Jon Stewart on Marco Rubio’s State Of The Union Rebuttal

Victor Landa, NewsTaco

The State of the Union rebuttal speech on prime time television, regardless of which party sits in loyal opposition, has become a showcase for the party’s ideas and leaders. Not that it was intended to be that way. But that’s what it’s become.

Sure, ideas are put forth, but the State of the Union speech followed by an opposing rebuttal, in the age of broadcast television and instant digital streaming and Tweeting, has become a spectator duel of rhetoric, staging and speech craft.

Given that context, the most recent GOP rebuttal to the President’s State of the Union speech was cringeworthy. There may have been ideas tucked away somewhere in Sen. Marco Rubio’s speech, but when you consider the Senator’s perspiration, parched delivery and awkward drink of water, little else is noteworthy.

I held back from commenting on Rubio’s speech and delivery until now, mostly because there was nothing new to say. But, in the hands of Jon Stewart’s writing and production staff at Comedy Central, the tired comments gained some luster. It’s worth watching again.