President Obama in his final appearance on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart last week in New York. Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
Politico: Jon Stewart’s secret White House visits
Obama, aides took unusual steps to cultivate ‘Daily Show’ comic.
Jon Stewart slipped unnoticed into the White House in the midst of the October 2011 budget fight, summoned to an Oval Office coffee with President Barack Obama that he jokingly told his escort felt like being called into the principal’s office.
In February 2014, Obama again requested Stewart make the trip from Manhattan to the White House, this time for a midmorning visit hours before the president would go before television cameras to warn Russia that “there will be costs” if it made any further military intervention in Ukraine.
To engage privately with the president in his inner sanctum at two sensitive moments — previously unreported meetings that are listed in the White House visitor logs and confirmed to POLITICO by three former Obama aides — speaks volumes about Stewart and his reach, which goes well beyond the million or so viewers who tune in to “The Daily Show” on most weeknights.
Update: Jon Stewart Secretly Met With Obama at White House -- New York Times
WNU Editor: To be called into the White House on the eve of a major foreign news announcement speaks volume on how important people like Jon Stewart are to President Obama .... and we should not be surprised. Shows like the "Daily Show" are the primary source of news and information for those younger than me. And while the Daily Show is not a news show .... perception is everything in this business, and the perception is that the Daily Show is a source for news. Unfortunately for Jon Stewart .... this revelation is going to put a small cloud on his legacy. One has to wonder how much of his program was crafted to elevate President Obama .... while slamming his critics. The sad part of this story is that it was/is all unnecessary .... he should have been open about his visits. Jon Stewart is as liberal as you can get .... and his audience reflects that .... it would not have hurt him if he had admitted that yes .... he did have access to the White House ... and that yes .... he is an avid supporter of President Obama. But for reasons of his own .... he choose not to be open about it.
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