The issue: Comedy Central spoof masters plan to rally Õround the monument

Comedy CentralÕs Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert may be the masters of fake news, but thereÕs nothing to indicate theyÕre kidding around this time. The two have announced that they plan to hold competing rallies Oct. 30 in Washington, D.C.

STEWART AND COLBERT, who host ÒThe Daily Show with Jon StewartÓ and ÒThe Colbert Report,Ó applied for a single permit to gather 25,000 people on the Washington Monument grounds, according to National Park Service spokesman Bill Line.

Will 25,000 people actually show up? We tend to think they will. In fact, it might be a rally that people who donÕt normally like rallies Ñ or crowds Ñ will attend, just because of who the hosts are.

Some people may scoff at the duoÕs methods of ÒreportingÓ the news, but itÕs hard to deny that their programs have created a whole new generation of young people who actually are interested in current events.

CÕmon, who can resist admitting that politics is funny and the people who practice politics Ñ or want to practice politics Ñ are sometimes more hilarious than the star of the latest HBO comedy special? We count ourselves among Stewart and Colbert fans.

Sometimes the language gets a little rough, but even Comedy Central knows how to use the ÒbleepÓ machine.

STEWARTÕS RALLY, Òfor people too busy with their normal lives to go to other political rallies,Ó is titled the ÒRally to Restore Sanity.Ó Colbert, who said the United States is Òbuilt on three bedrock principles: freedom, liberty and fear that someone might take our freedom and liberty,Ó is calling his the ÒMarch to Keep Fear Alive.Ó

Of course, theyÕre on the Web. ThereÕs not much there, other than what on any other political site might be called Òguiding principles.Ó StewartÕs message: ÒWeÕre looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldnÕt be the only ones that get heard and who believe that the only time itÕs appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles. … Join us in the shadow of the Washington Monument. And bring your indoor voice.Ó

And ColbertÕs: ÒThere are dark, optimistic forces trying to take away our fear Ñ forces with salt and pepper hair and way more Emmys than they need. They want to replace our fear with reason. But never forget Ñ ÔreasonÕ is just one letter away from Ôtreason.Õ Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but America canÕt afford to take that chance.Ó

AT LEAST WITH Stewart and Colbert, you know theyÕre spoofing something. With some politicians Ñ and political commentators Ñ youÕre never really sure.

Comments

comments