Democracy 1, Viacom 0 at 'Rally to Restore Sanity'

By Jett Wells Posted Oct 30th 2010 09:15PM

Pop-Ed: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' sent a bold statement to the country, but the crowds at the National Mall in Washington D.C. were more insane than any tear-filled Glenn Beck rant.

It's hard to tell how many people showed up, but it was enough to fill the entire field and the adjacent streets -- we're talking hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country. The Comedy Central duo pulled off an event so packed it was like Woodstock in 1969, only instead of a field filled with hippies doped on LSD, the famed D.C. monument was swamped in progressives wearing goofy Halloween costumes while holding up hilariously random poster signs.

Check out some of the hilarious signs from the event after the jump!

Although Viacom's, owner of Comedy Central, permit for the Mall was for roughly 60,000 people, maybe four or five times that many flooded D.C. Anyone who didn't shell out money for the VIP area or get to the field hours early got pushed to the back of the mall and nearby street intersections. Viacom wasn't even close to being prepared to entertain this amount of people.

Anyone not within 500 feet of the stage couldn't make out what anyone on stage was saying, and anyone in the nearby streets couldn't see, so dozens climbed trees and traffic lights, while others vaulted on top of locked porta-potties just to catch a glimpse of the action.

Whether or not Jon Stewart wants to be considered as a political figure, the people roared with applause and laughter. The show was slotted with live performances by acts like Ozzie Osbourne, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, The Roots and John Legend with plenty of skits by Colbert, Stewart and their supporting casts. But none of that is going to make the headlines, because the real story is that Stewart and Colbert's star power were enough to give the country a spark of life right before the critical midterm elections on Nov. 2.

It was immediately obvious this wasn't anything like a typical Tea Party rally since the you didn't see any anti-Obama slurs on signs, but instead funny one-liners like 'I Hate Crowds,' 'Stop Glee from Making Themed Episodes,' 'Free Weezy,' 'You Can't Stop the Movement,' 'Got Sanity?' and simply 'Matt Damon.'

It was more like a rock concert than a political convention as beach balls smacked old women in the face and families took pictures with their banners in front of the Fox News van. Some people drove from far distances as far as Wisconsin and Alabama just to be a part of the event. Also cell phones were rendered completely useless because the concentration of phones being used in one area short-circuited the service. Whole avenues were locked down because the crowds were so intense and if you were caught in the middle of it, you were probably stuck there for a couple hours.

After three hours of celebration, punch-lines and unforgettable clowns in the crowd, Jon Stewart walked the line between comedian and political activist the best he could. The end result is unclear except that the midterm elections may not be the forgone conclusion the GOP so happily forecasted.

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

Comments

(41)

Saturday 30 October

By mona

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

man i so wish i was there. love love love stewart and colbert. it is about time the side of reason was heard!

Sunday 31 October

By wshnshen

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Anyone not within 500 feet of the stage couldn't make out what anyone on stage was saying, and anyone in the nearby streets couldn't see, so dozens climbed trees and traffic lights, while others vaulted on top of locked porta-potties just to catch a glimpse of the action.I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age'gapsingles.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

By greg

This was fun. No hate speeches. No "liberals are better than everyone else" stuff. I mean, Stewart actually defended Tea Partiers for heaven's sake.

This seemed like a sensible plea to not go crazy attacking each other because of political beliefs.

If it was an attack, it was attack on the media, both liberal and conservative, for fueling the worst in both sides.

Judging by the reaction of conservatives and some far-left liberals, it looks like they missed the point.

By ssmutly

It's just what this country needs at this time. Personally, I am so sick & tired of the pure garbage that is being forced down our throats by FOX news, MSNBC, and all the blowhards that work for them. This rally was a breath of fresh air.

By AL

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I think it was more of a place were they wanted to tell the people to don't judge unless yoy want to judge yourself, maybe I'm wrong but both parties are wrong on many things. When you vote just vote your hearts choice.

By damien

It was immediately obvious this wasn't anything like a typical Tea Party rally since the you didn't see any anti-Obama slurs on sign

LOL...No you just saw I wanna rape Sarah Palin signs..and signs with Republicans with Hitler staches..

And of course they tried to ban filming...Some democracy..

And of course the old trying to blow up attendence on lib rallies is working well I see...If it was a pub rally you would be saying 5,000

And if you think the GOP aren't steamrolling on Tuesday because of this rally...you are a bigger fool than your article portends...back to covering Snooki,Jeff

By Bob

ATTENDANCE

CBS NEWS: 200,000...

FLASHBACK: CBS put Beck rally at 87,000...

...but Nat'l Park Service said 300,000-325,000 at Beck...

You mean tricks like this?

By gobluespartyon

You weren't there when seeing the video I saw no signs that said I raped Sarah Palin show me that proof or facts which you can't prove either.

By valeskas

Vote down Vote up Report this

That where personal signs, they where writing what Stewart and Colbert said, Damien, they did not give a hate speach. You missed the point. Personal sings you have to talk to these people, but I loved all the sings. You get what I am saying, because I have had it with the hatred spewed by baggies and repulsives.

By HA HA

Signs From Rally To Restore Sanity: Sarah Palin Hitler & Teabagger, Christine O’Donnell Teatard & I Touch Myself, Glenn Beck Teabag Our Children & Suck My Balls and 9/11 Truth Now & Inside Job

Thousands of White people.....Glad they were libs or that would be racist

By beaver

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Why couldn't their signs be sensible, like those found at a Tea Party...

Oh, wait...

I wonder what Glenn Beck will say about this rally? He'll probably cry himself blind... well, blind-ER anyway.

Which are claims are lies with no facts or proof to backup either so your dead wrong.

I spotted my first Christine O'Donnell witch on Pennsylvania Avenue, wearing a black pointy hat with pouches dangling from it. "I have some tea bags with dollar signs on them, because corporations are funding the tea bag—the tea partiers," said Julie Gordon, who flew in from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to attend Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity with her daughter. Running through the crowd was a mock tea party activist in Revolutionary War garb, wielding the movement's iconic "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden flag and shouting "Ohmygod Snake! Heelp! Scary snake!"

And up ahead was a group of zombies in bloodied Reagan '84 T-shirts and McCain-Palin hats, demanding "the braaaaiins of liberals" and posing for pictures as they lurched through the crowd. "It's a really dangerous moment," explained one of the Reagan zombies, George Federoke, a 20-year-old college student from West Virginia. "Maybe our clever costumes will convince people to vote!"

By Apostate

It was an awesome rally!

Wish I was at that rally sounded like it was a pretty entertaining rally as well. This what we all need to do is laugh and lighten up. That's why I can't stand the extreme on from far right or far left.

By philly

It was funny, but it was hard to top Glenn Beck's rally on the laugh-o-meter.

Wait, you mean his rally _wasn't_ supposed to be funny? Oh dear.

By SkyBlue

This rally was fun and funny. It was a relief, as people safely and sanely blew off steam. Beck's rally was just sad.

By soalmorgan

Hmmmmmm... libs have a rally, conservatives have a rally, both claim to have the "people" behind them. Lets see who wins next Tuesday. Maybe then we really will restore sanity and not have to listen to all this garbage.

By KJB

Great turnout. Loved it all. Funny signs. Hope it makes Glenn/Rush heads explode

By mike711l

Man, this was a FANTASTIC event, at least once they upped the volume. Crowd was friendly and didn't seem to mind the crowding. Signs were awsome and creative. These two men really know how to put on a show!

Page 1 of 3