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Jon Stewart grills Al Gore on Al Jazeera

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart on Wednesday challenged former vice president Al Gore over the sale of Current TV to Al Jazeera, telling the environmental activist he found it an “odd move” because the network is “backed by fossil fuel money.”

Gore — who stopped by the show on a tour that included several other TV appearances to promote his new book, “The Future” — again defended the sale to Stewart during Wednesday night’s show.

(Also on POLITICO: Al Gore defends Current TV sell)

“Can mogul Al Gore who has Current TV and sells it to Qatar, which is an oil-based economy, can mogul Al Gore coexist with activist Al Gore?” Stewart asked. “If you couldn’t find for your business a more sustainable choice to sell to—“

Gore jumped in, saying, “I think it is sustainable. What is not sustainable about it?"

“I mean, a non-fossil fuel based buyer,” Stewart replied.

Gore used a line he has trotted out frequently on his press tour, praising Al Jazeera for having the “highest quality, most extensive, best climate coverage of any network in the world.”

“So here you have an award-winning network that has established its reputation for excellence that does terrific climate coverage. They want to come in here and give 24/7 commercial free outstanding news reporting and give thorough coverage to the climate issue, why not?” Gore added.

But Current TV was a news organization that could have accomplished that, Stewart countered. Gore, however, said Current simply could not compete in a “conglomerate world” without “deep pockets.”

The Comedy Central host then pressed Gore to explain his “cost-benefit analysis” of the sale to Al Jazeera and where the issue of sustainability came in that assessment.

(VIDEO: Gore: Idealogy is in our DNA)

“You had an opportunity to make a statement probably about your principles and some people would feel, and for me as well, I thought it was an odd move,” Stewart said. “Not because of some of the other things, but because it is backed by fossil fuel money.”

“I get it. I get it. I get it,” Gore said. “But it was an easy choice after doing the diligence on the network itself.”

“Can you see how people at home might think – but he's asking me in my life to make choices about light bulbs and a cost-benefit analysis for the purpose of sustainability when I just want to see my book. That's the issue,” Stewart said.

When Gore responded that there is “nothing that is unsustainable about a network with this reputation,” Stewart pointed out the criticism stems from the fact that oil-rich Qatar backs Al Jazeera.

Gore, however, defended the country as a “strong ally” of the United States with a “visionary plan” to build on the solar and wind resources in the region.

“I'm very, very comfortable with it,” Gore said. “I completely get the criticism, but this was a good choice and the net benefit for the U.S. is going to be very positive.”

Meanwhile, the former vice president also shared earlier in the interview that Al Jazeera will keep “a lot of the same people” from Current TV, although there has already been a small exodus of hosts from the network.