JON STEWART Goes OFF On Congress

I want to thank mr. Collins mr. Naylor for putting this together but as I sit here today I can't help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 911 first responders has come to behind me a filled room of 911 first responders and in front of me a nearly empty Congress sick and dying brought themselves down here to speak and no one it's shameful it's an embarrassment to the country and it is a stain on this institution and you should be ashamed of yourselves for those that aren't here but you won't be because accountability doesn't appear to be something that occurs in this chamber we don't want to be here Lu doesn't want to be here none of these people want to be here but they are and they're not here for themselves they're here to continue fighting for what's right Lu's gonna go back for 69th chemo the great ray Pfeiffer would come down here his body riddled with cancer and pain where he couldn't walk and the disrespect shown to him and to the other lobbyists on this bill is utterly unacceptable you know I used to get I would be so angry at the latest injustice that's done to these men and women and you know another business card thrown our way as a way of shooing us away like children trick-or-treating rather than the heroes that they are and will always be ray would stay calm down Johnny calm down I got all the cards I need and he would tap his pocket where she kept the prayer cards 343 firefighters the official FDNY response time the 911 was five seconds five seconds that's how long it took for FDNY for NYPD for Port Authority for EMS to respond to an urgent need from the public five seconds hundreds died in an instant thousands more poured in to continue to fight and sisters you the breathing problem star almost immediately and they were told they weren't sick they were crazy and then as the illnesses got worse and things became more apparent well okay you're sick but it's not from the pile and then when the science became irrefutable okay it's the pile but this is a New York issue I don't know if we have the money and I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic but I'm angry and you should be too and they're all angry as well and they have every justification to be that way there is not a person here there is not an empty chair on that stage that didn't tweet out never forget the heroes of 9/11 never forget their bravery never forget what they did what they gave to this country well here they are and where are they and it would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign but it's not your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity time you so one thing they're running out of this should be flipped this hearing should be flipped these men and women should be up on that stage and Congress should be down here answering their questions as to why this is so damn hard and takes so damn long and why no matter what they get something's always pulled back and they got to come back mr. Johnson you made a point earlier and it was one that we have heard over and over again in these halls and I couldn't help but to answer to it which was he said look you know you guys are obviously heroes and 9/11 was a big deal but you know we have a lot of stuff here to do and you know we got to make sure there's money for a variety of disasters hurricanes and tornadoes but this wasn't a hurricane and this wasn't a tornado and by the way that's your job anyway we can't fund these programs you can setting aside that no American in this country should face financial ruin because of a health issue certainly 9/11 first responders shouldn't have to decide whether to live or to have a place to live and the idea that you can only give them five more years of the VFC because you're not quite sure what's gonna happen five years from now well I can tell you I'm pretty sure what's gonna happen five years from now more of these men and women are going to get sick and they are going to die and I am awfully tired of hearing that it's a 911 New York issue al-qaeda didn't shout death to Tribeca act America and these men and women and their response to it is what brought our country back it's what gave a reeling nation a solid foundation to stand back upon to remind us of why this country is great of why this country is worth fighting for and you are ignoring them and you can end it tomorrow why this bill isn't unanimous consent a standalone issue is beyond my comprehension and I have yet to hear a reasonable explanation for why it'll get stuck in some transportation bill or some appropriations bill and get sent over to the Senate where a certain someone from the Senate will use it as a political football to get themselves maybe another new import tax on petroleum because that's what happened to us in 2015 and we won't allow it to happen again thank God for people like John feel thank God for people like ray Pfeiffer thank God for all of these people who will not let it happen they responded in they did their jobs courage grace tenacity humility eighteen years later to yours thank you [Applause]

Channel: LiveNOW from FOX

Views: 2,341,967

Keywords: Phoenix, Arizona, news, Jon Stewart, Jon stewart 9/11, 9/11 victim fund, 9/11 hearing

Id: iQkMJgaHAkY

Length: 9min 14sec (554 seconds)

Published: Tue Jun 11 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/Gumborevisited]

As an FDNY fireman who was there that day and served many more on tht pile. I cannot tell you how much his support means.

And if you'd like to learn something... Jon is just carrying on the work of Ray Pfeifer. Look him up. Great fireman. Great man. And a man who fought till the very end to help others.

[u/Briguy24]

I miss hearing him speak. I really hope he comes back we could all use a little more Jon right now.

[u/SxLongshadow]

"They did their job... 18 years later DO YOURS." Thank you Jon.

[u/-cannabliss-]

Jon Stewart is a patriot.

[u/littletreesbigplaces]

That was a beautiful speech from Jon. If anyone has the time they should really give this video a full listen. He pulls no punches, and he cut all bullshit. He just went straight at Congress for their inaction, while calling out their hypocrisy for milking 9/11 sympathies on their twitter for political points.

[u/[deleted]]

Jon gets really and truly emotional, he's shaking at some points.

This is what we've all been up against for decades now. We scream and suffer into the face of silence.

[u/[deleted]]

This was from today. A quote:

"What an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to ... behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress.

"Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one. Shameful. It's an embarrassment to the country, and it is a stain on this institution. And you should be ashamed of yourselves for those that aren't here, but you won't be. Because accountability doesn't appear to be something that occurs in this chamber."

[u/TheLoooseCannon]

Al Qaeda didn't chant "DEATH TO TRIBECA!" He simplifies everything so perfectly. I was also so impressed when he points out all of the political well being and virtue signalling that was done off of the backs of these first responders.

[u/bombinabackpack]

I miss Jon a lot. I feel like his tenure at daily show did SOMETHING to educate the youth and help keep the wheels from coming off for as long as possible.