Comedy Central funnyman Jon Stewart joined the legion of Democrats blaming the government shutdown on Republicans during “The Daily Show” on Monday evening. But while the host lambasted GOP lawmakers, he failed to get his facts straight.
Stewart discussed efforts by House Republicans to defund the Affordable Care Act and highlighted the GOP’s infatuation with the Constitution, noting Obamacare was enacted ‘literally by the book.’ But Stewart continued, ridiculing Republicans for blaming a potential shutdown on Democrats’ unwillingness to negotiate, when, according to him, it’s really the GOP’s fault.
“The government is going to shut down in 57 of your Earth minutes because House Republicans are refusing to fund the government unless the rest of Congress delays implementation of the Affordable Care Act otherwise known as Obamacare also known as the end of America as we know it for reasons no one is able to clearly explain,” Stewart said.
He then went on to note, despite news reports, that Republicans’ efforts are far from playing a game of chicken, but rather like “when someone is driving to work and there’s a car coming directly toward them in their lane.”
“That’s not a game of chicken,” Stewart said. “That’s an a**hole causing a head-on collision.”
The Comedy Central host also discussed President Obama’s willingness to negotiate with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, but not House Republicans.
“If President Obama can make a deal with the most intransigent mullahs in the world but not House Republicans, maybe he’s not the problem,” Stewart said.
But Stewart failed to note that as the countdown to a government shutdown inched closer to zero, it was Senate Democrats who stymied any hope of negotiations. While the House worked into the early hours Sunday morning debating another continuing resolution that was passed to the Senate, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) refused to call his chamber into session early and convened the body Monday at 2 p.m. — with 10 hours left to a shutdown.
Additionally, as House Republicans moved to send the resolution before a conference committee late Monday night, Reid refused to send conferees and adjourned the Senate until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
And President Obama has said numerous times in prepared remarks he would not negotiate with House Republicans at all.
Additionally, House Republicans attempted to negotiate on Obamacare, calling for members of Congress to receive coverage under the law and looking for a one-year delay. Democrats, though, would not allow for it.
Watch Stewart’s segment below.
