The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

In this satirical seven-minute clip from “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart addresses the “Rage Against the Rage Against the Machine.” Because of the failure to indict police officers involved in the shooting and killing of multiple unarmed black men, nationwide protests have sparked and Fox News reporters seem upset. They state ridiculous reasons as to why these protests should not be happening, and Jon Stewart comedically crushes their unreasonable commentary. One of the news reporters claims that protesting is acceptable until the protestors are blocking traffic; once they block traffic it becomes violent. Stewart sarcastically agrees and says that if the protests for the lives of unarmed black men are violent and should be banned, then so should events such as the New York Marathon, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Gay Pride Parade, the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the Halloween Parade, the German-American Steuben Parade, and most significantly the giant Christmas tree that is put up every year since they block just as much traffic as the protests, and at times more. Another reporter claims that Christmas shopping is being affected because of these protests, implying that not being able to shop at Macy’s is more of an issue than the deaths of these innocent individuals, and that Black Friday matters more than black lives. Stewart later discusses professional athletes wearing shirts that call for justice, claiming that this does not block traffic nor does it prevent people from shopping at Macy’s, so it “should be a perfectly acceptable way to express one’s feelings about political issues,” followed by a reporter who embarrasses himself by hyproctically making comments on LeBron James wearing the “I Can’t Breathe” shirt. Another report claims that the Cleveland Police Department demands an apology from the Cleveland Browns because one of the players came out wearing a shirt calling for justice for Tamir Rice. Stewarts shows how the officer who shot and killed Tamir Rice was unstable for the job, and concludes with a clip of Andrew Hawkins from the Cleveland Browns that has the power to shut the mouths of any individual who is against the black community.

            The main items being satirized are the Fox News reporters that make the outrageous comments on this issue. Stewart effectively uses parody by making fun of the reporters and the content. There is no need to add in exaggeration because what these individuals are saying is already absurd and embarrassing enough. Stewart’s use of satire is precise, just as every time he uses satire. He is obvious enough when he needs to be and the audience is never confused or bored with his content. Stewart was comical while addressing an authentic, serious issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGbHxjjrCFE

The Onion

"'Well Here's What Won't Pass,' Obama Says Before Listing 35 Proposals"

            In the State of the Union address, President Obama presented the American public with his outline and a summary of what he has planned for the upcoming year. The address consisted of President Obama listing off thirty-five proposals that “he acknowledged will never be approved by Congress.” Obama abruptly approached the House of Representatives podium without acknowledging or shaking hands with any of the several political leaders attending the event. He commenced his two and a half minute speech to the viewers and attendees of the State of the Union by mumbling, “Let’s get this over with,” and continued by reading a list of propositions one by one. “Well, I’ve got a bunch of stuff here that’s not getting through Congress, so here it goes,” began Obama as he refused to make any eye contact with the television cameras, let alone anyone in the congressional chamber. President Obama briefly mentioned policies such as raising the capital gains tax rate to twenty eight percent, a new fee on large banks, free community college, closing the trust fund loophole, tripling the child-care tax credit, and more. He continued to speak in an unbroken monotone and left no pauses between any proposals. The president upheld a steady pace throughout the speech to take over the audience’s attempts at applause so that he could go through the list of unreachable goals as quickly as possible. Aside from staring at his list, President Obama took each page of his speech as he completed it and threw it into the trash. The president concluded the speech by adding, “Well, good night. And God bless the United States of America,” as he walked away from the podium. The Republican Party announced that the official response would be “Yup.”

            President Obama’s State of the Union address is being satirized since he has a Republican majority in congress, so he knows that all these proposals will be turned down. The strongest and most prominent technique used in this news report is parody, where they ridicule the propositions and make it obvious that none of them will pass. The author took an original plot and exaggerated it to a tremendous extent.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/well-heres-what-wont-pass-obama-says-before-listin,37811/