Why Jon Stewart Is a Big Problem for ObamaCare

Left-wing darling might turn vital young people against the service: Chris Cillizza
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 23, 2013 1:52 PM CDT
Why Jon Stewart Is a Big Problem for ObamaCare
A screenshot from Jon Stewart's interview with Kathleen Sebelius.   (The Daily Show)

ObamaCare's most dangerous critic right now "isn't John Boehner or Mitch McConnell or even Ted Cruz. It's Jon Stewart," argues Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post. Stewart dedicated three full segments on Monday night's show to mocking ObamaCare's ugly web debut, and put the screws to Kathleen Sebelius earlier this month about the individual mandate. "Who cares what a late night comedian/talk show host thinks? President Obama should if viewership details on Stewart's show are right."

The Daily Show is the top way young people get their news—in a Pew poll last year it ranked below only its sibling the Colbert Report among 18- to- 29-year-olds, trouncing the likes of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and CNN. And ObamaCare desperately needs young people to sign up to keep costs down. As Megan McArdle at Bloomberg points out, at present, the only people who will be persistent enough to sign up will be the old and sick. Cillizza thinks Obama needs to pay Stewart an on-air visit, stat. Stewart would surely confront Obama with his grievances, but he'd "also give the president a platform." (More Barack Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X