Sorry, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart isn’t easily fooled. And he’s not letting Democrats slide for the cronyism making its way through the White House in the form of appointments to diplomatic posts for President Barack Obama’s high-dollar donors.
Stewart explored several instances of corruption from the Democratic Party, focusing specifically on the recent appointments to diplomatic posts made by the Obama White House. Going off of statements made to him by Pelosi during an interview on his show, who said it’s Republicans who are corrupt, not the Democrats, Stewart didn’t have to dig too deep to find the qualifications one must possess to receive an ambassadorship from the president.
“It’s good to know that Democrats are impervious to that because it means we don’t have to worry about things that Democrats are in charge of. For instance, ambassadors, appointed by our Democratic president. Surely he chooses them on their merits,” Stewart said sarcastically on Wednesday night’s “The Daily Show.”
He then flashed to appointees George Tsunis, Noah Mamet and Robert Barber, who are seeking ambassadorships in Norway, Argentina and Iceland, respectively. During their respective confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill, however, it was discovered that none of the prospective ambassadors had visited the country they hope to retain a post in.
“Let me ask you this, have any of you f**king people been to Epcot Center?” Stewart asked. “Is there a rule that ambassadors can’t have stepped foot in the countries they’re going to ambassador? Would it ruin the surprise?”
He then noted how, ironically, all of those nominated for diplomatic posts raised large sums of money for President Obama during his reelection. Tsunis bundled $850,000, Mamet raised $500,000 and Barber bundled $1.6 million.
“That would mean not only would Democrats be seen as corrupt — Nancy Pelosi told me personally that Republicans are — and it would also mean that Iceland costs like three times more than Argentina,” the Comedy Central host said.
Stewart, though, conceded that such instances of cronyism don’t necessary prove that all ambassadorships are “up to the highest bidder.” Case in point, Obama’s pick for a diplomatic post in China, former Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mon.).
During his confirmation hearing, the senator, who also architected the Affordable Care Act, revealed he is “no real expert on China.”
Baucus stepped down from his Senate seat earlier this year, allowing Montana’s Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock to appoint a fellow Democrat to the seat. Sen. John Walsh, Baucus’ replacement, was sworn into the Senate on Tuesday and will now run as an incumbent in the midterm elections.
“Non-financial corruption,” Stewart said of Baucus’ decision to step down.
Watch Stewart’s hilarious clip below.
