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| Kevin Grout Class of 2016 |
My generation doesn’t get its news from the newspapers, the radio, or even from CNN. Instead, a large portion of my generation learns about politics, current events, and business from The Daily Show. For years, comedians like John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver played newsmen and laughed their way through the news. Viewers, especially young viewers who don't use other news sources, take the hosts jokes as facts. My generation has absorbed and laughed from these men, but we’ve also gotten another thing: the liberal view of the world.
Between the punchlines, the hosts insert their beliefs, opinions, and liberal views. Although the Colbert Report boasted a conservative host, the Stephen Colbert’s character was nothing more than a caricature and didn’t represent anything conservative. Of course, the comedians poke fun at politicians of all stripes, but they advance the viewpoints of the liberal Left. As a young conservative who likes to laugh, where do I have to turn?
The answer: nowhere. Instead, I laugh along with John Stewart and the gang, but have to hold my tongue when they turn against my basic values. Even more, these shows have produced a whole new generation of even more liberal hosts. The Daily Show has Trevor Noah, The Nightly Show stars Larry Wilmore, HBO and TBS have entered the arena with Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, respectively. The Left has found a product that sells, and they’re mass producing it.
I’ve had the opportunity to take part in the Conservative Movement in many ways. However, the next step the Movement must take is to appeal to broad swaths of young people. I think the best way to do this is with an 11pm weeknight comedy show. I want to see a host laugh at the events of the day while also advancing free enterprise, individual liberties, traditional American values, limited government, and a strong national defense. If we can find one, the Conservative Movement can fight back against liberal indoctrination through comedy. That’s a show I’d watch.
Kevin Grout is a senior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville studying history and political science.