Argument

Through methods of comparison Stewart and Colbert serve to propagate and dissolve the myth respectively. Stewart makes Obama look immaculate through pointing out the flaws in Bush and Cheney. While Colbert pokes fun at the myth by making outlandish correlations between Obama and Lincoln. Both understand that a myth exists, but Stewart tries to strengthen the myth while Colbert tries to strip it away through comedy.

Stewart/Colbert

The Daily Show and the Colbert Report both perpetuate myths but in different comedic ways.

Jon Stewart:

• Portrays Obama as a mythical figure that will end all the problems in America.
• He's liberal and panders to a liberal, Obama-centric crowd.
• He presents Bush and Cheney as "the evil empire" and looks to Obama as a reasonable, intelligent and popular man.
• Everything contrasted Bush and Cheney. He indirectly made Obama look good by comparing him to the comical shortcomings of Bush and Cheney.
• Referred to Michelle Obama as a gift, while Bush and Cheney were made fun of.
• Showed a clip of applause at the White House for Obama while he was with Bush. Stewart joked that Bush asked what kind of boos these were. Implying that Bush was an unpopular president and never received much applause.
  

Colbert:

• Makes fun of the myth by comparing Obama to Lincoln in the most outlandish and insignificant ways.
• He doesn't strip the myth of it's credibility because he at no point tries to point out the fallacies in comparing Lincoln to Obama.
• Discussed Obama's train ride from Penn to DC and all the stops in between. Obama sworn in on Lincoln's bible.
  
• To almost defraud some of the myth he showed just how comical it was by saying how Obama could become more like Lincoln. This included making Michelle Obama appear crazy, and having Obama grow out a beard like Abe.