Shows like “The Daily Show” indicate an awareness, Armitage says.

Question: Do shows like “The Daily Show” contribute to a growing cynicism?

Armitage:    No.  I don’t think they contribute.  If anything there’s an awareness of things going on.  As I say, they exploit the vulnerabilities of . . .  I know as a policy maker . . .  And I’ve been parodied on there at least once to my knowledge, and I deserved it.  I said something very stupid.  So I find that my children actually, in a way, have a fair understanding of a lot of things that they wouldn’t otherwise  . . . otherwise know.