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Subscribe to RSSTheir event attracted scores of journalists, high-profile musical talent, and - if Comedy Central's "unofficial estimate" is in the right ballpark -- well over 200,000 people.
But did Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert accomplish what they wanted?
"We're proud of ourselves. We're proud of the show we did," Stewart told reporters at a press conference after the rally. "For us, the success of it was the execution of the idea and the intention."
The two comedians mostly steered away from questions from the press about the political implications of the event, repeatedly characterizing the afternoon's mixture of comedy, musical performances, and an appeal for political reasonableness as "a show."
"We wanted to do really good show for people who took the time to come out and see us," said Stewart.
The two comedians also batted away questions about their role in American politics, saying that the Beltway mentality of "who's up and who's down" does not apply to their schtick.
"Our currency is not this town's currency," Stewart said. "We're not running for anything. We don't have a constituency. We do television shows for people who like them," he said, jokingly adding that the success of their cable "faux news" shows allows network Comedy Central to "continue to sell beer to young people."
Stewart pointedly declined to urge people to vote. When asked whether or not he should have used the stage to urge people to participate in the midterm elections, he replied, "I think people should do what moves them. That's not my place to make that choice for them. That's theirs."
The "Daily Show" funnyman hinted that he had some regrets about referring to President Barack Obama as "dude" during a Wednesday interview, noting that he always engages in some Monday morning quarterbacking after sitting down with major guests.
"But I also, when King Abdullah of Jordan was on, I called him 'Broseph,'" he joked, "so it's just something I do."
Between the rally, the presidential interview, and the presence of international media at their public appearances, the mantle of political relevance has been newly thrust upon the two comedians -- regardless of how openly they welcome it.
But Stewart argues that he does not use his comedic persona as a shroud or an excuse to shrug off criticism of the content of the shows that he and Colbert produce.
"I'm really proud that I'm a comedian. I think it's hard," he said.
"That's not a dodge. That's pride."
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So wish I could have been there. What a refreshing event.
Ahh? The Dem's were in control of Congress for 2 of the 8 years of the Bush admin. Seems like u got that rightwing memory problem.
I think the larger problem is not who is in control, but rather no one will get along and come to compromises so they deadlock themselves. I would rather there always be a fair mix and never one controlling the other. Dem Congress and Rep Pres = deadlock. Rep Congress and Dem Pres = deadlock. It is a shame. Especially since both parties are right on so much but there is no balance.
We also need to look at how the sausage is made. Stuff that passed in the first 6 years of a Bushian congress is still in effect. And as it will be if, however undoubtedly it seems, the Rebaggers have a higher count than we do, there was no chance that Bush would have vetoed the funding of his off-the-books wars or anything else that his cronies were making money on. Obama will not sign a repeal of our healthcare act nor anything else like financial reforms. We will just have this do-nothing thing happening again for two years.
If I were POTUS and the Republicans shut down the government I would declare a state of national emergency and take the checkbook away from congress. To deliberately harm this country for political gain makes all involved traitors and should be handled as such.
Nice idea, but you would be asking for a coup.
Jon and Stephen rock! Watched the entire show and loved every minute. Father Sarducci was hilarious! I'm a senior citizen but not too old to appreciate the humor and satire. WIsh I could have been there.
Checking to see if I am aloud back in since I an a conservative!
Obviously you are, since it turns out there really isn't a world-wide conspiracy against you.
just keep it down, quiet please. The word is allowed not aloud.
We should be proud of these 2 men.
And we certainly can say that - Proud to be American.
It was such a day!
Did anyone see the signs which actually had conservative pundits and politicians with Hitler mustaches. I saw that they took it off of MSNBC becasue if anyone has a memory it was the left which started this outrage with Bush and then when others followed and did the same with Obama they were called unAmerican and racists. 2 faced leftists once again rain on MSNBC!
The signs were satire as well, you dolt! God you teabagger/cons are too much. Go cry to Beck, he's the only one you're feeble mind can grasp.
I saw the sign but it wasn't at the rally it was at the National Art Museum according to the photo submitted but the article was about the rally.
Unlike Beck, who had rules, the hosts of this amazing party told us that we could have any signs we wanted; that we could come in costume since it's the season.
So, lockstep or dance step. I know my choice.
One of the folowing (George Bernard Shaw, Edmund Kean, Edmund Gwenn, Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth) or Donald Wolfit) said "Dying is easy, comedy is hard"
The Republic in danger.......Socialism rampant......
whores in public office.......
our Constitution ignored.......Honor in dwindling supply.....and these fools telling us to relax. They fiddle like Nero
The Republic in danger.......Fascism rampant......
whores in public office.......
our Constitution ignored.......Honor in dwindling supply.....and these fools telling us to relax. They fiddle like Nero
me, in 2006
As a democratic socialist I find you use of the term rather derogatory. I don't know if anyone would ever say "Conservatism is rampant".
Just because I believe that standing together to help each other, doesn't mean it's an evil thing. There is power in the Union.
I believe it is far better than acting like a bunch of rats trying to climb over each other and shoving each other back down to get to the top.
Kudos! Thanks for putting on a good show and for helping the National Park Service with sprucing up the mall. Real patriots try and make things better... just like you folks.
What is amazing, it was a pleasing show to watch. when you listen to the likes of Limpballs, beck, hannity, and levine all they do is bitch and tells us what is wrong with the place. Not once do they give you a better plan. It was a relief not to hear the constant bitching and moaning.
i hope that sanity returns to this beautiful nation after november 2nd. it scares the daylight out of me to listen to the language and inciting of violence by politicians who have no clue what they are talking about.what scares me even more is that they think so little of the american public, that our level of intelligence is so low that we will make our voting decisions based on fearmongering.
Seeing so many young faces in the crowd gave me hope for our future as a nation. I'm proud of all you young folks for refusing to let anyone else define who you are and what you think.
Our gathering in Tampa was amazing in that most everybody was over 50. And we were cheering watching TV as loud as those on the mall. Also amazing how worldwide this became. Perhaps comedy can cure.
I was there. Just returned. It was exactly what Stewart and Colbert said it was. It was a great show. I'm even now remembering the things that happened and the performers who were there as I read your comments. Beautiful day. I got there about 8:30 am and was pretty close to the stage. I heard the shouts from behind telling them to "turn up the volumn" but it sounded great were I stood. Just accept it as a good show that happened to have about 20 or 30 cogent points but was otherwise just a great show on a wonderfull day in our nation's capital.
I noticed Fox New distorters covering the event today. I wonder what their motive was. I'm sure they will have a lot to say about how it was a big (or not so big) liberal gathering. Maybe we'll see some accusations of human rights violations by democrats because the porta-potties were too hard to get too.
I was channel surfing and looked in on Fox. Their reported at the scene said he got there early and only saw about 15 people while at least 50 or more walked behind him during his spot. He also never showed the mall and the in studio entertainers were joking about the low numbers but they did expect it to go higher. Next I flipped to Comedy Central and there were at least 100,000 in a pan shot and it was about 10:00 am. I'm sure Fox will report the early press releases of 10's of thousands to fit their message.
Best 3 hours I've spent watching TV in years! Just I could have been there to participate & am sorry some people obviously don't "get it" - really sad.
Watched from MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. Thanks, Guys. You gave us a breath of fresh air when we so badly need it. Bravo!
Thanks Jon and Steven! You gave this country a breath of fresh air when we so badly need it. Bravo!
I just want to add my voice to those who felt, as I did, as though "my" America - the oountry the whole world, in fact, used to love and look up to - showed up today! It's good to know it IS still there beneath all the rancor, ignorance and ugly. The chance to see, smell and simply remember honesty, decency, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and some gentle humor was very restorative to my soul. Thanks!
The MSM has propagated abberation and fear for years, long before Fox News ever made an appearance. They had my poor old mother addicted to their non-stop flow of world ending news.
Today they do the same thing with asteroids that may hit the earth, global warming, nuclear war, terrorist attacks that may happen, but don't, flesh eating bacteria that is unresponsive to antibiotics, very rare and unsual dieaeses that none of us will ever encounter. Diseases - especially - are a big part of their fear mongering.
Anything that can induce fear and assure that we tune in or read the next day - are big parts of the MSM. Just look at your headlines in your home paper the next few days. They will announce the worst about politics, lawyers, doctors, government, medicine, diseases, human nature and anything and everything that can be construed as bad.
Fox is not the problem. The problem with fear propagation started long ago with the rise of the MSM . These people are experts at telling you how miserable your world is and in reality it is not. No wonder most people think the world is a lot more dangerous place than it is.
The propagation of abberation and the over dramatizing of all news stories is what our 24 - 7 news culture is all about.
The fourth estates main purpose is to alert us to threats to our safety, liberty, and economic well being. It logically follows that most of the information they relay to us is bad, but it is good that we now know. You can react rationally or irrationally to the information. FAUX News gets the basic facts wrong so often that it is hard to see them as anything but propogandists and fear mongers. They never correct their errors quickly, they have to be shamed into it by Jon Stewart of all people.
You take from the news what you want. If you want fear, you're going to find fear. Everything you mentioned up above is happening, in some for or fashion. I say, so what? In everything you mentioned I still have a much high chance of dying driving to work on Monday.
It's not fear mongering, they do have to tell the truth is some fashion, unlike the political world. Yes they hammer a way at something new comes a long. Doesn't mean you have to watch, listen, or read it.
It's not the source that matters, it's your ability to decide what is fact and what is spin. The MSM is putting out a product, nothing more. It's up to you to check the back of the package and decide if what's inside is junk or not.
We were there and loved it! Good intentions, good entertainment, clever signs display of political humor and a huge crowd full of politeness! Huge crowd that I don't have the ability to estimate, but it appeared between 100,000 to 200,000. For the person who posted about the Republicans as Hitler posters, I was there all day and saw nothing of the sort. There were references to Hitler all right, but in the sense of "He is not like us".
The show was great for what it was...we all need to chill and learn to laugh a little more. Laughter in itself helps us stay sane. Maybe a little humor will help many of the people preaching hate and intolerance to lighten-up a bit. I doubt it, but one can always hope.
Colbert's entire persona is based on fear-mongering. Parodying conservatives as hateful racist cold-hearted people. Can't we all just get along? What the Libs really want is known militarily as Asymetrical Warfare. Which means to prevent your enemy from attacking you. Then going out and attacking them. And since they are unarmed then you can use more peaceful looking weapons. Like Hope and Change. And nobody will be able to challenge you.
Typhon: you need to do a little reading on just what Asymmetrical Warfare really is. You don't quite have it down yet.
This is just what we needed during this midterm election. When you are dealing
with the Teaparty "Who claim to be taking back the country" I want to know
from WHO !!! From the rest of us AMERICANS, who disagree with their extreme
and narrow views. "We the People"," My Country Tis of Thee" This is OUR creed
this is OUR country. Do not let them high-jack our democracy, don't fall for the
okey-doke. They do not represent the melting pot of American ideas. Freedom,
free enterprise, not from the party of NO, they will keep us chained to mid-east
oil and bad environmental practices. PLEASE, PLEASE go VOTE. Don't give them
the keys they will take us BACK, into the ditch. I want my party to win, but if
we don't, I'm willing to roll up my sleeves, compromise and get to work. And
here in lies the problem, the party of NO (wanted, sought and) wants failure
for the President, and the other party at the expense of the country! Instead
of losing gracefully or with good sportsmanship, and rolling up their sleeves,
its been attack, attack, attack and no, no, no.
THANK YOU,... Jon Stewart. THANK YOU,... Steven Colbert.
Thank you for RESTORING MY SANITY and FEAR ....................!
This was a joke. Bunch of old stoners and young idiots.
Old stoners and young idiots are Americans also and their vote counts just as yours should.
Yuppers, bunch of registered voters who happen to be activist.