The Most Trusted Man in America?

A Pew study analyzed the show's content during the summer and fall of 2007 and concluded that "Stewart's humor targeted Republicans more than three times as often as Democrats. The Bush administration alone was the focus of 22 percent of the segments." Although this percentage is likely to change when a Democratic administration comes to power, Democrats do not escape his tongue-lashing, even if it is to criticize them for not being democratic enough. There is a sort of liberal angst in his characterizations of Democrats as "at best ewoks," a reference to cuddly, somewhat hapless Star Wars creatures.

In the run-up to the 2004 elections, Stewart indicated that he would vote for John Kerry. Although no one imagines that Stewart cast a vote for McCain, who supports the Iraq war, McCain was a guest on the show thirteen times, far more than either Clinton or Obama. Many of McCain's guest spots were via satellite from his Straight Talk Express bus during low points in his primary campaign, providing him with much needed media exposure. "John McCain is someone for whom I have great respect," Stewart told Larry King last February.

Despite his effort to be a fair and balanced mocker, Stewart's reputation as the "most trusted man in America" should be taken with a grain of salt. Such stature is not unusual for a comedian, says Nicholas Lemann, the dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. "Johnny Carson in his heyday, you could make that statement about." Lemann warns against generalizing about how far that trust spreads beyond Stewart's core audience. "I think that's a kind of a blue-state perspective and youth perspective. To many of my cousins in Louisiana, Rush Limbaugh is the most trusted man in America."

Left or right, people acknowledge that Stewart is very funny. Part of his appeal may be his Jewishness and the fact that Jews are still perceived as outsiders, says Moshe Waldoks. At the same time, Stewart personifies a trend in which younger American Jews have become more open about being Jewish. "I think like the Jewishness of many people today, Stewart's Jewishness is not expressed in the synagogue or ritually but in this new place, which is the public square," adds Waldoks.

In the public square, Stewart may be the perfect Jewish ambassador for our times: smart but not arrogant, extremely funny but not mean -- a valedictorian, most popular, best-looking, and class clown all wrapped into one.

So, is Jon Stewart, to ask that annoying question, good for the Jews? As Fareed Zakaria, the editor of Newsweek International, puts it, "Are you serious? How could Jon Stewart not be good for the Jews?"

This article was first published at Moment Magazine, a Patheos Partner, and is reprinted with permission.

Rachel Sklar contributed to this story. Additional research by Mark Abramson, Ana Forman, Mindy Gold, and Maxine Springer.