In a livelier performance that Barack Obama gave at his first presidential debate, comedian Jon Stewart and talk show host Bill O'Reilly met in a live-streamed grudge match to discuss politics, the economy, international affairs, and Stewart's height.
Moderator E.D. Hill, formerly of Fox News and now on CNN, introduced the "gargantuan 6-foot-4" O'Reilly before announcing the "hobbit-like" 5-foot-7-inch Stewart.
Stewart compensated (some might say overcompensated) for his disadvantage with a motorized platform that lifted him several feet in the air.
On the issues, Stewart, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," and O'Reilly, host of "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News, differed on most points.
O'Reilly said Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's infamous "47 percent" remarks were off by 27 percent. "About 20 percent of us are slackers, and it's a growing industry," he said.
"That is what this election is all about. We are spending an enormous amount of money on 20 percent."
Stewart countered that America has always been an entitlement society. "We are a people that went to another country, saw other people on it and said, 'Yea, we want that,'" Stewart said. "Have you ever seen 'Oprah's favorite things' episode?"
O'Reilly said he begrudged the use of his tax dollars for programs he doesn't support. "We have a president here who believe in social justice, he wants to take your money, my money, the money of the 1 percent, and he wants to give it to Bill Moyers," said O'Reilly, referring to the acclaimed journalist who works for PBS.
Stewart then offered a deal, if he could get a refund for his tax dollars that went to the Iraq War. "Give me back the $800 billion we spent on the Iraq war and it's free rubbers for everyone," he said, responding to O'Reilly's objection to federal spending on birth control.
Throughout the debate, the two pundits jabbed at each other, lobbing rhetorical bombs both articulate and devastating, before descending into juvenile humor and poop jokes.
While the live event was sold out, it was streamed online for $4.95, though many purchasers had technical issues when the servers were overwhelmed. For those who missed it, paying customers or otherwise, the full video is below.