Daily Show Criticizes Newsweek For Running Unflattering Photo Of Michelle Bachmann

[Formaldehyde]

Jon Stewart Rips Michele Bachmann Cover: 'Shame on You, Newsweek

Jon Stewart says the worst part about conservative complaints of media bias is when they contain "a kernal of truth" -- and that conservatives have a point about Newsweek's unflattering Michele Bachmann cover.

The cover describes her as "The Queen of Rage." Stewart called Newsweek out on Tuesday's "The Daily Show" for using cheap attempts to undercut the Minnesota representative and Republican presidential candidate.

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He mocked the magazine's statement that it ran the photo to capture the way she has galvanized Iowa voters.

"I get it, Newsweek," Stewart said. "You put in 'The Queen of Rage' juxtaposed with a picture of a lady that appears to be enchanted by simple math being done on a blackboard that's been hung too high. Or maybe it's a child thinking of cake!

"But. Be honest Newsweek. You used that photo in a petty attempt to make Michele Bachman look crazy. And that's what her words are for. ...You want a photo that makes her seem a little off? Make it out of her words."

He added: "Shame on you, Newsweek. And your editor, Tina Brown," before posting the least flattering Brown photo he could find.

Here's the Daily Show segment.

Others claim it was really her own fault since she was the one who actually staged the photo shoot where many unflattering photos were taken:

Spoiler :

Christian Science Monitor even contributed their own unfflattering photo while asking if it wasn't actually a compliment of sorts:

Did Newsweek set out to make Michele Bachmann look like a loon?

Newsweek is coming under fire for a wild-eyed cover photo of Michele Bachmann. The headline calls her the 'Queen of Rage.' But was the rough treatment actually a compliment of sorts?

Huff Post called it:

Hot Women of the Republican Right

Sure, Michele Bachmann might look a wee bit scary on the Newsweek cover that launched a thousand blogs.

Liberal bias? Maybe. But I've seen that gaze -- like the one my dog has when there's a deer in the yard -- in her own campaign material. And maybe the "queen of rage" thing was a bit much as a cover line. But she does seem pretty upset.

To all those right-thinking Republicans lamenting imagery, I have to say: "Wait a minute. You started this."

But there is something going on with these Republican women that goes beyond good looks. It's deft packaging.

In the same way a hardened commie-fighter like Richard Nixon was the one to open China, these women are a fascinating vessel for conservative thought.

Take perfect teeth, glossy hair, sparkling eyes, flawless make up and clicking heels. Now combine that with values much more likely associated with a sensibly-shoed audience gathered on the state-house lawn in their Uncle Sam hats and Tea-Party T-shirts. Anti stem cells, anti abortion, anti gay marriage, anti big-city smart asses suddenly have star power. It's a juxtaposition that flummoxes opponents -- like Barbra Streisand supporting assault-rifles.

As Ann Coulter memorably put it: "I am emboldened by my looks to say things Republican men wouldn't." As an '08 campaign button said of Palin, a former third-place finisher in the Miss Alaska pageant: "Hottest VP from the Coolest State."

Fox News and other conservative spokespeople were quick to jump into the fray:


Link to video.

Brent Bozell, head of the Media Research Center and ForAmerica, said he's not surprised by the magazine cover.

"Both Time and Newsweek have been doing this to conservatives for years. It is sheer journalistic dishonesty," Bozell told FoxNews.com. "But it is precisely because of this journalistic dishonesty that conservatives should steer away from these venues -- or at least demand some form of editorial oversight given that these magazines simply cannot be trusted."

And doesn't this seem like "deja vu all over again", as Yogi Berra once said:


Link to video.

And, of course, it isn't like Fox News and other conservatives have done exactly the same thing numerous times in the past:

Fox Using Unflattering Photo of Hillary Clinton on Website

They have even picked up on and hyped the fashion world's criticism of what Clinton decides to wear to work:

Fox News Nation: 'Project Runway': Hillary Clinton's Pantsuits Show She's 'Confused About Her Gender'

Did this help Jon Stewart and the Daily Show's credibility at all with conservatives to point out that Bachmann should be soundly condemned for her silly rhetoric instead of a few unflattering photos?

Is this as terrible as Stewart, National Organization For Women, Fox News, and most other conservative pundits claim? Or is it just another example of blatant hypocrisy to ignore all the cases when the conservatives deliberately did the same thing while responding so vociferously when it happens to one of their own?

 

[galdre]

But she always looks crazy when I see her. Honestly, I can't see how that photo is horrible in comparison to the other times I've seen her on the news. She's a nut, and usually looks like one...

 

[carmen510]

The cover isn't really all that different from other photos of Bachmann I've seen, to be honest.

Also, as a Newsweek subscriber for at least 2 years, I must say that the quality of journalism has declined substantially ever since Jon Meacham departed as editor. I've seen more and more stuff that seems more to be "gossip and speculation" material than actual journalism. Plus, they give a column to Niall Ferguson in every issue now.

 

[galdre]

The cover isn't really all that different from other photos of Bachmann I've seen, to be honest.

Also, as a Newsweek subscriber for at least 2 years, I must say that the quality of journalism has declined substantially ever since Jon Meacham departed as editor. I've seen more and more stuff that seems more to be "gossip and speculation" material than actual journalism. Plus, they give a column to Niall Ferguson in every issue now.

gossip and speculation sells...

which is probably why they have the counter-factualist Ferguson in there

 

[carmen510]

gossip and speculation sells...

which is probably why they have the counter-factualist Ferguson in there

Actually, sales and subscriber numbers have continued to fall, despite controversial cover stories and other such nonsense after Newsweek was sold to Sidney Harman.

Such a shame too; Newsweek had pretty decent journalism around 2008-mid? 2009 period.

 

[LucyDuke]

But she always looks crazy when I see her.

I agree with this, although they had the choice between a regular candid and one of her posed campaign photos.

 

[SuperJay]

If you don't want to look crazy on a magazine cover, don't look crazy to begin with - then nobody can take your picture while you're looking crazy!

If they'd Shopped it to make her look exceptionally bad, sure, I think that's poor form. But simply picking a genuine photo of the subject of their article that corraborates the angle of that article? Fair play as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Kozmos]

Uhh, yeah, she has that "YOUR SOUL IS MINE!" look.

 

[galdre]

Actually, sales and subscriber numbers have continued to fall, despite controversial cover stories and other such nonsense after Newsweek was sold to Sidney Harman.

Such a shame too; Newsweek had pretty decent journalism around 2008-mid? 2009 period.

I guess they tried to go with what sells and failed - that's even more pathetic than going with what sells

 

[MobBoss]

Are you lot going to actually blame Bachmann for this?

Really?

Wow.

Thats just.....sad.

Props to Jon Stewart for his comments. At least it goes to show that he doesnt have to agree with someones politics to recognize when a line has indeed been crossed. I just gained a lot of respect for him for that one.

 

[galdre]

Are you lot going to actually blame Bachmann for this?

Really?

Wow.

Thats just.....sad.

who's blaming Bachman? Unless you mean it's blaming her to say she looks crazy... well, I wouldn't say I blame her for that, it's just a statement of fact

 

[MobBoss]

who's blaming Bachman? Unless you mean it's blaming her to say she looks crazy... well, I wouldn't say I blame her for that, it's just a statement of fact

No, that would be an opinion, not fact.

And yeah, just dismissing what was done because of her own looks is pretty lame.

 

[LucyDuke]

No, that would be an opinion, not fact.

And yeah, just dismissing what was done because of her own looks is pretty lame.

Dismissing... her looks... because of... her looks?

 

[MobBoss]

Dismissing... her looks... because of... her looks?

No, dismissing (or marginalizing) what Newsweek did.

I mean really, I dont even LIKE her. At all. But Newsweek doing this was just all kinds of wrong.

 

[Berzerker]

the caption is cheaper than the photo

 

[RedRalph]

No, dismissing (or marginalizing) what Newsweek did.

I mean really, I dont even LIKE her. At all. But Newsweek doing this was just all kinds of wrong.

Yeah given the fact that you defended those photoshopped pictures of Democrats on Fox last week, your objectivity on this is a tad suspect

 

[LucyDuke]

No, dismissing (or marginalizing) what Newsweek did.

I mean really, I dont even LIKE her. At all. But Newsweek doing this was just all kinds of wrong.

Oh, yeah, it was pretty tasteless to pick that photo. I actively dislike her, she is that crazy, but a crazy-looking picture is cheap. Stewart was right, what she says is even crazier. They should've done one of those talking birthday card sound thingies so when you open the magazine it's a clip of her saying one of those batpoop-insane things she says. Maybe a dozen different clips randomized through the copies, collect all twelve! That would've been way more fun, and then we could've had the same stupid fights about taking stuff out of context that we always have rather than the stupid fights about sexism or lookism or whatever jackassery's being accused this time. 'Cause I get bored standing in line at the grocery store with Oprah and Rachel Ray staring at me.

 

[Dreadnought]

Wow, now I have an ounce of respect for the Daily Show.

 

[Agent Cooper]

This story partly illustrates why I really like The Daily Show.

Funny how the Bachmann portrait that Stewart & co. had created out of actual Bachmann quotes, drove the point home so much more eloquently than what Newsweek came up with.

As usual, Fox News angled the story in completely predictable fashion and lived up to their role as PR agency for the GOP: Special Victims Unit.

 

[Mark1031]

Does anyone actually read Newsweek? Weren't they sold for like $1. Anyway....unfair?-Yes. Done may times before in media?- Yes. Of even the slightest importance?- No