Jon Stewart Absolutely Demolished Congress For Bailing on a Hearing for 9/11 Survivors

[G_j]

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jon-stewart-congress-9-11-surviors-846859/

“It’s an embarrassment to the country and it’s a shame on this institution,” the former Daily Show host said of the treatment of first responders

By RYAN BORT

Jon Stewart has largely stayed out of the public eye since stepping down from The Daily Show in 2015. But he hasn’t been shy about advocating for 9/11 survivors and first responders, many of whom are still stick and injured nearly 20 years after the terror attack. On Tuesday, Stewart testified before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on reauthorizing the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.

He tore Congress a new one.

“As I sit here today, I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process of what getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” he began. “Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak — to no one. Shameful. It’s an embarrassment to the country and it’s a shame on this institution.


Battling back tears, Stewart spoke for nearly 10 minutes. “It would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign, but it’s not,” Stewart said. “Your indifference costs these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It’s the one thing they’re running out of.”

[KatyaR]

1. My God. He is a national treasure.

I'm sure there are a million things he would rather be doing, but he SHOWS UP and STANDS UP for these men and women, who need help NOW, not years from now.

Bless you, Jon Stewart. Your compassion is amazing.

[Docreed2003]

2. K&r

Stewart's speech was powerful and moving and should be heard of you didn't already

[smirkymonkey]

3. That was so powerful.

It was just heartbreaking to watch and to realize the truth of his words. I am so sickened by the indifference of the powerful and privileged to the suffering of these heroic people. It just enrages me that their sacrifice is not being honored and that they are not being taken care of in their time of need, when they gave everything when they were called.

I am so proud of Jon Stewart and for all those men and women who showed up today. And I am equally as disgusted by the members of Congress who didn't.

[StarfishSaver]

4. This wasn't entirely fair

There were 13 hearings going on at the same time as this hearing (including hearings on climate change, student loans and protecting older workers from discrimination) and some Members likely had to juggle schedules, go back and forth between them or maybe not make it to one or more of their hearings at all.

A Member not being in a hearing for the entire time is not a diss. They often have to leave one hearing to go to another - especially if they need to ask questions, which often is scheduled according to seniority or by who's in the room when the hearing is gavelled in and if they miss their turn, they either have to wait until the next round or not have a turn to ask a question at all.

I don't know this subcommittee Members' schedules were today, but this was a Judiciary Committee subcommittee and the Members (including Steve Cohen, Jamie Raskin, and Sheila Jackson Lee) were dealing with issues related to the legislation on the Trump subpoenas and grand jury info and other matters that lots of folks here think are of paramount importance. And I know that Members often juggle two or three (and sometimes more) hearings at one time and that not being in a hearing for the whole time is not a dereliction or insult.

I also wonder wonder how many of the people Stewart was upset with had any responsibility for the bill not passing.

I appreciate his passion and anger, but as I said, even though I understand it, I don't think it was entirely fair.

[G_j]

6. I'm pretty sure

Stewart understands the factors you mentioned.
He is fairly aware of how government works.

[StarfishSaver]

7. My post wasn't directed to him, but to people here who might not know this

And it's quite possible that he doesn't know it either. If he did, he shouldn't have been so angry since he'd be aware that his hearing wasn't the only thing happening on Capitol Hill at that time so the fact that Members didn't all attend the entire hearing didn't mean they don't care about the issue.

[Ilsa]

9. I heard that also, and I agree about

People not misunderstanding why people were coming and going.

Congress should fix this poste haste and get it off their scheduled business.

[usaf-vet]

10. Maybe if Congress worked a full week 9-5 everyday they wouldn't be strapped for time.

How many days were they in session in the last Congress? Answer: on the average since 2001, 138 legislative days. If they worked like the average American they would have time to address ALL of the important issues.

[StarfishSaver]

11. They DO work full weeks. They just don't spend the entire week in Washington

A good part of their work is done in the district.

A Member I worked for said to me: "People complain that I spend too much time in Washington "inside the Beltway" where they say everyone is out of touch. But then, every time they see me at home, they ask 'What are you doing HERE? You should be in Washington working!"

I once had to talk a constituent off the ceiling because she said her Member never worked because she hardly ever saw her on CSPAN when they showed the House floor. It took me quite awhile to explain to her that the House floor wasn't the Member's office - that they had a separate office across the street and that when they weren't in the floor or in committee that's where they probably were.

[whathehell]

12. The 9/11 First Responder DESERVE priority status from Congress..

They are sick and dying as a result of their heroic actions - - Had Republicans not nickel & dimed their care, they wouldn't have to "come begging" year after year...It's DISGRACEFUL and Stewart's anger is entirely justified.

[Shaddox]

5. I saw this earlier - amazing and heartbreaking

[George II]

8. Jim Jordan and Matt Gaetz were at yesterday's hearing to browbeat and insult John Dean, but....

....neither could be bothered to show up today. Scumbags!