Because We Hate America

I'm watching CNN right now, and Larry King is interviewing Jon Stewart. King, apparently addled by age, asked Jon Stewart if as a comedian, he kind of enjoyed things going bad because it helped his materials. Jon Stewart's response was perfect:

KING: So, you don't want it to be bad?

STEWART: Did you really just ask me if I want it to be bad?

KING: Yes because you...

STEWART: What are you -- I have kids what do you think? Yes, I don't want them to have any kind of a -- I want things to corrode to the point where we're all living in huts.

KING: Not all living in huts but generally comics political comics like things to go a little wrong, don't have to be the end of the world.

STEWART: Like things to go a little wrong like birdshot to the face of a guy that will survive.

KING: That's right.

STEWART: Not like things to go wrong until it's like Mad Max, every man for himself, let's all ride around with machineguns on, which seems to be the way that it's...

KING: You don't want Medicare to fail?

STEWART: Are you insane?

KING: No.

STEWART: You're literally asking me if I would prefer -- yes, Larry, what I'm saying to you as a comedian I want old people to suffer, old and poor people to suffer. That is -- that is -- what we want is -- what seems absurd to me is the length that Washington just seems out of touch with the desires of Americans to be spoken to as though they are adults.

It was really perfect - I can't capture Stewart's tone. It was the perfect mix of incredulity and near-outrage. Loved it.

Update: Thanks to LeoPetr, I've fixed the transcript (I originally had it from memory), as well as a partial clip at Crooks and Liars.