Media critics pile on Cramer, CNBC

By: Michael Calderone
Politico
March 13, 2009

When Robert Gibbs was asked Friday about Jon Stewart's grilling of CNBC "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer, the White House press secretary flashed a smile, and told reporters that he "enjoyed it thoroughly."

Gibbs reaction to the Thursday "Daily Show" interview isn't surprising, given that he and President Obama have been complaining a lot lately about the white noise of "cable chatter" in the midst of financial crisis. But is the public also ready to tune out the talking heads?

Media critics, at least, seem to be. Variety proclaimed Thursday's "Daily Show" interview—which followed an eight-minute monologue last week in which Stewart bashed CNBC for “cheap populism” and bad predictions—"the most foolish appearance by someone whose name sounded like 'Cramer' since 'Seinfeld' went off the air," while others called it "a beat-down" (The Chicago Tribune); "a massacre" (Huffington Post); and a "remarkable public service [in] gutting Cramer" (The Baltimore Sun).

A certain amount of Schadenfreude could be expected when the loudest guy in the room pipes down, and accepts blame—and Cramer admitted to being "wrong" four times on Thursday night.

(More here.)