Right on the Money: Jon Stewart Blasts Jim Cramer
Jim Cramer and Jon Stewart
In the most anticipated late-night showdown since Letterman v. McCain, Jon Stewart took "Brawl Street" rival Jim Cramer to task on The Daily Show following the "the weeklong feud of the century."
"I understand that you want to make finance entertaining, but it's not a f--king game," Stewart told Cramer, and things got more contentious from there.
With trademark rolled-up sleeves, Cramer told Stewart he was a "fan of the show," but Stewart was in no mood to chit-chat. He also rolled 3-year-old tape he said showed Cramer discussing how to manipulate stocks. Earlier this week, Stewart showed video of Cramer urging viewers to buy Bear Stearns stock shortly before it tanked.
"I can't reconcile the brilliance and knowledge you have of the intricacies of the market with the crazy bulls--t I see you do every night," the comedian said, adding that the Mad Money host — and CNBC itself — had prioritized entertainment over investigative journalism.
Cramer tried to defend himself ("I, too, like you, want to have a successful show"), but ultimately conceded that he — and everyone — could have better anticipated the financial crisis. "We all should have seen it more," he said.
"Maybe we could remove the 'financial expert' and the 'in Cramer we trust' and start getting back to fundamentals on the reporting, as well, and I can go back to making fart noises and funny faces," Stewart said in closing.
What did you think of the face-off? Was it all that and more?
