!!! _No_ he _isn’t!_ I gotta set my VCR for that one. You think the audience is going to hiss and boo when he comes out? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/8 "2005-07-22T20:47:33Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > _No_ he _isn’t!_ I gotta set my VCR for that one. You think the audience is going to hiss and boo when he comes out? They hissed and booed when, last night, he _announced_ Santorum as a guest!! I hope Jon brings up Dan Savage. And explains what “Santorum” is if Rick don’t already know. > [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > I can tell you didn’t see him interview Michael Moore. I can tell you didn’t see my ‘usually.’ 🙂 He’s given libs some shit before, if for no other reason than to play devil’s advocate. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/9 "2005-07-22T21:25:25Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > I hope Jon brings up Dan Savage. And explains what “Santorum” is if Rick don’t already know. Given that it’s the first thing that comes up when you google his last name, I’m not sure how he could not know. That should definitely be worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/10 "2005-07-22T21:46:00Z")
I found Kennedy’s voice difficult to listen to, so I spaced out on most of that interview. Twice. Even though I meant to pay attention the second time. :smack: > [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Now Monday! That’s gonna be entertaining. (Sen. Rick Santorum!!! (R-PA)) Yeah, when I heard Jon announce that I actually said “No shit??” out loud (with both question marks and everything). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/11 "2005-07-22T21:47:13Z")
A thread I started in great debates on the Kennedy interview (which originally aired on 7/20, if I may pick a nit.) : [thread]326619[/thread] As **DSeid** notes, this quack idea has been torn to shreds here on the SDMB several times. Search with terms “vaccine” and “autism.” Google using those terms and you will also find plenty of ammo to debunk this absurd claim. I was _very_ disappointed in Stewart for giving Kennedy a forum to air his dangerous crackpot ideas, and not challenging him at all. For crying out loud, even Matt Lauer sort of stood up to Tom Cruise! I sent them an angry email, but somehow I doubt the intern who reads Daily Show email is going to send it to Jon Stewart. But doesn’t anyone on the Daily Show know how to use Google? I still love Jon Stewart, but I worry that some parent will refuse to vaccinate their child based on the misinformation Kennedy is peddling. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/12 "2005-07-22T21:48:53Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Lord knows Jon usually doesn’t let _anyone_ of the hook with making controversial claims without some sort of devil’s-advocate resistance. Actually, i think Jon lets _everybody_ off the hook. I love the guy, but i’ve said before on these forums (in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=321449)) that i think he’s a softball interviewer, and that the interview section is my least favorite part of the show. I am, though, looking forward to seeing Santorum on the show. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/13 "2005-07-22T21:50:54Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I am, though, looking forward to seeing Santorum on the show. And i also think it would be good to have the Pennsylvania Senator on the show. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/14 "2005-07-22T22:06:05Z")
_Rick Santorum_? Oh man. For the first time in a long while I really am sad about not having a TV. I’m going to have to see if I can’t watch this at a friend’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/15 "2005-07-22T22:19:33Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > I was _very_ disappointed in Stewart for giving Kennedy a forum to air his dangerous crackpot ideas, and not challenging him at all. For crying out loud, even Matt Lauer sort of stood up to Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise is an actor and a douchebag who obviously did not know what he was talking about, but was spouting religious dogma. RFK Jr. has some credentials, and I agree that Jon probably does not know the science behind this controversy. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/16 "2005-07-22T22:25:12Z")
Stewart’s interviews are either really good or just pisspoor. It sound like this one was pisspoor. Anyone remember a few weeks ago when he interviews an Iranian American about his book. The author cliamed that ALL Iranians except the Mullahs LOVE America. They LOVE IT! Jon didn’t even raise an eyebrow on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/17 "2005-07-22T22:30:28Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > _Rick Santorum_? > > Oh man. For the first time in a long while I really am sad about not having a TV. I’m going to have to see if I can’t watch this at a friend’s house. Don’t worry - it’s about guaranteed it’ll be all over the internets within moments of airtime. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/18 "2005-07-22T22:44:34Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I found Kennedy’s voice difficult to listen to Yeah, what was the deal with that? Throat cancer? Yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/19 "2005-07-22T22:46:09Z")
RFKjr seemed really uncomfortable. His voice sounded like he was about to cry. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681/20 "2005-07-22T22:51:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Tom Cruise is an actor and a douchebag who obviously did not know what he was talking about, but was spouting religious dogma. RFK Jr. has some credentials, and I agree that Jon probably does not know the science behind this controversy. Kennedy’s theorizing was only slightly less absurd then Cruise’s, and only because there weren’t Thetans at the base of it. The argument was basically “Big Pharma is trying to poison your children and the CDC and The FDA are all part of it!!!” I’m not a doctor or biologist, but a few minutes on google was all I needed to debunk Kennedy’s claims. I can’t believe someone of Stewart’s obvious intelligence wasn’t able to smell a conspiracy theory a mile away. Normally I don’t mind crackpot theories and indeed, like many dopers, I find them very entertaining. But dispensing crackpot medical theories is dangerous and potentially deadly. Stewart has a well deserved reputation for intelligence, so I worry that some viewers migh think “well if Jon’s not challenging him on this, there might be something to it.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daily-show-7-21/313681.md?page=2)