Lesson of the Cramer/Stewart kerfuffle
It was a beclowning. A cable castration. Sacrificial slaughter. Sadomasochist programming. But more than anything else, the Jon Stewart/Jim Cramer show was an object lesson. An object lesson in how the one thing the media/infotainment world loves to cover most is itself, itself, itself.
Here is a screenshot of the top half of Memeorandum, the web’s top aggregator of MSM news/opinion/blog posts. It’s been like this all day long:
I’m sure Stewart, sanctimonious scourge of Big Media, will be wagging his finger on Monday at all of the journalistic sycophants wasting time and ink lionizing him and promoting his show instead of covering REAL ISSUES.
Since he’s so concerned and indignant about financial fraud and shoddy journalism, perhaps the brave Speaker of Truth to Power will set his sights next on crony of color Maxine Waters or the ACORN crime racket.
Yeah, make me laugh.
***
Ultimately, I find Stewart disturbing because in some sense he’s doing exactly what Cramer is–making powerful statements, and then when he gets called on him, retreating into the claim that well, you can’t really expect him to act as if he were being taken seriously. Jim Cramer, whose stockpicking acumen seems slightly worse than your average monkey with a dartboard, frequently issues recommendations that people act on, then brushes off the failures with a shrug.
Jon Stewart also shapes peoples’ decisions. Video is a medium with powerful claims to reality–people tend to think that if they saw it, it must be true. This makes it uniquely good at manipulating its audience with skillful editing. I’m very sympathetic to Stewart’s deep critique of financial shows, but I don’t think the way to go about it was to string together a bunch of very misleading clips. Nor to imply that Santelli, who has been vocally against all bailouts from the beginning, was merely frothing on the forclosure program because ordinary taxpayers were finally getting a taste of federal largesse. But Stewart carefully claims he’s just an entertainer, so he has no obligation to hew to journalistic standards on things like quoting out of context.
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Trackbacks
- What if it was Sarah who made Hillary’s trip? « Jim Blazsik
- Lesson of the Cramer/Stewart « Peace and Freedom Global Future
- Dave Lucas' Notes ATB 14 March
- Cramer vs. Stewart | The Great Illuminator
- Jon Stewart, Illustrated « Jane Q. Republican
- Ed Driscoll » Dispatches From The WOT
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I do apologize for pulling this thread off-topic!! Michelle…forgive me?? It was just getting so interesting, it was hard to change course. We need to go back to the cramerstewart topic NOW! (Before I get into BIG trouble!)
I think Jon Stewart is a big icky-poo. What do all of you think?
Daily Show was more funny when Craig Kilborne hosted it back in the 90s. Its funny how the media go after Steele for apologizing to Rush, but fail to see anything similar with Cramer getting flogged by Stewart. Oh well….
Also, is there anything less funny than a liberal comedian getting so emotional about politics? Stewart has not been funny in years…
I just don’t understand why Cramer went on the show…unless they offered him a pile of dough! I mean, is he that dumb? He had to know he would get smacked down…or did he think Jon S. was his friend because they both are obamanites?
Good point. As soon as they start obsessing about politics, I am done with them. That is why I stopped watching Leno, for the most part. I tune in once in a while, but as soon as he brings up Pres. Bush (and always in a demeaning way), I tune out. These guys just don’t understand, that stuff is NOT funny! The audience laughs, but that is because they have signs up telling them when to laugh.
Fox News has a special about the financial mess on – right now
Jim Cramer was a responsible guy. I wish John Stewart was that responsible.
Oh yeah, Jim Cramer was real responsible all right. Responsible for misinformation. Responsible for those idiots who took his advice to lose all their money. He is a fool. And so is Jon Stewart.
Well…considering today’s news concerning Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Obama’s spine etc., you can kissd the markets good-bye on Monday.
Michelle,
It would be nice to have an open thread on weekends. Memebers could comment on
whatever is going on, go Abe Simpson and ask that 3 states be abolished (fans will undestand), or whatever.
Just a thought.
I never liked Cramer, it was only when he became a tool for the Right, that he became a target of the Left.
Obama’s spine? You mean his backbone? Is he having back trouble, or do you just mean he is spineless? For those of you who live in the path of Venezuela’s missles, or Cuba’s, I suggest you move inland. Minnesota is a beautiful state, however, it is BLUE! We are located in the middle of the country, so I feel a bit safer than, say, California or Florida. There are a lot of other nice places to live.
Michelle usually does have an open thread! She must be busier than usual these days. I’m sure she will give us one next weekend…! I hope all is well with our favorite investigative reporter, TV commentator, activist, all-around great person! See, Michelle, I love you! Please don’t kick me out for going off topic! I will try to be good.
Cramer, Stewart, Limbaugh, Hannity, all of these guys are nothing but entertainers. The only difference between them is the audience they play to. They get millions of people to listen to them and believe them and make millions of dollars while doing it. They don’t teach or educate anybody about anything, they just preach to different choirs.
I have to take issue with this. You are lumping apples and oranges together. Cramer and Sewart are entertainers. Have you ever actually listened to Rush Limbaugh’s radio program? Limbaugh and Hannity are commentators. There is a difference. Limbaugh and Hannity are not there for the sole purpose of entertaining us. And they DO teach and educate. Limbaugh has the latest information on what is going on out there that needs to be addressed. Then he comments on it. And he is spot on! The man is a conservative radio personality who inspires 30 million people a day with his wisdom. I would NEVER lump him in with the likes of Stewart or Cramer. They are so far out of his league, and in a completely different category!
I agree, I also think Hannity is out of Limbaugh’s league. Like him or not, Rush is a brilliant man IMO.
Brilliant and inspiring. He gives me hope.
True, but he is, first and foremost, an entertainer. His act is so well-honed that even if he didn’t believe in 10% of what he says he could still sell it.
That would be lack of…
LOL….I’ll be deep in my grave before I ever accept Missourah.
If anyone lost money because of Jim Cramer then its their own fault. When you get free advice on TV, what do you expect? Its free. Its up to the individual investor to valiate Cramers advice and dig into each company’s financials and executive leadership.
If you just throw money at a company because you got a ‘hop tip’ you probably have better odds hitting the slots in Vegas.
Why have so many people been freaked out the last few months (since the election) for going off-topic (thread-jacking is a whole other discussion). Its like I missed the high school assembly where MM gave us the ‘you’re not gonna graduate if…” lecture. And I think I missed this years hall monitor elections too.
OT – for those who think Obama is a Muslim, food for thought.
It seems that people who are critisizing Rush, Hannity and Coulter, are doing so because of their delivery style and not the content of what they are saying. I never hear complaints about specifics. Is it beacuse they would sound stupid critisizing the common sense and loical thinking that Rush, Hannity and Coulter ’spew’?
You’re right, he is very. very good at what he does. Too bad the same cannot be said of our “leadership”.
I think a lot of people believe what’s said about them without ever actually listening to what they are saying. The same is true of the lefts hate for MM. If you’re speaking out against their ideolgy, and you’re effective, you are on their list to destroy. With the power of the MSM to help in the destruction, it’s not surprizing how many people have opinions shaped by what they are told about those on the right, not anything they have actually listened to themselves.
Actually, I was kinda being silly. I don’t really think Michelle would do that!!
We’re going to get alot more of the “shoot the messenger” stuff especially if the message is resonating with the public. Certainly, start the take down the most powerful messenger, it’s the Chicago way.
Cramer is a fraud preying on un-informed suckers – - – sort of like the Republican party.
There’s always hope for the uninformed, it’s the misinformed Democrat Party kool-aid drinkers for which there is no hope.
The message that is missed in taking the messenger to task -
The notion was that the networks, being aware of a gap between image and reality that they had steadfastly refused to address in their coverage, had abdicated their journalistic responsibilities faster than you can say “Judith Miller.”
This from one of the most unapologetically partisan bloggers around. You used to work for O’Reilly, for crying out loud. You know as well as anybody else, he doesn’t have to be fair, he doesn’t have to be objective. It’s his show — He can report on whatever he chooses because it’s his show and his priorities. At least he does not pretend to be “fair and balanced”, unlike certain other clowns with entertainment shows masquerading as journalism. As far as I can see, the only difference between the Fox News primetime lineup and The Daily Show is that Stewart’s comedy is intentional.
Sorry corkie but just because you believe the recession is over does not make it so. The best you can say is, it was over for a quarter. What will you say if the 4thQ GDP is down?
I will believe Cramer.
Crist stinks like DC so he will prolly win. He will NOT get my vote or support.
My hopes are dashed. lgm has not been banned.