Jon Stewart Announces DC 'Rally to Restore Sanity'

By Marc Schneider Posted Sep 17th 2010 06:34AM

'Daily Show' host Jon Stewart announced Thursday that he'll lead a rally on Washington that aims to encourage angry citizens on both sides of the aisle to take it down a notch, or in his words, "stop shouting, throwing and drawing Hitler mustaches on people other than Hitler."

The event has been dubbed the "Rally to Restore Sanity" and will be held on the National Mall on Oct. 30. "It's real," he told his maybe-thinking-he-was-joking audience. "We are gonna do this." Watch Stewart's big announcement:

In a video setting up his case that both political parties have gone overboard, Stewart mixed in pundits like "Birther Queen" Orly Taitz and the "Ragin' Cajun" James Carville. There were images from anti-war rallies and the recent rash of Tea Party events as well. He said the purpose of the rally will be to give the 80 percent of the country who usually "have s**t to do" a chance to rally ... but for sanity, not rage.

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Signs, Signs Everywhere

A man holds a sign during a tea party tax rally Thursday, April 15, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan. Tea party protesters marked tax day Thursday with exhortations against "gangster government" and appeals from Republicans seeking their grass-roots clout in November elections, a prospect both tempting and troubling to those in the loose movement. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 12: An unidentified women holds up a sign that reads "Taxed Enough Already No More Debt!!" during a rally on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building on September 12, 2010 in Washington, DC. Members of the Tea Party and other activists gathered at the "Remember In November" Rally to protest large government and rally for conservative principals nearly two months before US midterm elections. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

Protesters hold signs during a rally protesting taxes on the Tuscarora Indian Nation in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked New York state's plans to tax cigarette sales by two American Indian nations to non-Indian customers while the tribes challenge the policy shift as a threat to sovereignty and their financial well-being. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

Protesters hold signs during an anti-tax rally on the Tuscarora Indian Nation in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked New York state's plans to tax cigarette sales by two American Indian nations to non-Indian customers while the tribes challenge the policy shift as a threat to sovereignty and their financial well-being. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

Quinna Hamby holds a sign during a rally protesting taxes on the Tuscarora Indian Nation in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked New York state's plans to tax cigarette sales by two American Indian nations to non-Indian customers while the tribes challenge the policy shift as a threat to sovereignty and their financial well-being. (AP Photo/ David Duprey)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Demonstrators hold signs in front of Los Angeles Federal Building before they start their protest march to Occidental Petroleum Corporation headquarters on July 22, 2010 in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, California. Members of SEIU local 721 service employees union staged the protest asking California state elected leaders to eliminate a $1.2 billion annual oil drilling tax loophole to California oil producers while vital services are being eliminated from the state budget. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 22: Demonstrators are reflected on the dashboard of a GMC truck in front of Los Angeles Federal Building before the start of their protest march to Occidental Petroleum Corporation headquarters on July 22, 2010 in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, California. Members of SEIU local 721 service employees union staged the protest asking California state elected leaders to eliminate a $1.2 billion annual oil drilling tax loophole to California oil producers while vital services are being eliminated from the state budget. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Theres Signs

In contrast with Glenn Beck's recent religious-y rally on Washington, where signs were openly discouraged, the Comedy Central funnyman urges marchers to go to town. He suggested a couple ideas, including "I Disagree With You, But I'm Pretty Sure You're Not Hitler," and "Take It Down a Notch, America."

The rally, which he also dubbed the "Million Moderate March," will lean heavy on comedy, of course. Stewart's "rival," Stephen Colbert, bum-rushed the show to announce that he too would hold his own rally nearby for "all freedom-loving patriots" to challenge the "dark, optimistic forces" of Stewart and the 'Daily Show.'

He later said on the 'Colbert Report' that in order to "fight Jon Stewart's creeping reasonableness" and "restore truthiness" he will lead the "March to Keep Fear Alive" in the same exact spot on the same day as his Comedy Central colleague.

In a statement, Comedy Central promised a face-off between Stewart and Colbert that will be "bigger than Nixon/Kennedy, Ali/Foreman, Aniston/Jolie, 50/Nas, Joe/the Volcano, Alien/Predator, Bunny/Fudd and Ecks/Sever combined."

Watch Colbert's announcement:

Tags: daily show, jon stewart, rally to restore sanity, stephen colbert

Comments

(872)

Friday 17 September

By dray

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

kip, it is people like you who choose to remain ignorant, calling the President Hitler, and anti anyone who is not a white person that is causing the death of America. American has been sold out to the world corporate oligarchs by white business men to anyone in any country who is willing to pay. Our economy was destroyed by greedy white men who ran investment Ponzi schemes, and phony derivatives market ventures. When President Obama took office we were losing close to 700,000 jobs per month and after less than two years in office President Obama's policies have stopped the bleeding and many more jobs are being created that lost. Stop being a 'hater' it will make you very ugly.

By frank

Finally, a rally that makes sense. Stewart is right, both sides have gone overboard, everyone needs to take a deep calming breath and step back a little.

By Heather

I couldn't agree more, I woudl LOVE to attend! Go Jon Stewart!

By Tistyen

YES!!!! A rally for civility! I'm marking it on my calendar. I usually avoid downtown DC on rally days because it's a mob scene, but I may actually make an exception for this one.

By Andy

And somebody cares what Jon Stewart does?

By Ben

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Can't anyone see what this trickster is trying to do? He wants the liberals to join forces with as many conservatives as possible and "Take a deep breath, and relax." Notice it's before the election? I want especially the Republicans to remain stirred up and reactionary. I want every single one of them angry at what's happening and I want them all voting. Get the democraps voted out.

By Sarah

We need to get rid of ALL the bums on both sides in November! This business as usual Lies, stealing, wasting our money, earmarks, don't pay taxes, don't read the bills they are voting on, giving us crapping healthcare that they are too good for, etc! We need to have the government be for the people and not be the elite!

By Sam Bernstein

You know the country is really in trouble when the clowns and jesters take over the political process. Lord help us!

By Jack

Maybe Jon and the rest of the "celebrity elite" should stick to show business and not pretend to be leaders. Stay fired up at these morons running our country and urge Jon to stay home!

Monday 20 September

By HLMcD

Yes Frank, you are right....a deep cleansing breath! Right after we kick all those crooks and their nutcase socialist leader to the curb!

Restore America to her greatness and quit giving all those lazy SOB's money for sitting on their butts!

By Bill

You mean like Palin and Beck?

By Lisa

I couldn't agree with Jon Stewart MORE!!! It's time someone brings back some sanity to this country!!!

By JAMES

MAKES SENSE?
-IGNORE:
-13 TRILLION DEBT
-ADD HEALTH CARE COSTS TO BANKRUPT NATION
-PREZ THAT WILL NOT PRODUCE BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH HOSPITAL AND DRS NAME?
-PREZ FRIENDS OF KOOKS AND NUTS? AYERS, HEAD OF ISLAM PARTY OF US
-PREZ THAT BOWS TO HEAD OF SAUDI?
- PREZ WITH 7 VACATIONS COSTING MANY 100 THOUSANDS?
- WANTS MOSQUE TO CELEBRATE 9/11 BLOWING US UP?
- SOROS , A MAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORTER SAYS US NEEDS "LEVELLING"?

LETS HAVE A RALLY AND BE "NICE"...

By karla

THANK YOU JON STEWART!!!!!! Love him and as always he is on the right track here -- the thinking persons voice amid the crazy haters gone wild! WE WILL BE THERE JON!!!!!

By alk

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WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BEING AN ACCESORY TO THIS CORRUPTION IS CALLED SANITY???

By alice

HE IS JUST JEALOUSE OF GLENN BECK SINCE NOBODY REMEMBER WHO IS HE ANYMORE...HE IS JUST LOOKING FOR PUBLICITY, PLAYING THE ROLE OF UNBIASED MODERATOR WHEN EVRYBODY KNOWS HE IS ULTRA LIBERAL..AND AS USUSAL TRYING TO DIMINISH THE HORRORS OF THIS GOVERNMENT IN ANY AREA

By laura Sanborn

Amen!

By Jim Beam

jon stewart is smarter and more charismatic than most politicians. And apparently more reasonable.

By Moe

Hey.........i want some of what your smoking!!!!!!!! you have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!

By eect

Let's hope it works! It would be really fantastic if our elected representatives would remember that the Constitution states, "We the PEOPLE..." and NOT "We the (fill-in-the-blank) Political Party..."

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