So, there is a transcript floating around of an interview that Bill O'Reilly did on his TV show with Jon Stewart. He was mostly complimentary of Stewart in his backhanded, bully journalistic way, asking him what he thought of the fact that he has some real influence on the election (a charge that Jon Stewart consistently denied).
About the only time that he really tried to get at Stewart was when the conversation turned to why people like John Kerry and countless other respected politicians would go on his show. Stewart seemed surprised the question was asked, and answered that he felt it was pretty transparent: These politicians are hoping to reach a different demographic. O'Reilly then categorized this demographic as "stoned slackers."
This was a classic O'Reillyian attempt to get up Jon Stewart's ire. What cracks me up about Jon Stewart, and is so refreshing, is that he is quite smart and well versed in the political landscape, but he also doesn't take himself to seriously. When O'Reilly kept trying to attach this "stoned slackers" nameplate to 'The Daily Show' audience, Stewart wouldn't bite.
apparently, however, this pissed off some people at Comedy Central, and they did some research of Nielsen demographic statistics. As Andrew Sullivan would say, here is the money quote:
Viewers of Jon Stewart's show are more likely to have completed four years of college than people who watch "The O'Reilly Factor," according to Nielsen Media Research.And, just so the title is accurate: Yeah, I'm sorry.
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