They understand it perfectly well. They'd be more than happy to explain to you (mostly by changing the subject and answering non-questions you didn't ask) how what they said doesn't actually mean what they said, and how A=C and B=C but the idea that A=B is ridiculous.
If really pressed on the issue, they'd then explain how the entire hour-long interview is taken out of context and leaves numerous major factors out of the picture. None of which they have time to explain to you right now.

The thing about him paying off the writers was an internet rumor.

He did, however, help unionize Comedy Central's writers in the first place, and supports the strike.

Also Oliver was (like Stewart) eventually forced to break the strike. His reason? He's on a work Visa, and gets deported if he refuses to work.

Sad, and funny.

Is there really a crowd like that?

They do realize that the writers are why the Daily Show is funny, right?

Well, I think this clip also does a fantastic job of illustrating how Jon Stewart adds something.

Oh, yeah, there's quite a few people who think all writers are rich (because everyone in Hollywood is rich, right?) and are just greedy and should get back to work because what will I do if CSI goes into reruns, and so forth.

But these people are stupid so fuck 'em.

So negotiate it into your contract, writers. The whole union strike shit is so 1980's.

LOL unions

I'm not quite sure how they can negotiate it without striking.

Muffin baskets maybe?

Also how were they supposed to have Internet streaming and download rights in their contract that was written before there were any plans to put this stuff on the Internet?

Not John Oliver, John J. Viacom the Third!

John J. Viacom JUNIOR the Third to you, pissant.

I also liked the man named Susan

It's not about the writers. If they start giving these guys something close to a fair shake, what do you think the next guy down the line is going to want?

Because if you don't work, you can't afford cable.

I think it has more to do with that. I think Ronnie fucked the working man in the ass and everybody since then has just accepted his sea change of the way things work to the point where we're approaching corporate control of the government which is also known as facism.

That is absolute bullshit.

God damn it nigger. You are stupid.

No, you're fucking stupid if you think these writers need unions more than working people.

I see your point, Roach, but there's no point in railing against these writers on the basis of them not being the most downtrodden group in America. Causes have to be sexy if they're going to get steam. This will act as a meaningful precedent in this country's goldfish memory if things work out for our Ivy League studio proles.

Exactly, yeahjim

roach, i think your problem is that you don't know when to acept a good thing as a good thing. this is looking to be one of the first successful strikes in years and years (ok, i'm an optimist), which will send a message to other unions that striking is still legitimate and effective. like yeahjim says, just because it's not steel workers or miners or some other labor group with poor working conditions doesn't mean their hypocrites or something. not to mention it'll mean money will be distributed among a lower class than it all floating up to three or four primary share holders, which is the root of most of the country's problems. basically, there is no reason for you to be mad about this.

It's kind of dumb to accuse the public of being responsible for elevating the status of writers above the status of, say, doctors when the nature of poeTV is geared far more in favour of entertainment than practicality.

Also, I am a bouncer for writers.

Hey Everybody! THIS IS THE PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS

and while we're at it ther'es nothing bettter then a good choclate creme(tm) pie.