Brilliant piece last night on the Daily Show, where Jon Stewart and John Oliver discussed why the GOP establishment wants to stop Rick Santorum: because he tells the truth about what the GOP really wants to do.
JON STEWART: Wow. Now, what is it about Santorum that has Republicans so alarmed?
JOHN OLIVER: Because, Jon, as you saw in the debates, he's a little too open and honest about his thoughts and feelings.
JON STEWART: But they are conservative thoughts and conservative feelings. Why is that a problem?
JOHN OLIVER: Because Republicans aren't idiots, Jon. They know that America likes its conservatism cut with plenty of baking powder. Because one hit of the pure stuff, and you'll wake up with Eric Stoltz straddling you, having just plunged an adrenaline needle into your heart. And Santorum doesn't get that, Jon. ... It's just like the contraception debate, which Santorum was stupid enough to make about contraception.
RICK SANTORUM (10/17/2011): Many in the Christian faith have said, "Well, that's OK. I mean, you know, contraception's OK." It's not OK. It's a license to do things in the sexual realm, that is counter to what... how things are supposed to be.
JOHN OLIVER: Is this your first day in politics, Rick? You just made this about controlling a woman's access to health care based on imposing your code of morality upon others.
JON STEWART: But that is what's it's about. That is what they're doing.
JOHN OLIVER: Right, but you don't tell them that! Jon, this is what you tell them.
REP. PAUL RYAN, R-WI (2/19/2012): It's really not about contraception, it's about violating our First Amendment rights to religious freedom, and of conscience.
JOHN OLIVER: I'm a religious man. I have no interest in your lady parts. I just wish to pray in peace.
JON STEWART: So it's like the states rights arguments during the early '60s. It was really about segregation, but you need some sort of agreed-upon code.
....
JON STEWART: So he's not afraid to state explicitly Republican dogma. It's kind of refreshing. This is what we should be doing in debates, put ideas out there in the marketplace in their bare form, and let the voters decide. It's free market.
JOHN OLIVER: No, no, no. We should not be doing that Jon, and I'll show you why. Because then, voters have to take your platform to its logical conclusion.
Video and full transcript below the fold.
In this year's presidential race, Rick Santorum has been surging all over.... Rick Santorum is doing very well. For more on Santorum's newfound success, we turn to Senior Political Analyst John Oliver. John, thanks for joining us, really appreciate it.
JOHN OLIVER: Jon, Rick Santorum might be feeling good about his rise in the polls, but he's about the only Republican who is.
MICHAEL GERSON (2/17/2012): Santorum is not an ideal candidate. ... He seems to enjoy those debates, cultural war debates, a little too much. It scares people.
BORIS EPSHTEYN (2/15/2012): These points that he's bringing up are hurting the party. ... He should not and will not be our nominee for President.
JON STEWART: Wow. Now, what is it about Santorum that has Republicans so alarmed?
JOHN OLIVER: Because, Jon, as you saw in the debates, he's a little too open and honest about his thoughts and feelings.
JON STEWART: But they are conservative thoughts and conservative feelings. Why is that a problem?
JOHN OLIVER: Because Republicans aren't idiots, Jon. They know that America likes its conservatism cut with plenty of baking powder. Because one hit of the pure stuff, and you'll wake up with Eric Stoltz straddling you, having just plunged an adrenaline needle into your heart. And Santorum doesn't get that, Jon. Look at how he answers a question about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
RICK SANTORUM (9/22/2011): What we're doing is playing social experimentation with our military right now, and that's tragic. I would just say that going forward, we would re-institute that policy if Rick Santorum was President, period.
JOHN OLIVER: Nice going, asshole! You're running for President! Don't tell people what you're going to do. Here's what you should have said.
MITT ROMNEY (6/13/2011): We ought to be talking about the economy and jobs, but given the fact you're insistent, the answer is I believe that Don't Ask, Don't Tell should have been kept in place until conflict was over.
JON STEWART: So wait, so he's saying it's OK for gays to be in the military as long as we're not fighting? Is that the....?
JOHN OLIVER: Is he saying that, Jon? Is that what he's saying? Or, do you think he's saying something else that you'd agree with even more?
JON STEWART: So you're saying... he's saying every nothing.
JOHN OLIVER: Precisely. Precisely, Jon.
JON STEWART: OK, I get it.
JOHN OLIVER: It's just like the contraception debate, which Santorum was stupid enough to make about contraception.
RICK SANTORUM (10/17/2011): Many in the Christian faith have said, "Well, that's OK. I mean, you know, contraception's OK." It's not OK. It's a license to do things in the sexual realm, that is counter to what... how things are supposed to be.
JOHN OLIVER: Is this your first day in politics, Rick? You just made this about controlling a woman's access to health care based on imposing your code of morality upon others.
JON STEWART: But that is what's it's about. That is what they're doing.
JOHN OLIVER: Right, but you don't tell them that! Jon, this is what you tell them.
REP. PAUL RYAN, R-WI (2/19/2012): It's really not about contraception, it's about violating our First Amendment rights to religious freedom, and of conscience.
JOHN OLIVER: I'm a religious man. I have no interest in your lady parts. I just wish to pray in peace.
JON STEWART: So it's like the states rights arguments during the early '60s. It was really about segregation, but you need some sort of agreed-upon code.
JOHN OLIVER: Exactly. And Rick McDumbfuck just gave everyone the enigma machine! Jon, look at the wealth gap. Now that's a touchy subject. A majority of Americans think there's something unfair in our economic system. But, your platform is Darwinian free market. Sell it.
RICK SANTORUM (2/17/2012): There is income inequality in America. There always has been, and hopefully, and I do say that, there always will be.
MITCH DANIELS (2/14/2012): We do not accept that ours will ever be a nation of haves and have nots. We must always be a nation of haves and soon-to-haves.
JOHN OLIVER: You see, Mitch Daniels is using a dog whistle, but Rick Santorum is using one of these. (brings out air horn and blows it)
JON STEWART: Ahh! Jesus!
JOHN OLIVER: Can you hear that, Jon?
JON STEWART: All right, all right!
JOHN OLIVER: Do you hear the difference between this, and this? (blows air horn again) Do you hear that? (blows air horn again)
JON STEWART: OK, yeah, stop it! So he's not afraid to state explicitly Republican dogma. It's kind of refreshing. This is what we should be doing in debates, put ideas out there in the marketplace in their bare form, and let the voters decide. It's free market.
JOHN OLIVER: No, no, no. We should not be doing that Jon, and I'll show you why. Because then, voters have to take your platform to its logical conclusion. For instance, Rick Santorum is pro-life, consistently, in a principled way, in all situations. So, let's play that out, shall we?
RICK SANTORUM (1/20/2012): I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created -- in the sense of rape -- but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you. As you know, we have to, in lots of different aspects of our life, we have horrible things happen. I can't think of anything more horrible. But, nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation.
(audience boos)
JON STEWART: So you're saying, he just needs to have like a soon-to-have Mitch Daniels-type euphemism for "you have to carry your rape baby".
JOHN OLIVER: Exactly.
JON STEWART: So that's why Romney gets the nomination.
JOHN OLIVER: Precisely, Jon. Not that the Republicans want Romney. They just accept what God has given to them. (wild audience applause) This horribly created gift, and they'll make the bad... the best... (Oliver and Stewart crack up)
JON STEWART: ... of a bad situation. (hits Oliver over head with paper)
JOHN OLIVER: ... of a bad situation.
JON STEWART: Thank you John Oliver, everybody, we'll be right back.
Jon and
Stephen then both covered the GOP debate down in Arizona.
On Wednesday, Jon had a great piece showing how Republicans
claim the same things they did in 2008, and how everything Obama has done in his first term is merely a
canard so that he can implement a true socialist agenda in his second term.
Jon then looked at the latest updates for
hypochondriacs, as Stephen looked at what terms and conditions
Wheat Thins wanted for its sponsorship.
Meanwhile, Stephen covered the story that Mormons baptize dead Jews, including Anne Frank. Stephen then converted dead Mormons to Judaism.
Stephen then had on
Placido Domingo, who sang
"La Donna E Mobile" from Giuseppe Verdi's opera
Rigoletto in a duet with Stephen Colbert.
On Wednesday, Stephen looked at how Target collects personal information on its customers in ways you may not know.
Stephen then profiled
California's 8th district before speaking with
Nancy Pelosi. Jon spoke with
Paul Rudd on Wednesday, and
Bruce Bartlett last night.