"What Are You Protecting?" Jon Stewart Shuts Down Politician Who Wants to Ban Drag Shows
“You don’t mind infringing on free speech to protect children from this amorphous thing that you think of. But when it comes to children that have died, you don’t give a flying f–k.”
Oklahoma State Senator Nathan Dahm (R) sat down with comedian, political commentator, and television host Jon Stewart to debate everything from gun rights to drag shows recently on Stewart’s Apple TV show.
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Stewart pressed Dahm on his stance that drag shows for children should be banned. “What are you protecting?” Stewart asked. Dahm replied that the government has the responsibility to protect children.
You could almost see sparks flying from Stewart at this point. He asked Dahm to repeat that statement. He did. The government has the responsibility to protect children, he said. What’s the leading cause of death among children in this country?” Stewart asked. “I’ll give you a hint- it’s not drag show readings to children.” Firearms. Firearms are the leading cause of death in American children.
An enraged John Stewart grills Oklahoma state senator @NathanDahm on his support in anti-drag legislation, pointing out that the number one cause of death of children in the US is firearms. pic.twitter.com/WideG1cIzo
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) March 4, 2023
“You don’t mind infringing on free speech to protect children from this amorphous thing that you think of. But when it comes to children that have died, you don’t give a flying f–k.”
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Of course, Senator Dahm claimed after the interview that he was much more erudite and lucid than he seemed to be and that his many illuminating arguments were slashed in editing. We will have to take his word on that.
The interview comes on the heels of Tennessee becoming the first state to pass a ban on public drag shows. A heartbreaking new development that NPR and Nashville Public Radio predicted “will likely force drag shows underground in Tennessee.”
What are we protecting?
Protect free speech. Protect freedom of expression. Don’t ban public drag shows. Fight book bans. It’s all part of the first amendment.