We need to put the notion that public voices like those of Rush Limbaugh, Jim Cramer, Stephen Colbert, and John Stewart are just entertainers to bed, once and for all, I think.  When Stewart went on CNN's Crossfire he responded to criticism by appeal to the fact he is just an entertainer and that the show before his is about prank calling puppets. 

Stewart is a funny guy, but there's clearly more to his comedy and The Daily Show than the jokes.  And, Rush Limbaugh recently proclaimed that he hoped Obama failed, some conservatives attempted to minimize the comments by suggesting that Limbaugh is first and foremost and entertaiiner . . . right before they ran apologizing to him.  If Limbaugh was just an entertainer there would be no need to apologize.

Sure, a big part of the modus operandi on these shows is to entertain folks, but the idea that they are just entertainers is I think obviously false, or at least I think so now.  It is not entertainment for sake of entertainment.  These shows and radio broadcasts are not merely entertainment on par with The Hills or The Bachelor or even good shows like The Office, Seinfeld or Gray's Anatomy and 24.  The subject matter is not entertaining in and of itself, it's serious stuff about politics, economics, and culture.  They do not simply want to entertain, but to bring about social and political change.  Stewart's comments on Crossfire and last night on The Daily show where he demolished Jim Cramer make it clear that he's not making jokes to just entertain us . . . although he certainly does that. Whether it's Rush Limbaugh, Stewart, Cramer or Stephen Colbert it's clear that what's going on in their shows is more than mere entertainment. It's entertainment as means to a larger point, which I'm happy about . . . but it ain't just jokes. It's jokes with a point and consequences whether it is Jon Stewart, Rush Limbaugh or Jim Cramer.