Jon Stewart scoffs at Times’ Rubio stories

Jon Stewart bashed The New York Times Wednesday night for its recent coverage of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), joining a slew of commentators mocking articles scrutinizing the 2016 presidential contender.

Stewart hit on the first Times story, published last week, which found Rubio and his wife received 17 traffic citations since 1997. Of those, the senator received four.

{mosads}”I assume The New York Times obtained this damning information from Marco Rubio’s plaque in the Hall of Best Miami Drivers Ever,” Stewart said on “The Daily Show.”

He also slammed a Times report this week looking at Rubio’s personal finances that noted the Florida senator spoke of paying off his law school loans and buying an $80,000 fishing boat.

“You bastard. Paying off law school loans? How dare you. At long last, senator, have you no sense of insolvency?” Stewart said.

Stewart hit the newspaper for calling attention to Rubio and his wife “splurging on a whole house.” He quoted the Times article, saying the home included “an in-ground pool, a handsome brick driveway, meticulously manicured shrubs and oversize windows.”

“Oversize windows? Oh, what’s the matter, senator? The normal amount of light isn’t good enough for you? ‘I’m Senator Marco Rubio. I like to roll around in giant patches of sunlight,’ ” Stewart said.

“How is this front-page news?” Stewart asked. “What’s The New York Times going to do, exercise editorial control?”

Stewart acknowledged in his segment that the newspaper has recently published major stories scrutinizing Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, and likely Rubio rival former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.