Jon Stewart isn’t a “bothsidesist fraud” or a “danger to democracy.” He’s a realist.
After nine years away, Stewart returned to The Daily Show as a guest host, starting his first night back with a segment discussing and criticizing the 2024 front-running presidential candidates. While most anticipated his criticisms of Trump, many did not take well to his jabs at Biden — insisting that by drawing similarities between the two candidates, he was equating them.
To those making these accusations, I have just one question: Did you watch the entire episode?
For starters, the episode kicked off by acknowledging the age-old criticism of Stewart practicing false equivalency when discussing politics, with correspondent Jordan Klepper asking, “Did you save democracy yet with your ’90s brand of snark and both-siderism?”
Yes, Stewart did poke fun at Biden’s age and ability in the segment, drawing numerous comparisons and similarities between him and Trump. But drawing similarities between the two candidates doesn’t equate them. Stewart explicitly stated that at the end of the segment saying, “Joe Biden isn’t Donald Trump. He hasn’t been indicted as many times, hasn’t had as many fraudulent businesses or been convicted in a civil trial for sexual assault, or been ordered to pay defamation, or had his charities disbanded or stiffed a s— ton of blue-collar tradesmen he’d hired — should we even get to the ‘grab the p—-’ stuff?”
Stewart criticized both candidates but recognized that one is worse. He didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know, just something we didn’t want to hear: No one wins in the 2024 election.
Throughout the segment, Stewart repeated that the election isn’t the end of tough times in American politics, concluding by saying, “The good news is, I’m not saying you don’t have to worry about who wins the election. I’m saying you have to worry about every day before it and every day after it, forever.”
And he’s right.
Most people don’t want a rematch between the country’s oldest-ever presidential candidates. This isn’t a new perspective. Just look at their abhorrent approval ratings. Most people don’t want either candidate, and Stewart knows this. Our better option is not our best option.
If Trump wins this election, the country’s future is at stake. But if Biden wins, the country is still at stake, and we need to stop pretending it isn’t. Biden being re-elected won’t save us. Remember the insurrection?
Three years ago, five people lost their lives and far more suffered injuries because Trump enthusiasts were mad that our democratic system worked. It’s not crazy to think that if the upcoming election yields results similar to the last one, the potential for another Jan. 6 exists. If, or when this occurs, we need someone more capable than Biden to lead the country. As Stewart said, “If the barbarians are the gate, you want Conan standing at the ramparts.”
People are mad at Stewart for acknowledging that Biden isn’t a perfect candidate but he has a point. Biden isn’t our best option, but our only other option is Trump himself. So yes, pick the better option of the two. Pick the one that isn’t a direct threat to democracy — Stewart agrees. But don’t forget that being better in comparison to Trump doesn’t make Biden the perfect fit for the job, and recognize that it doesn’t free him, his platform or his presidency from any criticism.
It’s not the responsibility of the voters to ignore the flaws in Biden simply because he’s the better option. As Stewart put it, “It is the candidate’s job to assuage concerns, not the voter’s job not to mention them.” Recognizing Biden’s flaws isn’t dangerous. It’s necessary.
It serves as a reminder that the politics and people of America aren’t saved even if the incumbent remains in office. We cannot keep voting for the comparatively-better candidate time and time again. We need different options and we need better options, and the way to go about bringing that change isn’t by pretending our current options are adequate.
It’s understandable to be upset at the inadequacy of American politics, but pointing the finger at Stewart isn’t the answer. Point the finger at our unsatisfactory candidates and the current polarization and state of politics in the country. Stewart’s just telling you to open your eyes to the fact that neither candidate is ideal and to remember that the election isn’t the end of the fight. It’s just the start.
Not believing that Biden is a perfect option does not make Stewart a “bothsidesist fraud” or a “danger to democracy.” It just makes him realistic. Stewart isn’t the threat to democracy here. A return to Trump-era America is. But, the re-election of Biden doesn’t eliminate or even minimize that threat. When all is said and done, none of us win in this election. A candidate will win, sure. But do any of the rest of us?
