Americablog Hearts Jon Stewart

Yesterday, Americablog gave Stewart grief for his weak interview with Sen. Rick Santorum. When you have a racist hate-mongering radical on your show, it's important to show them for who they are. That doesn't mean attacking or screaming at them. But Stewart is funny and quick-witted; he should have been able to illustrate how dumb and hateful Santorum is with a few well-placed quips. If you're gonna showcase a bigot, at least TRY to challenge their narrow thinking. Apparently, we weren't the only ones criticizing him.

Stewart opened Tuesday's show by saying everyone was talking about the Santorum interview, lots of controversy, blah blah blah with people discussing the "general suckiness" of it. Others, he said, thought it "suuUUUUUCKED!" Wednesday's guest was actress Diane Lane; Stewart promised to make amends by bringing her down. So Stewart deftly and charmingly acknowledged the criticism. Though he didn't necessarily say he agreed with it -- Stewart might well argue it's not his job to "get" guests. But when you're giving national exposure to a fringe bigot, it's kind of important.

Still, he admitted disappointing people and did it in a funny and amusing way. Stewart's definitely one of the good guys. (And that interview with Lane? Not so good. Interviewing is definitely Stewart's weakest skill, which is why the interviews are usually quite brief.)