Controversial political talk show host Jon Stewart once again finds himself engaged in a battle of words with controversial political talk show hosts, this time with “The Five” hosts Eric Bolling and Bob Beckel. The hosts of “The Five” initially discussed their opposition to granting Muslim students US study visas, a notion which Stewart decried on his “The Daily Show.” Beckel and Bolling responded to Stewart’s criticism by calling into question Stewart’s “liberal credentials.”
On Thursday, Stewart criticized comments made by Bolling in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. Beckel suggested that hundreds of thousands of Muslims living in America are eager to hurt and kill other Americans. The Huffington Post reports that Bolling’s anti-Islam comments are typical of the discussion being held on his network, Fox News, in the wake of the identification and capture of the Tsarnaev brothers, who are suspected of masterminding the bombing of the Boston Marathon and identify as Chechen Muslims.
Stewart lampooned Bolling’s comments on his own show, and criticized the way that the show dangerously generalized a significant portion of the American population.
On Friday’s “The Five,” Bolling and Beckel returned fire at Stewart, inviting Stewart onto their show to debate the issue. “Hey Jonny boy, pull up a chair right here between Bob and me and let’s debate this thing,” said Bolling. “You got the cajones?”
Beckel, who is the resident liberal voice on “The Five,” was singled out by Stewart for going along with this anti-Islam sentiment of co-hosts.
Beckel responded to Stewart’s criticism by questioning “The Daily Show” host’s own liberal credentials, saying “I was a liberal activist and a progressive before you were out of your Pampers. You may get on a TV show and talk liberal politics, but I’ve been on the lines registering voters, being on union lines, and others. Maybe you want to bring your credentials up here.”
Stewart, whose credentials include a successful career as a stand-up comedian and talk show host, has not issued a response to either challenge.
