# Jon Stewart tackled America's ongoing vaccine debate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888 "2015-02-05T14:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/1 "2015-02-05T14:14:09Z")
Jon Stewart at his best. His take on allowing measles to rebound is right on point. The video is funny but makes many valid [DEL]spots[/DEL] err… points. 😉 > **[Jon Stewart blames measles outbreak on 'science-denying affluent California...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/jon-stewart-christie-paul-anti-vaxxers-daily-show-video-151015483.html)** > > "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart tackled America's ongoing vaccine debate on Tuesday, mocking Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Chris Christie and California liberals for fueling antivaccination activists. > [@](#): > > Jon Stewart tackled America’s ongoing vaccine debate on Tuesday, mocking both conservatives and liberals who deny science. “There’s no red America. There’s no blue America. There’s just a needlessly sick America,” Stewart said on “The Daily Show” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/2 "2015-02-05T16:15:08Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Jon Stewart at his best. His take on allowing measles to rebound is right on point. > > The video is funny but makes many valid [DEL]spots[/DEL] err… points. 😉 > [Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](http://news.yahoo.com/jon-stewart-christie-paul-anti-vaxxers-daily-show-video-151015483.html) Just to be clear, this is the same Jon Stewart who sat and nodded respectfully when guest Robert Kennedy Jr. talked about the dangers and evils of vaccination? ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/3 "2015-02-05T16:20:30Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Just to be clear, this is the same Jon Stewart who sat and nodded respectfully when guest Robert Kennedy Jr. talked about the dangers and evils of vaccination? I dunno, cite? ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/4 "2015-02-05T16:22:22Z")
My sister-in-law lives in Marin County, and she hates the anti-vaxxers. When she posted this story on Facebook she got some very defensive replies from people displaying the same condescending stupidity as the woman in the interview. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/5 "2015-02-05T16:34:19Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > I dunno, cite? Your wish is my command. > **[Jon Stewart DESTROYS Noted Republican Anti-Vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](https://dailycaller.com/2015/02/04/jon-stewart-destroys-noted-republican-anti-vaxxer-robert-f-kennedy-jr/)** > > I think that’s correct. RFK Jr. is a Republican, right? I mean, why else would he be nutty enough to say anything critical about vaccines? Just watch as Jon Stewart rips him a new one: The Daily Show Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show... Just LOOK at Stewart demolish Kennedy’s idiotic anti-vaccine rant. Just LISTEN to all the tough followup questions Stewart asks. NO WAY a tough interviewer would let Kennedy spew nonsense without backing it up. Just WATCH Stewart grill Kennedy the way he did Jim Cramer. Errr… ---
**Author:** ![1iLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/1ileft/32/4114_2.png) [@1iLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1iLeft)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/6 "2015-02-05T16:35:44Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/7 "2015-02-05T16:40:02Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Just to be clear, this is the same Jon Stewart who sat and nodded respectfully when guest Robert Kennedy Jr. talked about the dangers and evils of vaccination? [In 2005?](http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/04/jon-stewart-destroys-noted-republican-anti-vaxxer-robert-f-kennedy-jr/) Yeah, the Daily Caller is trying to play “gotcha” here, but it’s pretty stupid. Even back then, Jon was mentioning the problem with people avoiding vaccines and noted that the subject was controversial. I’m not sure you can blame a talk show host interviewing a supposed expert on a subject from acting as if the expert knew what he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/8 "2015-02-05T16:40:29Z")
Okay, so what I am taking from this is that…people think he’s… a hypocrite because… he didn’t… ask hard enough questions of someone during an interview… a decade ago? People ARE allowed to change their minds and all… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/9 "2015-02-05T16:53:56Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > [In 2005?](http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/04/jon-stewart-destroys-noted-republican-anti-vaxxer-robert-f-kennedy-jr/) Yeah, the Daily Caller is trying to play “gotcha” here, but it’s pretty stupid. Even back then, Jon was mentioning the problem with people avoiding vaccines and noted that the subject was controversial. I’m not sure you can blame a talk show host interviewing a supposed expert on a subject from acting as if the expert knew what he was talking about. Robert Kennedy Jr. is not a doctor. He’s NOT an expert. He was posing as one and telling the public dangerous things. There was no reason at all to be deferent. Stewart treated him like just another actress promoting a movie or another comedian promoting a book. Not good enough. Nowhere NEAR goiod enough. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/10 "2015-02-05T17:01:45Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Your wish is my command. > > [Jon Stewart DESTROYS Noted Republican Anti-Vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | The Daily Caller](http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/04/jon-stewart-destroys-noted-republican-anti-vaxxer-robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > > Just LOOK at Stewart demolish Kennedy’s idiotic anti-vaccine rant. > > Just LISTEN to all the tough followup questions Stewart asks. > > NO WAY a tough interviewer would let Kennedy spew nonsense without backing it up. Just WATCH Stewart grill Kennedy the way he did Jim Cramer. > > Errr… I think what you meant to say was, “Roll 212!” ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/11 "2015-02-05T17:08:23Z")
To his credit, Jon clearly acknowledges his interview with Kennedy during this week’s segment. He says that he had a guy on his show at one point talking about vaccines, but he’s done the research, and the science is clear, and he vaccinated his kids. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/12 "2015-02-05T17:34:24Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > To his credit, Jon clearly acknowledges his interview with Kennedy during this week’s segment. He says that he had a guy on his show at one point talking about vaccines, but he’s done the research, and the science is clear, and he vaccinated his kids. But he wasn’t **perfect**! He may have learned from his mistakes, recanted, and is doing the right thing now, but he was wrong once! How can that be tolerated??? Surely he must burn for that? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/13 "2015-02-05T17:41:56Z")
Jon Stewart is a comedian that hosts a fake news show on a comedy network. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/14 "2015-02-05T17:44:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Jon Stewart is a comedian that hosts a fake news show on a comedy network. That’s all true, but I’m starting to think that this attitude is a little disingenuous - sort of like saying that Oprah Winfrey was just a talk show host. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/15 "2015-02-05T17:44:53Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Robert Kennedy Jr. is not a doctor. He’s NOT an expert. He was posing as one and telling the public dangerous things. There was no reason at all to be deferent. > > Stewart treated him like just another actress promoting a movie or another comedian promoting a book. Not good enough. Nowhere NEAR goiod enough. This is a shocking breach from a professional newscaster! Of course, we’re talking about Jon Stewart, not a professional newscaster, so I’m not sure what your point it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/16 "2015-02-05T17:47:03Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Jon Stewart is a comedian that hosts a fake news show on a comedy network. And here I was thinking he was a sober, serious investigative reporter, the kind of journalist you can trust, like Brian Williams. I think I speak for all of us in expressing exactly how much appreciate we have for your fight against our ignorance on this topic. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/17 "2015-02-05T17:47:20Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Jon Stewart is a comedian that hosts a fake news show on a comedy network. Which is brought up by fans when he makes a mistake, but ignored when he speaks truth to power. I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/18 "2015-02-05T17:49:17Z")
Jon may have been wrong 10 years ago… so that invalidates his being right now? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/19 "2015-02-05T17:54:16Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Robert Kennedy Jr. is not a doctor. He’s NOT an expert. He was posing as one and telling the public dangerous things. There was no reason at all to be deferent. > > Stewart treated him like just another actress promoting a movie or another comedian promoting a book. Not good enough. Nowhere NEAR goiod enough. If the interview happened last week, I might have to agree with you. But 2005 was pretty much in the thick of the thimerosal controversy. From looking at the [scholarly citations in the wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal_controversy), it looks like by 2004 the tide had started to turn towards “no relationship between autism and thimerosal”, but there was some room for debate unless you’re seriously proposing that Jon Stewart curls up at night with his personal subscription to _Pediatrics_ journal. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888/20 "2015-02-05T17:57:22Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > But he wasn’t **perfect**! He may have learned from his mistakes, recanted, and is doing the right thing now, but he was wrong once! How can that be tolerated??? Surely he must burn for that? Exactly! Greatness come from never ever admitting you were wrong about anything and staying with the same policies forever. Anything else is flip-flopping and flip-flopping is for losers like Lincoln. Stewart is one of the few talking heads who will flat out say “I was wrong”. I was floored when he brought Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam to the Rally to Restore Sanity and more floored to know he didn’t know of the Salman Rushdie scandal, but the most surprising thing of all was then this respected and adored multimillionaire gave an unqualified “I’m sorry, that was a really bad move and I’m embarrassed I did that”. That’s the difference in a Lincoln and a Bush and it’s the difference in a Stewart and a Hannity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-tackled-americas-ongoing-vaccine-debate/711888.md?page=2)