Jon Stewart Isn’t Done Standing up for 9/11 First Responders [Video]

Congressman Cliff Stearns thinks we need to make sure the 9/11 first responders aren’t actually terrorists posing as dying people seeking government handouts. Jon Stewart thinks Cliff Stearns is an asshole.

Once again Jon Stewart has demonstrated that he is an increasingly reliable source of sanity during the news day. With the American public becoming steadily uncertain about where to get their daily political fix, Stewart’s late night peusdo news program has become more important than anyone could have imagined.

When Stewart sees an egregious injustice in the political system he tends to get flustered then delivers impassioned soliloquies—this happens daily. Stewart is at his best when he fiercely believes in a cause. When “The Daily Show” is firing on all cylinders it has the ability to effect public opinion and influence legislators.

This past winter Stewart was enraged by the Senate’s inexcusable treatment of first responders. They refused to pass the Zadroga Bill, which would offer much, needed medical aid to the first responders who are currently sick and dying from the chemicals they ingested during their heroic efforts on 9/11.

Instead, Senators went home for their Christmas holidays, leaving Stewart to lambast their ineptitude. Stewart spent multiple shows before the show’s holiday hiatus crusading for the bill to be passed and insulting the Senate in the process. In one of the most serious and heart-wrenching moments I’ve ever seen on Comedy Central, Stewart invited four first responders suffering from cancer and terminal illnesses on the show for a roundtable discussion of their health care costs and the government’s inability to help with their outrageous cost for survival.

It was great television. Hard to watch, but important and patriotic. It could have been confused with a “60 Minutes” segment, with less Andy Rooney and more sarcasm, cursing, and entertainment value. Soon enough the Senate passed the bill, and Stewart was applauded for his efforts.

Months later Stewart isn’t quite done telling the government, and more specifically Congress to go fuck themselves. Last night on “The Daily Show,” Stewart revealed a small amendment to the Zadroga Bill that Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns of Florida proposed.

Before a first responder is cut a check from the government to help supplement their crushing health care costs they must be cross checked with the terrorist watch list. You know, just to make sure we know whom we’re giving our money to.

What?

How insensitive can we get? We take a decade to pass a bill that gives money to men and women who saved innocent lives, while risking their own, in the midst of the worst act of terrorism the world has ever seen, and we need to double check they aren’t actually terrorists posing as NYPD and firefighters?

Yep, that makes total sense. Needless to say Mr. Stewart had a few words to say on the matter.

Part 1

Part 2