The Leader of the Free World


On this program, in the past, we have occasionally ribbed our current president. It's true. Go back and look at some of the tapes. We can be quite ribald. But it's in no way indicative of any real feelings about the president's abilities or policies. It's nothing personal – until now.

Yesterday, surrounded by school children, speaking in defense of his education policy, the president said this: [on screen, Bush saying,] "Childrens do learn, when standards are high and results are measured."

Childrens do learn! Or does they?

"Childrensss do learn" while talking about education. Let me tell you something, sir. Myself and this show, we don't need your charity. I have a full staff of very talented writers and producers working for me, and we can't even make that funnier by taking it out of context. You were talking about education! There is no funnier than that.

There is going to come a day when everyone here is going to need keen observation and wit to ridicule you. But when that day comes, all we're going to have are tired puns and goofy looks because, as you would say, we're suffering from the soft bigotry of low expectorations. So, please sir, change! For the childrens."

– Jon Stewart, September 27, 2007 (video)

The very charitable Stewart did not mention in this segment that during his first presidential campaign, Bush, who promised to be the "education president", once asked: "Is our children learning?"

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