Jon Stewart for president?

Dean Obeidallah
By Dean Obeidallah
4 minute read
Published 8:49 AM EDT, Thu July 30, 2015
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," with longtime host Jon Stewart, has produced many correspondents who have gone on to bigger things. Here's a look at some of the show's more prominent alumni.
Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," with longtime host Jon Stewart, has produced many correspondents who have gone on to bigger things. Here's a look at some of the show's more prominent alumni.
Rick Kern/Getty Images for Comedy Central
Writer/comedian Wyatt Cenac was a member of "The Daily Show" team both in front of and behind the camera for over four years, ending in 2012.
Writer/comedian Wyatt Cenac was a member of "The Daily Show" team both in front of and behind the camera for over four years, ending in 2012.
Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images/File
Steve Carell was a "Daily Show" correspondent from 1999 to 2005, when he left to star in NBC's hit sitcom "The Office." Carell has since launched a thriving movie career and earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2014's "Foxcatcher."
Steve Carell was a "Daily Show" correspondent from 1999 to 2005, when he left to star in NBC's hit sitcom "The Office." Carell has since launched a thriving movie career and earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 2014's "Foxcatcher."
Everett Collection
After more than eight years as a "Daily Show" correspondent, Stephen Colbert left in 2005 to launch a spinoff built around his blustery, right-wing alter ego. Colbert wrapped his show in December 2014 and will drop his blowhard shtick to succeed David Letterman as the host of the "Late Show" on CBS when Letterman retires later this year.
After more than eight years as a "Daily Show" correspondent, Stephen Colbert left in 2005 to launch a spinoff built around his blustery, right-wing alter ego. Colbert wrapped his show in December 2014 and will drop his blowhard shtick to succeed David Letterman as the host of the "Late Show" on CBS when Letterman retires later this year.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
British comedian John Oliver spent seven years on the show before leaving in 2014 to launch "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," a late-night talk show on HBO.
British comedian John Oliver spent seven years on the show before leaving in 2014 to launch "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," a late-night talk show on HBO.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Comedy Central
Larry Wilmore was the show's "senior black correspondent" until he left to host "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," which premiered in January on Comedy Central.
Larry Wilmore was the show's "senior black correspondent" until he left to host "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," which premiered in January on Comedy Central.
FROM COMEDY CENTRAL
Rob Corddry was on the show for four years before quitting to appear in such movie comedies as "Blades of Glory," "Semi Pro," "Hot Tub Time Machine" and "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."
Rob Corddry was on the show for four years before quitting to appear in such movie comedies as "Blades of Glory," "Semi Pro," "Hot Tub Time Machine" and "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Ed Helms, second from left, parlayed his four years on "The Daily Show" into memorable roles on NBC's "The Office" and in "The Hangover" movies.
Ed Helms, second from left, parlayed his four years on "The Daily Show" into memorable roles on NBC's "The Office" and in "The Hangover" movies.
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
After two years of appearances on the show, Josh Gad left in 2011 to pursue a blossoming stage and film career. He has appeared on Broadway in the original production of "The Book of Mormon," voiced the snowman Olaf in "Frozen" and co-starred with Kevin Hart in "The Wedding Ringer."
After two years of appearances on the show, Josh Gad left in 2011 to pursue a blossoming stage and film career. He has appeared on Broadway in the original production of "The Book of Mormon," voiced the snowman Olaf in "Frozen" and co-starred with Kevin Hart in "The Wedding Ringer."
Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Variety
Olivia Munn, who has Chinese ancestry, spent a year on the show as its "Senior Asian Correspondent." She has since appeared in "Magic Mike" and "Deliver Us From Evil," and is dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Olivia Munn, who has Chinese ancestry, spent a year on the show as its "Senior Asian Correspondent." She has since appeared in "Magic Mike" and "Deliver Us From Evil," and is dating Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rex Features via AP Images
Rob Riggle was a veteran of "Saturday Night Live" when he joined the show as its "Senior Foreign Correspondent," drawing laughs for his "reports" from the Iraq War. (He's also a military veteran, having served in the Marines for 23 years.) Riggle left the show in 2008 and has since had supporting roles in numerous movie comedies. He's also made regular appearances on TV's "Modern Family" and "Fox NFL Sunday."
Rob Riggle was a veteran of "Saturday Night Live" when he joined the show as its "Senior Foreign Correspondent," drawing laughs for his "reports" from the Iraq War. (He's also a military veteran, having served in the Marines for 23 years.) Riggle left the show in 2008 and has since had supporting roles in numerous movie comedies. He's also made regular appearances on TV's "Modern Family" and "Fox NFL Sunday."
Noah Weinzweig/Comedy Central/AP
From 1998 to 2003, Mo Rocca was a regular correspondent for "The Daily Show." Since departing, he's become a correspondent for "CBS This Morning" and frequently pops up on the radio show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"
From 1998 to 2003, Mo Rocca was a regular correspondent for "The Daily Show." Since departing, he's become a correspondent for "CBS This Morning" and frequently pops up on the radio show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Samantha Bee was the longest-serving "Daily Show" correspondent, having been with the show from 2003 to 2015. A show on TBS -- like CNN, a unit of Time Warner -- is in the works. Bee is married to fellow "Daily Show" veteran Jason Jones.
Samantha Bee was the longest-serving "Daily Show" correspondent, having been with the show from 2003 to 2015. A show on TBS -- like CNN, a unit of Time Warner -- is in the works. Bee is married to fellow "Daily Show" veteran Jason Jones.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Comedy Centra
Comedian Trevor Noah, who joined the show as a correspondent in December 2014, will succeed Jon Stewart as host of "The Daily Show" after Stewart steps down later this year.
Comedian Trevor Noah, who joined the show as a correspondent in December 2014, will succeed Jon Stewart as host of "The Daily Show" after Stewart steps down later this year.
Courtesy Comedy Central
'The Daily Show's' famous alumni

Editor’s Note: Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM’s weekly program “The Dean Obeidallah Show.” He is a columnist for The Daily Beast and editor of the politics blog The Dean’s Report. He’s also the co-director of the documentary “The Muslims Are Coming!” Follow him on Twitter: @TheDeansreport. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

Story highlights

Dean Obeidallah: Sen. Al Franken and President Ronald Reagan had careers in entertainment

Considering how popular and trustworthy Jon Stewart is, why isn't he running for president?

CNN  — 

On Tuesday we learned that President Obama had “secretly” summoned “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart to the White House twice in recent years. Social media was abuzz with the question of whether Stewart was actually advising Obama on certain policy issues. The comments of Obama’s former senior adviser, David Axelrod that Stewart had “forceful arguments” on issues that “deserved to be answered” added to the speculation.

This got me thinking. One: Why wouldn’t Obama consult with Stewart, a man who is truly the Walter Cronkite (with more laughs) of our generation? And two: Would Stewart consider running for president?

Dean Obeidallah
Dean Obeidallah

Wait, before you dismiss this idea quickly, keep in mind that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, famously got his start as a comedic performer on “Saturday Night Live.” And there’s of course Ronald Reagan, who had a career as a B-level actor before becoming president.

If Stewart became president, his press conferences and presidential addresses would be the most entertaining ever. Instead of mimicking past presidents who offered us solemn, direct to camera speeches, Stewart would add flashy graphics and jokes that help him make his point. I bet some of President Stewart’s speeches would go viral.

Stewart would be the left’s answer to Donald Trump. While Trump offers horrific comments about Mexicans and POWs, Stewart would be making us smarter while crushing The Donald with comedic jibes. Plus a Trump-Stewart presidential debate would be such a huge draw that it could be the first presidential debate ever on pay-per-view.

The more I seriously contemplated a Stewart candidacy and reflected upon his body of work, the more I realized that he truly would make a great president. There’s no doubt Stewart understands the nuances of the issues facing our nation; after all, he has been discussing them nightly for over 16 years.

Stewart has raised issues of the day in a way that educated and entertained us, from George W. Bush’s failed Iraq War policies to the hypocrisy of politicians to the media’s tendency toward sensationalism.

Stewart influenced our debates and discourses. He made an important impact on a funding bill for first responders who had suffered chronic illness while working at ground zero. In 2010, Senate Republicans blocked the vote to help these men and women in need. Stewart responded by using his show as a platform to raise awareness in hopes of spurring action by Congress.

Within three days of Stewart’s episode featuring first responders, the funding measure passed. As PBS noted at the time, the funding for the first responders bill was “credited in large part to Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart.”

So, would Stewart actually have a chance if he jumped in the presidential race now?

Former Obama adviser Eric Lesser told Politico this week about Stewart, “I’d be hard-pressed to think of a person who spoke with the same amount of authority to that big of a group of people.”

Stewart also would have many things going for him if he ran. He has very high name recognition and is viewed as trustworthy. Not only did a 2009 Time online poll name him the “most trusted newscaster in America,” but a recent poll also named Stewart the top political pundit in America, far outdistancing people like Rush Limbaugh. And 48% of the respondents to this recent poll stated they admired Stewart, with over 50% noting they agreed with Stewart on at least some issues. (Only 12% never agreed with Stewart.)

This is in sharp contrast to the numbers we see for Hillary Clinton. A recent CNN poll found that 57% of Americans don’t find her trustworthy and her unfavorable ratings outweighed her favorable numbers. A more recent Quinnipiac Poll in three key swing states found Clinton’s favorability ratings to be even worse.

However, Stewart does have certain practical obstacles, namely, a lack of fundraising and no ground operation in the early primary states. (There’s a Facebook page “Jon Stewart for President” that fans created in 2010, but that only has 16,000 likes.

All that would quickly change if Stewart even hinted at running. Stewart’s legions of fans would likely jump into action, especially his younger ones, who are the very type needed to knock on doors and make phone calls for a candidate. And I bet it would energize those on the left who are not all that excited about Clinton.

There’s one more thing. Stewart may have a secret weapon: President Obama. First, they are obviously friends. Earlier this week Obama playfully boasted that he could win a third term as president if allowed by law to pursue it. Well, if Obama went all in for Stewart, it would be a way for Obama to test if he is as truly popular as he believes. And if Stewart were to win, Obama would clearly play an instrumental role in Stewart’s policy-making.

I know it’s a long shot. But Trump’s meteoric rise from a 71% unfavorable rating among Republicans just a few week before he announced his presidential run to now leading the pack tells us that many Americans don’t want the same old traditional politicians. They want someone outside the Beltway who they believe can get things done. Stewart could be the one. Plus he’s hilarious. What more could America want in 2016?

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