A new national poll shows Donald Trump is now leading in the Republican primary despite his very offensive comments about Mexican immigrants. And while only time and campaign fundamentals can doom Trump's candidacy, for now we can turn to The Daily Show's Jon Stewart to provide some calm as American politics turns into what seems more like a reality TV show than a contest for the most powerful political seat in the world.
Last week, Stewart took on Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants. As a reminder, here's what Trump said during his presidential campaign launch, for which he has not apologized: "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. … They're sending people that have lots of problems. And they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
"That's our good friend Donald Trump reminding America that as many as a handful of people coming across our southern border are not rapists — he assumes," Stewart joked. "He's sure about the rapist part, but feels that — I guess by pure law of averages — there are probably some non-rapists caught up in that tide."
Stewart blasted other Republican contenders for not denouncing what Trump said
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While various companies and celebrities have severed their business connections with Trump after his comments, a few Republican contenders for president — notably Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and Ben Carson — have said Trump's basic argument about the dangers of illegal immigration is right despite his "colorful way of speaking."
"It is hard to get mad at Donald Trump for saying stupid things — in the same way you don't get mad at a monkey when he throws poop at you at the zoo," Stewart said. "What does get me angry is the ridiculous, disingenuous defending of the poop-throwing monkey."
"That is not what he said"
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Some people who've defended Trump, including Rep. Steve King (R-IA), have suggested that Trump was speaking generally and only trying to bring up problems he sees with the southern border.
"Stop pretending he didn't say and is sticking to what he said," Stewart said. "Which is [that] Mexico is purposely sending us drugs, killers, and rapists. And within that group, there may be — he's not sure — some people who are good. That's the part he's not sure about. He's only sure about the overwhelming number of killers and rapists and drug addicts Mexico has sent us. That is what he fucking said."
Stewart earlier pointed to a study in Criminology that showed no correlation between immigration and crime. Indeed, a review of the data and research by the Immigration Policy Center, an advocacy group, found immigrants are actually less likely to commit crime than native-born Americans.
"Apparently, killing and hurting each other is one of those jobs Americans are still very willing to do themselves," Stewart said.
"The one good thing to come out of this…"
"The one good thing to come out of this is that the farce of this candidacy is finally exposed," Stewart said. "His unseriousness is on display for all people and voters to see, and the results will be obvious."
Then Stewart showed one of the polls last week showing Trump ahead:
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"Fuck me," Stewart said. "We'll be right back."
