Never Forget: Jon Stewart Keeps Responding to First Responders

Here’s a sad truth. People don’t really think much about September 11 anymore, which is why Republicans no longer feel the need to use it as a political advantage. Oh, I’m sure they’ll start waving the flag as we get closer to the 10th anniversary next year, but Republicans don’t see it as the political goldmine it used to be so they don’t feel the need to fight for something like medical care for first responders. Moreover, American’s aren’t all that interested anymore, so they’re not going to push the politicians to do anything.

It sad, but it’s also th truth.

TIME is based in New York City.
TIME staffers were directly affected by 9-11.
TIME is still—for now—among the more influential media in this country.

So what has TIME written about the Zadroga bill?

1. An online photo caption.
2. A Swampland blog post.
3. Two television blog posts about The Daily Show.

“Shrugged and moved on” indeed.

Kudos to Jon. And to James for bringing this to light.

If it is true that “the US has shrugged & moved on” the Republicans & Tea Partiers wouldn’t have been in up in arms over the “mosque” that was proposed in downtown Manhattan.
Do you not remember the protests? The protesters’ desire to burn a copy of the Koran? Or how ugly and divisive the country grew? How quickly people forget when it doesn’t fit there agenda.

How dare anyone propagandize Christianity in the name of 9/11 victims and then under the cloak of poverty, NOT help those who risked their lives to protect this country. I am ashamed of being a Christian if this is what it means to be one.

Not disputing any of that. However, it should go without saying–but needs to be reiterated sometimes–that when I criticize media here on this blog, it does not come with an implicit, “TIME, on the other hand, is perfect in all ways.”

That said: (1) I’m not TIME’s editor; (2) I’m not a TIME political reporter; and (3) I’m not TIME’s ombudsman. I don’t think I can credibly critique (or defend) an organization I work for, as I’ve said before, because people would understandably think I have a conflict of interest. For that reason, I welcome people criticizing TIME in the comments here–that’s what they’re for. And other media critics should critique us, and they do.

However, I sometimes hear the argument that there’s a glass-houses principle: i.e., that a media critic for TIME shouldn’t be criticizing other outlets if TIME has its own failings, and may be complicit in the same failings as the larger media. I don’t agree with that; I think in practice, that amounts to a gentlemen’s agreement among media outlets never to criticize one another. Then we’re all just wonderful, and doing our best!

None of which is to say I disagree with your criticism. Just pointing out that I am not saying TIME is any better or worse than anyone else here, on my general I-am-not-TIME’s-ombudsman principle.

I have such outrage regarding this issue. I am contacting my federal legislators TODAY to inform them of my displeasure, then I am contacting the news organizations that I watch/read on a regular basis to make my voice heard.

It is my hope that others will do the same.

Peace,
Kelley in OK

P.S. Thanks, James, for posting this. As soon as I saw this segment last night, I knew you would write about it this morning.

I do remember that New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner was doing a yeoman’s job of hammering this bill when it was in an earlier, attached-to-another-bill incarnation in August. But as Jon Stewart pointed out last night, the now-unattached bill has passed the House; it’s currently being held up in the Senate, by Republicans.

And as much as this bill is a complete no-brainer, in the Democrats’ mild defense, I’d mention that there’s a giant bolus of really important stuff (tax bill, DADT repeal, START treaty) that they’re trying to get through Congress before the end of the year, while fending off attacks from every side. But I deeply hope that Jon Stewart’s efforts will shame the Senate into putting the Zadroga bill at the top of the agenda and passing it with the quickness and ease it deserves.

Last night, in Stewart’s interview with Mike Huckabee, I loved how in response to Huckabee’s incorrect, misinformed, vague, and possibly disingenuous statements about how, you know, the Zadroga bill was still in the House and still attached to Bad Stuff for Republicans, Jon Stewart corrected him with a quickness—he knew exactly where the Zadroga bill was in Congress and what was ostensibly holding it up. And when Huckabee seemed about to lamely ding the Democrats for still “playing politics” with the bill (!!), I loved how Stewart’s passion and moral certainty in this no-brainer of a bill led him to jujitsu Huckabee’s statement into a question about why the Democrats didn’t play MORE politics with the bill, in the sense of forcing their strong hand more powerfully. Whereupon Huckabee kind of trailed off, because there’s just no defending any opposition to this bill. Especially in the face of Stewart’s burning moral clarity.

It’s been 3378 days since George WMD Bush said he’d catch the 9/11 Conspirator Osama bin Laden Dead or Alive?? Uh, so how is that going? The TSA has never caught a single terrorist. Nine Eleven was used for political gain by Bush to pass tax cuts for the rich, to start a War in Iraq, to get re-elected, etc. The fact that the story about the Nine Eleven First Responders has not been covered by the three major networks in two months is morally reprehensible. The fact that we spend 7 Billion dollars, which is the cost of this whole bill, in a few weeks on the disasters in Afghanistan and Iraq shows we have lost our way. The USA is in steep decline if not a death spiral. The best way to stop the blowback of terrorist tactics would be to stop messing around with the rest of the world. If you want to cut spending, cut the empire.

How is it possible the press has shrugged and moved on? easy; they are always looking for the next pastor who wants to burn a Koran, 9/11 mosque, Palin said something, etc.
Easy sound bites and incendiary topics. I’m not saying the firefighter thing couldn’t become incendiary, but until someone like Palin says something terribly ignorant about it, or comes up with a hot sound bite, its just a sad end to what could have been a feel good story.

Thanks for your response, James. I appreciate that you took the time to interact. I usually don’t comment on stories because it’s just so pointless. So thanks.

I understand what you’re saying, but in the end it just boils down to, “I occupy a privileged platform in the major media, but I’m not the guy who covers this stuff or makes coverage decisions.”

Fair enough. You have bosses who expect you to do certain things and not others. But you are are talking about this, which is good. Still, TIME, and ABC, NBC, the Washington Post, etc., are not talking about it at all.

So why not? In the printed TIME, I imagine it comes down to space and competing priorities. No five people will ever agree on what should be on the very few pages of that printed magazine, so there’s no point in arguing about it with this example. Certainly Rick Stengel could order a cover story about it today, but he never will as long as Sarah Palin is around to e-mail with. Has Zadroga ever even come up in a TIME editorial meeting? I’d be curious.

One other thing you said resonates: More than a lot of outlets, TIME really could use an ombudsman. But with all the layoffs in that shrinking industry, I guess it’s unlikely to happen.

I think the answer to why more TV news organizations aren’t jumping on this is simple: There aren’t 2 sides to this story. In an effort to forever be “neutral”, it seems like TV news only take up issues that have supporters AND detractors. The Cordoba Mosque, Sarah Palin, etc all allow for anchors to welcome pundits who will argue with each other about it. I think it is difficult (see Huckabee, Mike) to find anyone who will go on national television and defend Republicans (with the exception of simply bemoaning Democrats for finding something to spend money on that everyone seems to be ok with).

This particular issue, in my opinion, is bald politics at its worst. One side (in this case the Democrats) have an idea to spend tax money on 9/11 first responders, something that polls very well among Americans. The other side (Republicans) cannot stand by while something people like is done and not get any credit for it, so they figure out some “principle” reason that the bill should not pass. It’s culture-war bickering writ over 9/11, and it’s shameful.

James. As always, thank you for picking up on the great moments others may miss.

You might be surprised to learn that not all New Yorkers “felt it.” There are those who “smelled it” and those who “inhaled it,” the latter still suffering from various respiratory ailments and I’m not just talking about responders. I’m talking about area residents and bystanders. Then there are those who characterized it as “something that happened downtown.” My jaw dropped when I heard that observation from several people after moving from my “9/11 contaminated” apartment to midtown. I’ve since relocated to a different part of the country but I can still “smell it.” My heart sinks everytime I see a casino or some other old structure imploded for progress on the evening news. You would think we would all see life through a different lens after 9/11 but it just not the case. And no, not everybody wants to hear about it anymore but it’s the “story” that is not going to go away unless it’s a ratings bonanza.Thank you, Jon Stewart, for continuing to beat the drum for the first responders. Without them, I wouldn’t be writing this.

I couldn’t stop crying as I watched the rerun of this show just now. Those senators making excuses for not passing this are an embarrassment to America and to Americans. I am ashamed of them all. People–all people–deserve so much better. The ones who are silent about this are no better, just bigger cowards. They need to wake up and find their souls.

Don’t get me wrong, the Daily Show & Jon Stewart were great last night, but the implications of Stewart’s words 3,378 days ago, and what they show about todays sordid debate seem (to me at least) even more relevant.

Check it out:

http://www.doubledutchpolitics.com/2010/12/911-first-responders-bill-recalling-the-spirit-of-a-past-jon-stewart/

Kudos to Jon Stewart for being the voice for these forgotten heroes! Sadly, 9/11 and the sacrifices made by these heroes are receiving little attention in the media. Yes, we have to move on with our lives but we can never forget what happened to this country on 9/11 and how it affected so many people.

These stories will not be told in the history books so as a grandmother, I am collecting memories of 9/11 for future generations. I want my grandchildren and the rest of the children who were too young on 9/11 to hear the voices of the people.

If you are interested in contributing your personal story, my website is http://www.eileenofarrell.com. 100% of profits are pledged to military & veteran non-profits.

Eileen O’Farrell – who was born and raised in Brooklyn but now lives in Massachusetts.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/trick-or-truth/

Never forget Janette MacKinlay.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/scots-wha-hae-wi-wallace-bled/

The repubs spearheaded and encouraged the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, shamelessly admonishing anyone who didn’t want to rush to war as being unpatriotic. Then they drastically cut funding for veterans healthcare in order to help fund tax cuts. Anyone that voted for the wars AND voted for or supported cutting vet healthcare funding are hypocrites whose actions are tantamount to treason.