The craziness of American politics has proven to be wonderful fodder for “The Daily Show,” Comedy Central’s mock newscast hosted by Jon Stewart.

In this election season, however, “The Daily Show” has been seen as more of a major player in the appearance circuit, drawing recent visits from Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and former President Bill Clinton. Many top Republicans have also appeared.

All this has led some people to ask whether the show has lost its edge. After all, the thinking goes, it’s hard for the barbs to be as sharp when you’re trying to recruit some of your targets as potential guests. Besides, human nature makes it a little easier to be nasty about people we have never met — people who have never shown us their human side.

It’s all about appearances, and it’s a no-win situation from Stewart’s standpoint. Your best bet is to do as he has and welcome those guests with the most prestige, then do whatever you can to make sure you keep your edge.

Bosses can run into a similar quandary about how to treat their employees. If you favor talented people, then others will say they aren’t being treated equally. But if you downplay the contributions of your best workers, your company might lose them or not reach its potential.

Bend over backward to make sure all workers have the chance to showcase their talents, but don’t let the whisperers slow you down. Losing the hearts and minds of a few average workers won’t hurt nearly as much as if you let a top person slip away.

Whether you’re hosting a talk show or running an office, surrounding yourself with talent is the best way to succeed.