Jon Stewart opts against jokes, calls Charleston shooting 'terrorist attack'

theGRIO REPORT - Comedian and Daily Show host Jon Stewart could not find anything to joke about in the opening to Thursday night's show following the tragic shooting at a Charleston church...

Comedian and Daily Show host Jon Stewart could not find anything to joke about in the opening to Thursday night’s show following the tragic shooting at a Charleston church.

“I didn’t do my job today. So I apologize,” Stewart told his audience on Thursday. “I got nothin’ for you in terms of jokes and sounds, because of what happened in South Carolina. And maybe if I wasn’t near the end of the run, or this wasn’t such a common occurrence, maybe I could’ve pulled out of the spiral. But I didn’t. And so, I honestly have nothing, other than just sadness.”

He continued the emotional segment by pointing out the “disparity” between how America reacts to   domestic threats (Charleston shooting suspect) and how the country reacts to perceived ‘Islamic terrorism.’

He also cautioned against describing the church massacre as isolated or tragedy “visiting” a sacred place.

“This wasn’t a tornado,” Steward said. “This was a racist. This was a guy with a Rhodesia badge on his sweater. I hate to even use this pun, but this one is black and white. There’s no nuance here.”

He also pointed out the fact that many of South Carolina’s roads are named after Confederate generals.

“That’s insanity. That’s racial wallpaper,” Stewart said. “You can’t allow that. Nine people were shot in a black church by a white guy who hated them, who wanted to start some sort of civil war. The Confederate flag flies over South Carolina, and the roads are named for Confederate generals. And the white guy’s the one who feels like his country’s being taken away from him.”

Well played, Jon. Thank you.

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