Thread: Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' could draw thousands

Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' could draw tens of thousands

'The Daily Show' event is planned as a comical response to Glenn Beck's recent rally — but politically minded fans are taking it, and Stephen Colbert's 'March to Keep Fear Alive,' seriously.

By Matea Gold, Tribune Washington Bureau
September 22, 2010|5:31 p.m.

Reporting from Washington — The moment Shawna Riley heard Jon Stewart lay out his plans to hold a "Rally to Restore Sanity" on Oct. 30 on the National Mall, she raced to get online and book her hotel and airline tickets.

The 41-year-old owner of an advertising firm, who lives in Marble Falls, Texas, described the event as "one of those we-got-to-be-there moments."

"I think people are going to be pouring in from around the country," she said. "We're tired of the fear-mongering in the mainstream media."

Stewart's event — for people "who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive and terrible for your throat," according to the rally website — is the comedian's latest gambit to send up today's overwrought political discourse. This time, he is keying off the "Restoring Honor" rally hosted by conservative commentator Glenn Beck last month. Stewart's faux nemesis, fellow Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert, will hold a counter-protest, a "March to Keep Fear Alive," at the same time.

But their fans are not taking it as a joke. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 132,000 people planned to attend, according to the event's Facebook page, while satellite rallies were being organized in Chicago, Seattle, Austin and other cities.

"I know people like me are frustrated at seeing what's going on with the 'tea party' and the amount of press they're getting," said Jim Baum, 55, a private building inspector and farmer who is organizing a "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Seattle. "It's getting shown as if it's more of a trend nationally than it actually is. A lot of us would like to counter those people."

But Stewart, of course, is a comedian, not a political leader, and it remains unclear exactly what his fans are going to get when they assemble on the National Mall. While the event is still in the planning stages, people familiar with the discussions said it would be about entertainment, not a political call to action.

Still, in hosting the rally, Stewart appears to be moving closer to participating in the very establishment he lampoons. And the response to the event speaks to his influence on the country's political culture.

"I think this puts him in the powerhouse in a new way," said Lorrie Sparrow, 45, a business analyst, who plans to drive all night from Xenia, Ohio, to attend the event with two friends and her 8-year-old son. "We tread lightly, but he does truly wield a big stick in his fan base."

Sparrow said her son chose to see Stewart over going trick-or-treating. "I told him something like this might be like Woodstock — you might be able to say, 'I was at the Rally to Restore Sanity,' " she said.

The weekend before the election is a key period for local get-out-the-vote operations, and having thousands of people in Washington could sap those efforts.

But a Democratic Party official insisted that the rally would be a boost, adding: "Getting people engaged can only help."

Some details need to be worked out. The National Park Service still needs more information about security, transportation and crowd estimates before deciding whether to approve the gathering, said spokesman Bill Line.

matea.gold@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la ... olitics%29

Jon Stewart should stick with his day job. Never have cared for the man,and I don't care what he says or what he does. He has an Ego bigger than a full moon,and he thinks he has all of the answers all of the time.

Originally Posted by topsecret10

. . . He has an Ego bigger than a full moon,and he thinks he has all of the answers all of the time. :twisted:

That sounds like every politician.

Stewart is a horse's butt (the forum rules don't allow me to say the kind of words about him I'd like to) and hasn't been funny for years. Total jerk who should move to North Korea (along with that bill mahr useful idiot) so he could be happy!! People that are his fans are the same braindead idiots who like that waste of life Howard Stern.

"I know people like me are frustrated at seeing what's going on with the 'tea party' and the amount of press they're getting," said Jim Baum, 55, a private building inspector and farmer who is organizing a "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Seattle. "It's getting shown as if it's more of a trend nationally than it actually is. A lot of us would like to counter those people."

What a dumb stump!! He's frustrated with what's going on with the tea party?!?!? HELLO???? The tea party isn't running or ruining this country! The tea party is countering a corrupt and greedy government, but I guess this moron doen't care about that ,eh?

Originally Posted by miguelina

"I know people like me are frustrated at seeing what's going on with the 'tea party' and the amount of press they're getting," said Jim Baum, 55, a private building inspector and farmer who is organizing a "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Seattle. "It's getting shown as if it's more of a trend nationally than it actually is. A lot of us would like to counter those people."

What a dumb stump!! He's frustrated with what's going on with the tea party?!?!? HELLO???? The tea party isn't running or ruining this country! The tea party is countering a corrupt and greedy government, but I guess this moron doen't care about that ,eh?

This movement was started by people like me. Stewart and Colbert had nothing do to with it. WE asked Stewart and Colbert to do this. It was not their idea. We were so serious about this, that we raised over 250k in 24 hours for Colbert's charity, which is MORE than Beck raised, especially since Beck used his "charity" money for his "protest." This is the SAME people that STARTED the tea party movement, before the neo-cons took over. We invite ALL to join. If you are an ORIGINAL tea party member like myself, you know what I'm talking about. If you are a Fox news tea party member, then you are doing your job by attacking the very people that STARTED the whole movement.

Also, this thread just proves my previous points. You guys are allowed to spew all sorts of non-truths as long as it fits ONE point of view, but as soon as I have proof, or play devil's advocate I am the one that gets chastised. If you actually watched Stewart and Colbert, you would KNOW that they make fun of BOTH sides, and show the hypocrisy on BOTH sides, but for some reason you think otherwise. Watch the show, THEN make a decision. Kinda like how I hate FOX, but that's because I actually watch it, and SEE the crap they pull. I can't make an assumption on FOX based on me NOT watching it!! Again.....not fair. As usual, I don't expect a logical response. So how am I Hilter again? Please explain.

I do watch the shows of both Colbert and Stewart. They are comedians and they prey on anyone that would get a joke. They do so by using the SAME TECHNIQES that the ones they prey on use. And it is true ,they make fun of both parties as well.

But first you have to see maybe people DO NOT like these guys as some have already pointed out here. That is their opinion.

I,myself do not really care for them as much as I did before. But then again,I do not go along with all the words of Beck and Palin either. I wish Colbert and Stewart would get off the political scene for awhile. Give it a rest. In the evenings I like to sit back and relax and actually laugh at some comedy, INSTEAD of being reminded of the days events in the political arena and in the media.

As far as the Tea Party movement. We are in it together and it is after the same things. The central message has not changed. It is just we have CERTAIN people that are trying to take center stage on this movement. As you would anything else in America.