Jon Stewart blasts Obama, Tea Party over debt deal (Reuters)

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) – As the Democrats cave and the Tea Party rages on, neither side is happy with the budget deal -- a deal that rendered Jon Stewart incredulous.

Stewart thought he remembered that President Barack Obama assured everyone no budget would pass without revenue increases -- meaning tax cuts.

"That's ... eh ... they must have forgotten to add 'and with the new balanced approach to deficit reduction forged by rational adults there're some revenue increases whilst preserving some vital government functions.'"

Nope. After a video of a skunk with its head in a jar of peanut butter and Barack Obama thanking the American people for pushing a deal forward, Stewart dubbed the compromise a "turd."

He then assumed the Republicans were happy because the Democrats got "hosed."

Nope. "What the fee-fi-fo-f**k!" Stewart screamed.

That seems to be the prevailing sentiment. You can see the video here: http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/jon-stewart-blasts-barack-obama-tea-party-over-turd-debt-deal-29668

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Belafonte says Obama lacks moral courage, vision (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Singer and activist Harry Belafonte says President Barack Obama and his "mission" have failed because of a lack of moral courage and vision.

The president is "not a stand-alone," Belafonte said Thursday. Regarding the debt-ceiling crisis, Belafonte said he would ask Congress, the president and other U.S. institutions of power "what happened to moral truth" and moral courage.

Belafonte made his remarks to the Television Critics Association while discussing "Sing Your Song," a documentary about him airing this fall on HBO. The 84-year-old singer, known as the King of Calypso, has pushed for political and social change since the U.S. civil rights movement.

He hopes the documentary will illuminate a time when Americans faced problems and found the resources to face them, Belafonte said. "Sing Your Song" debuts Oct. 17.

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Michelle Obama to appear on TV's "Extreme Makeover" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – First lady Michelle Obama will appear on ABC show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as part of her initiative to support military families, the network said on Tuesday.

Michelle Obama's appearance on the show will be shot on Thursday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the episode will air in October, said Patrick Preblick, a spokesman for ABC.

The first lady is making the appearance as part of her Joining Forces initiative for military families.

The episode will focus on 15-year U.S. Navy veteran Barbara Marshall and her family. Michelle Obama and the "Extreme Makeover" team will help Marshall's mission of assisting homeless veterans by building a new house that will house several families, ABC said in a statement.

Michelle Obama last month filmed an appearance on the children's TV show "iCarly" which was also tied to her Joining Forces initiative. In 2009, she was seen in an episode of "Sesame Street" to promote healthy eating.

The reality TV series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" performs speedy and drastic home renovations for families that have suffered misfortune.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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