The Daily Show laments the Garland cartoon contest shootings, messes with Texas


On Monday's Daily Show, Jon Stewart had one simple message for the two gunmen who died Sunday trying to shoot up a purposefully provocative Mohammed-cartoon-drawing contest in Garland, Texas — and for everyone else. "I can't believe we have to reiterate this," he said: "It is not OK to shoot other people because you are offended by what they draw, even if they drew it to offend you." To hammer that point home, various correspondents popped up from under his desk to propose various scenarios where it might be OK to shoot people. (No.)
While he was on the subject of Texas, Stewart took some low, mostly well deserved shots at Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and other Texans claiming that U.S. military exercises in the state are prelude to federal martial law. "You know who's calling it a Texas takeover? Lone Star lunatics," Stewart said. "Texas, there's no Texas takeover. The United States government already controls Texas, since like the 1840s.... Just borrow a textbook from a neighboring state: It's all in there." Stewart ended with this challenge for Texas, ending with "I never thought I'd be saying this — what would Rick Perry do?" —Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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