It's been nearly a week since President Joe Biden delivered his powerful State of the Union address, and while many Americans have moved on to other topics, there's one aspect of the evening that continues to generate buzz: Alabama Sen. Katie Britt's unhinged GOP response. According to Republican insiders, Britt's rebuttal had members of her own party "losing it," and the fallout from her bizarre performance shows no signs of abating. On Monday, comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart took his turn at critiquing Britt's response, using his platform on "The Daily Show" to toss a few jabs her way. Stewart, known for his biting wit and incisive commentary, described Britt's rebuttal as "objectively terrible," and expressed his own sense of unease at her insistence that the Republican party "sees you, we hear you, and we stand with you." "If you're going to stand with me, could you stand a little bit further away?" Stewart quipped, drawing laughter from his studio audience. He then went on to imagine a hypothetical scenario in which one of Britt's children might have stumbled into the kitchen during the filming of her menacing video, only to apologize for not realizing "you were losing your fucking mind. I'll come back when the Zannies kick in." Stewart's comments highlight the general sense of disbelief and confusion that has surrounded Britt's response since it aired. Many viewers were taken aback by the senator's intense demeanor and seemingly unhinged rhetoric, which stood in stark contrast to the measured and optimistic tone of Biden's address. Even some members of Britt's own party have reportedly expressed their dismay at her performance, with one anonymous Republican strategist telling Politico that the response was "a disaster." But while much of the attention has focused on Britt's overall demeanor and delivery, Stewart argues that one key part of her response has been largely overlooked. Specifically, he points to a moment when Britt told all the parents and grandparents listening to "get into the arena," encouraging them to "never forget: we are steeped in the blood of patriots who overthrew the most powerful empire in the world." "Two things," said Stewart, visibly perplexed. "One: Who smiles when they say the line 'steeped in the blood of patriots'? And number two: This is just one more entry in the Republican mythology that they are the inheritors of the American revolutionary tradition. That they are somehow more American-y than non-Republican Americans." Stewart's comments touch on a larger issue that has been simmering beneath the surface of American politics for years: the idea that one party or ideology is somehow more "American" than the others. This notion has been particularly prominent in conservative circles, where politicians and pundits often position themselves as the true defenders of American values and traditions while casting their opponents as un-American or even treasonous. To illustrate this point, Stewart showed a montage of clips featuring various Republican figures declaring themselves and their supporters to be "real" Americans and the "real America." The implication, of course, is that anyone who doesn't subscribe to their particular brand of conservatism is somehow less American, or even anti-American. "What is it about the Republican party that makes it American-er than the rest of us?" Stewart wondered aloud. "Sure, they like to bring up the Constitution a lot, but they also have a pretty liberal understanding of its words—like when Donald Trump says that it gives him the legal right to murder his political rivals in cold blood and not have to face any consequences." Stewart's point is a serious one, despite the humorous way in which he makes it. The idea that any one party or ideology has a monopoly on patriotism or American values is not only false, but also deeply corrosive to the fabric of our democracy. It suggests that those who disagree with us politically are not just wrong, but actively un-American, and therefore unworthy of the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. This kind of rhetoric has become all too common in recent years, particularly on the right. From claims that Democrats want to "destroy America" to accusations of treason against anyone who criticizes the president, the language of patriotism has been weaponized in ways that are both divisive and dangerous.
Stewart sees this trend as part of a larger problem with the way some Republicans, including Trump and Britt, approach the very idea of America and what it means to be an American. "Remember 'We the people'?" he asked, referring to the famous opening words of the Constitution. "You know there's more words after that, right?" The point, of course, is that the Constitution is not just a collection of buzzwords and catchphrases to be trotted out whenever it's politically convenient. It's a complex and nuanced document that lays out a system of government based on checks and balances, individual rights, and the rule of law. To selectively quote from it or twist its meaning to suit one's own political agenda is to do a disservice to the very principles upon which our nation was founded. Ultimately, Stewart argues, this is the fundamental problem with the kind of blind loyalty and unquestioning support that some Republicans show for figures like Trump and Britt, even when they spout nonsense or advocate for positions that are clearly at odds with American values and traditions. "If you want to love Trump, love him," Stewart said. "Go to the rallies, buy the sneakers. You want to give him absolute power? You want him to be the leader über alles? You want him to have the right of kings? You do you. But stop framing it as patriotism because the one thing you cannot say is that Donald Trump is following the tradition of the Founders. He is advocating for complete and total presidential immunity… that is monarchy shit." Stewart's point is a powerful one, and it speaks to the dangers of conflating political ideology with patriotism. The idea that any one leader or party has the right to wield unchecked power, free from the constraints of the law or the will of the people, is antithetical to the very principles upon which our nation was founded. It's the kind of thinking that led to the American Revolution in the first place, as colonists fought to free themselves from the tyranny of a monarchy that claimed absolute authority over their lives and liberties. "It's your right to support it," Stewart said of Trump's vision of an all-powerful presidency. "But just do me a favor for historical accuracy: Next time you want to dress up at the rallies, wear the right fucking colored coats." With that, he flashed an illustration of several British Redcoats, the very symbol of the oppressive regime that the American colonists fought to overthrow. The implication is clear: those who blindly support leaders like Trump and Britt, who claim to embody American values while advocating for positions that are fundamentally at odds with them, are not the true heirs of the American revolutionary tradition. They are, in fact, closer to the very forces that the Founders fought against - the forces of tyranny, oppression, and unchecked power. It's a sobering message, but one that feels particularly relevant in today's polarized political climate. As we continue to grapple with the challenges facing our nation, from economic inequality to racial injustice to the ongoing threat of authoritarianism, it's more important than ever to remember the true meaning of patriotism - not blind loyalty to any one leader or party, but a deep and abiding commitment to the principles of freedom, equality, and democracy that have always been at the heart of the American experiment. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.