USA: A rally sponsored by Comedy Central personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert filled the Mall near the Capitol in Washington D.C.

Record ID: 215637

  • Title: USA: A rally sponsored by Comedy Central personalities Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert filled the Mall near the Capitol in Washington D.C.
  • Date: 31st October 2010
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, DC. (OCTOBER 30, 2010) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) PEOPLE IN CROWD CLAPPING PEOPLE STANDING NEXT TO SIGN THAT READS "RALLY TO RESTORE SANITY"
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9A4OVM9CW2LZXX0E5P1PB94I
  • Story Text: Television comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert drew tens of thousands of people to the National Mall on Saturday (October 30), promising to skewer partisan politics three days before contentious U.S. elections.
    The Comedy Central hosts' "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" started off as part slapstick comedy show and part outdoor festival concert.
    During the festivities Stewart told the crowd that was filled with people holding signs some controversial, some comical that he can't control what people think of the rally but declared his intentions.
    "This was not a rally to ridicule people of faith, or activism, or look down our noses at the heartland, or passionate argument, or to suggest that times are not difficult and that we have nothing to fear. They are and we do. But we live now in hard times , not end times. (crowd cheering) We can have animus and not be enemies." said Stewart, who hosted U.S. President Barack Obama on his show on Wednesday.
    "Our currency is not this town's currency. We were not running for anything, we don't have a constituency. We do television shows for people who like them and we hope that people continue to like them so that Comedy Central can continue to sell beer to young people," he added at a press conference at the end of the event.
    The rally, widely viewed as a response to the "Restoring Honor" rally organized by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck last August, blurred the lines between satire and political activism.
    The Comedy Central hosts, who target Washington and its politicians regularly in their mock newscasts, avoided overt references to the Democrats and Republicans battling for control of Congress and governorships in Tuesday's elections.
    But Stewart took on a left-leaning persona advocating a "return to sanity," while Colbert called for a "return to fear."
    Michael McFadden, an Investment analyst from North Carolina said it was nice to have a change from the vicious discourse in America.
    "As angry as America has been lately it's sort of a nice change to come out here and have fun and see some great signs that have absolutely no meaning to anything but just great fun," McFadden said.
    Several people at the rally also weighed in on what they thought would be the outcome in the upcoming elections.
    "I hope the Democrats will be able to but I think they are going to lose some seats and I hope the Republicans can compromise and actually not just be the party of No but do something," said Emily Tamlyn, a Washington, D.C. attorney.
    "Hold the House. I don't know. We're going to put up a fight and I believe we will win the fight and if not it won't be because we didn't try and that we are at heart good people," added Delores Walker, a retired nurse from South Carolina.
    Stewart introduced Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, to sing his 1970s hit, "Peace Train," only to be interrupted by Colbert, who brought on metal rocker legend Ozzy Osborne to sing his 1980s hit, "Crazy Train."
    They later introduced the Ojays, who sang "Love Train".
    The show was opened by recording star John Legend, who performed at an inaugural concert for President Barack Obama in January 2009 and Philadelphia hip-hop/funk band The Roots.
    The Glenn Beck rally in August, which also featured 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, drew many people associating themselves with the Tea Party.
    It was peppered with speeches about God and country and tributes to the U.S. military including wounded veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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