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Friday, Sep 16, 2011 12:17 PM UTC

“Daily Show” chides Obama over Solyndra bankruptcy

"That custom-tailored Obama scandal you ordered is finally here."

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Topics: Morning Clip, The Daily Show,

Maybe you’ve heard: A solar energy company called Solyndra declared bankruptcy last month, and has just laid off its entire 1,000 person workforce. As Jon Stewart noted on “The Daily Show” last night, the business’s failure has the makings of a major political problem for President Obama, as the company received more than $500 million in federal funds.

True, Solyndra received only a fraction of the money doled out through the government’s green energy program. “Most of the other companies have benefited from that money,” Stewart said. But the president had made Solyndra the poster-child for green investment, praising it in major speeches and touring its facilities. The failure at an optics level, as Stewart points out, is pretty magnificent:

Does the failure of one company discredit the entire idea of a green-energy economy? Of course not. But, if in, let’s say, 1936, you spoke about the growing importance of air travel in front of, I don’t know, the Hindenburg, you’d be right about the future of air travel — but you’d still be on f__ing fire!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
That Custom-Tailored Obama Scandal You Ordered Is Finally Here
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Peter Finocchiaro

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

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