Well shiver me timbers….Sarah Palin has announced she is not afraid of Jon Stewart. Then why doesn’t she accept his invitation? Plenty of Republicans have appeared on the daily show and were treated respectfully–guests like Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich, Tea Party leader Dick Armey and even longtime punching bags like former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former RNC chair Michael Steele — all have appeared and have engaged in lively discussion and debate. Rumsfeld even tweeted: “Just wrapped up one of the most thoughtful interviews of book tour with @thedailyshow”). Stewart typically is a gracious host.
From the Huffington Post:
Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and John McCain — whose last appearance was in early 2008 — keep holding out on Stewart, most likely due to a strategic call that there are more minuses than pluses to being a guest, especially the potential to commit a gaffe that is bound to make headlines, say media analysts.
Palin has been invited numerous times by Stewart, most recently on Jan. 18 during an extended mockathon. “Join me — I would love to have a conversation with you. We’ll do it in my studio, your wilderness utopia,” Stewart quipped. “You could have Glenn Beck sit next to us or between us. I want him to come on too. He won’t do it either. I promise a pleasant, respectful and classy conversation.”
So what’s Palin’s problem? Does she only play for an audience who isn’t going to challenge her rather limited repertoire of discussion items? How does she plan to run for anything if she can’t run with the big dogs? You know what they say: If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.
Palin had better plan on curling up on the porch for a long sleep, right through 2012. Jon Stewart is one of the most engaging interview hosts on TV. A spokeswoman for the former governor said:
“She’s not afraid of his show. She doesn’t think about him all that much. Neither do I. However, I do recall that he’s been rather vicious in his coverage of her, so I’m not sure why she would even want to appear on his show to give him a ratings boost. If you continue to imply that she’s afraid of appearing on a comedian’s satire news show, then you’re just plain wrong. She’s stared down big oil companies and won. Jon Stewart isn’t all that intimidating.”
Your move, Sarah.
I saw the interview with Rumsfeld. I thought he would take shots at Rumsfeld maybe even some low blows, but the interview was surprisingly non-confrontational. They both expressed their opinions and made their points. Rumsfeld came out of the interview looking good for having the courage to go on the show and for being civil while expressing different opinions.