Sam Waterston: Laughing "common sense" A blend of political activism and rally drew thousands to the National Mall on Saturday, with comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as little maestros of moderation and civility in the polarized time.
The organizers have insisted on "Restore Sanity Rally and / or fear," a few days before the congressional elections Tuesday, has no policy. Yet, proponents and advocacy groups, left it hopes to restart the enthusiasm of voters for Democrats saw in 2008, particularly among young adults.
Stewart, host of "The Daily Show" Comedy Central is particularly popular with Democrats and independents, a survey by the Pew Research Center found. Colbert of The Colbert Report "is presented as a hardliner, and Saturday's stage was stacked with artists associated with Democratic causes or President Barack Obama 2008 campaign.
Sam Waterston: Although Stewart said the day was the reduction of anger and partisan division. "Yelling is boring, cons-productive and terrible for the gorge," he said on his website.
The list of musicians including Sheryl Crow and The Roots. Actor Sam Waterston and Don Novello, who played Father Guido Sarducci years on "Saturday Night Live" were also expected to appear.
The broad rally generated a buzz on the Internet, with over 226,000 people on a Facebook page created for the event, saying they would attend. The liberal Huffington Post has been sending a caravan of 10,000 people on the 200 bus from New York, while Oprah Winfrey has expressed its support by providing travel expenses to a public "Daily Show" studio of approximately 200 members so they can attend.
Comedy Central Park permit is estimated crowd at 60,000. There were plans for rallies in satellite cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Honolulu.
Sam Waterston: Stewart and Colbert urged participants to make signs with slogans such as "Real patriots can handle a difference of opinion", "It could be worse, but do not do that," and "Death to the person. "
Organizing for America, the political functioning of Obama as the Democratic National Committee headquarters, was establishing a "Phone Bank for Sanity" after the rally to urge people to vote on Tuesday.
planning groups to enlist supporters at the event include Naral Pro-Choice America, DC Vote, which aims to give DC a voting representative in the House, and funders of Proposition 19 in California to legalize marijuana.
Sam Waterston: "The vitriol and hatred toward our president and the Democrats, it has become so extreme that it sort of scares me," said Margaret Espaillat, 49, of Orlando, Florida, which hopes to improve the Rally political tone and galvanize the Democrats. She had planned to participate with her three son who are in college and her husband, a colonel in the army.
Saturday's event mirrors "restore the honor of" rally in August by Glenn Beck, Fox News commentator and popular among conservative supporters of the party tea. Beck, too, played at his event as a political demonstration, Stewart described her simply as an alternative format for the new model humor seen by millions of viewers every night on Comedy Central "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert postponement. "
On his radio show this week, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh mocked on Saturday. He says he will give the tea party and other conservatives a chance to build the turnout for Tuesday, while Democrats come to Washington to smoke doobies "and listen to a" couple of Comedians half-baked. "
Sam Waterston: The rally is to promote charitable causes. Stewart asks participants to help restore the National Mall, which has 400 million backlog of deferred maintenance. Colbert asks people to help them select donors, raising funds for school supplies; proceeds from the sale of goods will also be paid to join the Yellow Ribbon Fund to assist wounded soldiers.