Jon Stewart fired back at Sen. Mitch McConnell Monday, explaining why he’s so “bent out of shape” over securing health care for 9/11 responders — and challenging the Senate majority leader to meet with the ailing heroes on Tuesday.
The former host of “The Daily Show” was responding to McConnell’s interview on “Fox & Friends,” where the Kentucky Republican promised to “take care” of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund after digs from Stewart.
“We have never failed to address this issue. And we will address it again,” McConnell said Monday. “I don’t know why he’s all bent out of shape. We will take care of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.”
That interview came after Stewart, who pleaded with lawmakers last week to reauthorize the fund, questioned whether McConnell would ensure its passage in the GOP-controlled Senate.
“He has always held out until the last minute, and only then after intense lobbying and public shaming has he even deigned to move on it,” Stewart told “Fox News Sunday.”
In a segment on CBS’ “The Late Show,” host Stephen Colbert asked Stewart why he was “bent out of shape.”
“I’m bent out of shape for them,” Stewart responded. “These are the heroes and veterans and victims of the great trillions-of-dollars war on terror and they’re still currently suffering and dying and in terrible need … you would think that that would be enough to get Congress’ attention but apparently its not.”
Last week, Stewart shamed members of the House Judiciary Committee for not showing up to a hearing on reauthorizing the fund.
But McConnell said that “frequently happens because members have a lot of things going on at the same time” and that it seemed Stewart was “looking for some way to take offense.”
“I feel like an a–hole,” Stewart responded sarcastically, as he sat behind Colbert’s desk. “I didn’t know that they were busy. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt them … with their JOBS.”
“Damn, Senator, you’re not good at this argument thing,” Stewart continued. “Basically, we’re saying you love the 9/11 community when they serve your political purposes. But when they’re in urgent need, you slow-walk, you dither, you use it as a political pawn to get other things you want. And you don’t get the job done completely. And your answer to that charge is, ‘Yeah, duh, we’re Congress, that’s how we do.’
“But the truth is, that’s not how Congress do, that’s how you, Mitch McConnell do.”
Stewart then expressed hope that McConnell won’t “jack us around like you’ve done in the past” and will get the bill passed.
“So, if you want to know why the 9/11 community is bent out of shape over these past, let’s call it 18 years,” he said. “Meet with them, tomorrow, as soon as possible, and don’t make them beg for it.”
Stewart added: “If you’re busy, I get it.
“Just understand that the next time we have a war or you’re being robbed or your house is on fire and you make that desperate call for help, don’t get bent out of shape if they show up at the last minute, with fewer people than you thought were going to pay attention, and don’t really put it out.”
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