Why The Daily Show Has Become A Trusted Name In News And Political Discourse

In a word, it's because even though the host and his writers are all overtly liberal-with-libertarian leanings, if you go on the show, you get a fair chance to express yourself in your own words.

Yes, it's a comedy show and not a "real" news or public policy show. But then again, if you go on one of those, you are at risk of being shouted down by the host or the "opposing point of view" talking head who had been recruited by the produces for the exact purpose of shouting polarizing slogans at you in the name of "balance."

So even if you're a right-winger, you know that on the Daily Show, while it may be a hostile environment, you'll have a chance -- if you're good enough -- to make your pitch not only to the studio audience but to the camera and the audience watching at home. You won't be interrupted (much).

And you'll be reaching a larger -- and younger -- audience than the "real" news and policy shows could even (reasonably) pray for.

Some right-wingers have done very well for themselves on the Daily Show. Mike Huckabee, for instance, went on and proved himself to be a compassionate, intelligent, and well-humored man. He didn't have to compromise his beliefs or his ideology at all by doing it, and no one thought he was any less conservative for having gone on the Daily Show. His Presidential campaign probably was boosted significantly by the exposure he got.

It's a sign of how far our political life has degenerated that in order to have a reasonable shot at discussing of political policy, you've got to go on a comedy program.