Jon Stewart is hosting Ron Paul. What will he ask him?
Jon Stewart has accused the media of unfairly ignoring GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul 鈥� and now the host of "The Daily Show鈥� is putting his airtime where his mouth is. The inevitable meet-up is occurring: Stewart will host Rep. Paul on his Monday show.
What鈥檚 Stewart going to ask him? We think a couple of questions are dead locks. First, Stewart鈥檚 mentioned several times Paul鈥檚 contention that a border fence with Mexico might be used to keep Americans in, as well as illegal immigrants out. Don鈥檛 be surprised if Stewart tries to figure out what the heck Paul means by that. We can hear it already: 鈥淪o congressman, you鈥檙e saying that US workers might flee south for jobs in the booming Latin American lawn care sector?鈥�
Second, health care鈥檚 likely to come up. That鈥檚 because during the CNN/Tea Party GOP debate on Sept. 12, Wolf Blitzer asked Paul whether a critically ill young person without health insurance should just go untreated, and several audience members shouted out 鈥測es.鈥� Paul鈥檚 own response seemed to emphasize charities, but he didn鈥檛 really complete the thought. Maybe Stewart will ask him to explain.
It鈥檚 a subject the duo have talked about before. Paul has appeared at least twice previously on Stewart鈥檚 show, in 2009 and 2007. In the Stewart pointed out that Paul, a medical doctor, does not accept Medicare in his own practice.
鈥淲ould you get rid of it?鈥� asked Stewart, referring to the popular government health-care program for seniors.
鈥淵es,鈥� said Paul at the time. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 not high on my agenda.鈥�
A third subject that might get discussed is this: Which is more dangerous, big government or big corporations? In Paul鈥檚 past two appearances, Stewart has asked some thoughtful questions about whether the Texan鈥檚 libertarian principles might shrink government so much it can鈥檛 serve as a counterweight against corporate abuses. Paul has given about the role of government in a free society. They鈥檝e engaged in the sort of debate of ideas that鈥檚 as rare as a bald anchorman on today鈥檚 鈥渟erious鈥� political shows.
And at the end Stewart might try to give Paul some comedy pointers. He鈥檚 done that before. Paul鈥檚 2007 appearance was in the middle of that campaign cycle鈥檚 debate season, and Stewart offered up what he described as zingers aimed at Paul鈥檚 competitors.
鈥淗别测 Rudy Giuliani,鈥� said Stewart, of the oft-married, then-frontrunner ex-New York mayor. 鈥淚f you love the war on terror so much why don鈥檛 you marry it ... oh right, you鈥檇 probably just divorce it a couple of years later.鈥�
As for Wisconsin鈥檚 former governor, Stewart said, 鈥淗别测 Tommy Thompson, what鈥檚 your middle name, Tom?鈥�
鈥淚鈥檒l have these on cards if you want them,鈥� Stewart said while Ron Paul laughed.
