Dems Still Sweating The Impact Of The 'Rally To Restore Sanity'

It took mere minutes after The Daily Show's Jon Stewart announced that he would be holding a Rally To Restore Sanity (followed by his colleague Stephen Colbert's call for a March To Keep Fear Alive) in Washington, DC on October 30th for a nation of worried Democratic concern-trolls to take to Twitter and despair about how this was going to utterly ruin their electoral hopes in November. I found the whole idea to be super-daft, and, in monitoring the chatter in my inbox coming from lefty types, I was relieved to see that the worries didn't go unmet by people arguing that the Rally/March would be a good thing, for America. Still, the notion that Jon Stewart is going to single-handedly destroy the Democrats' get-out-the-vote effort isn't going away. Here's David Corn, of Mother Jones:

Stewartpalooza is happening the weekend before the critical congressional elections. It will suck up plenty of media attention--and resources. Think of all the people who will be coming--and the time and money it will take them to plan the trip and to travel to and from the nation's capital. These folks are likely to be more sympathetic to Democrats than Republicans, despite Stewart's skewer-'em-all approach. So if the pro-sanity crowd is packing bags and heading to Washington on the last weekend prior to the elections, these people won't be knocking on doors or making phone calls to get out the vote for Democratic candidates.

Certainly, if many of moderate-as-hell demonstrators hail from congressional districts where the Democratic candidates are likely to win (say, anywhere in Manhattan), there's no real harm done. But if Stewart draws bodies from toss-up districts -- and provides an outlet for citizens who might otherwise be persuaded to do grassroots political work at home -- Republican strategists will be delighted.

Oh, so, Republican strategists are still a few weeks away from allowing themselves to feel "delighted?" This is news to me.

I really, really do not buy this. I think the overlap on the Venn Diagram between potential rally attendees and the participants in that weekend's global voter outreach operation is well overblown. If I look at this realistically, most of the attendees of this rally are going to be coming from the DC-Metropolitan area. Also, I hear that there will be some buses bringing people from New York City, or something? Well, the Democrats look pretty solid in New York at the moment. In fact, based upon the polling I'm seeing, there isn't a single Democrat from Delaware who couldn't take the day -- perhaps even the weekend -- off.

I just don't see how this event adversely impacts the efforts of your Russ Feingold or Alexi Giannoulias or Jerry Brown or Patty Murray or Harry Reid campaigns. Obviously, if you are managing a Congressional campaign and can document evidence of the negative impact this Rally is having on your campaign workforce, then you should email me and name names, because I would very much like to be the first human being on Earth to actually report this story.

Corn also has larger concerns that the President's own efforts that weekend might be overshadowed, in that the Rallies are going to absorb a lot of the media's newshole. All I can say to that is that if the Democrats' hopes hinge on some magic words that can only be said by President Obama on the teevee on Saturday afternoon, then I wouldn't get my hopes too high.

But look, let's just settle the issue. If you've agreed to work for a campaign that weekend, then you really, really should honor the commitment you've made -- not because electing Democrats is important (I'll let your campaign's precinct captain make that case) -- simply because in life, keeping your commitments is important. Do not attend the rally! If David Corn is right, this is going to be a win-win for everyone -- the weekend's GOTV effort will be a gamechanging electoral moment that political scientists will study forever, and there will be a lot more room at the Rally for me and the five other people who plan on attending.

But look -- Jon Stewart has the following he has because there's a gigantic group of people out there who have come to trust The Daily Show. People consider Stewart to be a truth-teller, someone who reliably redeems the faith placed in him. If the people running Democratic Congressional campaigns are this worried about the Rally To Restore Sanity stealing away all of the people who have volunteered to work during the latter stages of the 2010 election season, then it's time they did some lengthy soul-searching, and ask themselves why their candidates don't elicit the same level of devotion.

Obviously, when all is said and done, it will be much easier to blame Jon Stewart, so that's what is going to happen!

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Comments

[Chernynkaya]

03:20 PM on 10/30/2010

This article-- and the quotes from other pundits in the copy--are precisely why you pundits SVCK.

[ADavis41]

02:11 PM on 10/20/2010

Great scheduling and this will fit in well with other Halloween activities.
Let the freak show begin!

[Jazzineva]

07:56 AM on 10/19/2010

Interesting debate but I think all in all the rally will do more to get out the vote than knocking on doors. I simply doubt participants will be drawn away from the critical districts and states. Check out www.electoral-vote.com if you don't believe me. There are still many safe regions and that's where the biggest draw will come from.

[saranaghati]

06:08 PM on 10/11/2010

they're crazy- this is the most exciting thing happening this election. It will make people get out to vote all by itself. And since it is only a few hours, activists have a lot of time to make calls, too. The tone and message of the Rally/March is far more beneficial to the Dems than the GOP. And as us Ralliers say, "Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand". " Our posters say" Vote: Competence, Vote Tolerance, Vote Cooperation, Vote Sanity. Or how about "Let's put the dumb back in Freedom, without it we are just Free." The whole Rally is encouraging people to VOTE. And what side do the slogans help the most? Here in Seattle we are planning a satellite rally/march. We have close to 10,000 people signed up to attend. We are 100% self funded, not one dime from any sponsor of any kind. How can anyone thing this is bad? Get some humor, it's the instant cure for fear.

[ReElectNoOne]

02:00 PM on 10/08/2010

Jon and Stephen both need to set up booths and invite attendees to use their cell phones to make calls to voters from the rally! Imaging the impact of that ! The DCC can provide caller lists.

[Libleet]

10:39 AM on 10/07/2010

So it is Jon Stewart's fault that they are going to lose. All this time I thought they were in trouble because they showed absolute ineptitude in carrying out the promises of the last campaign season, marketing their acomplishments, and getting the economy back on track. I get it now, it isn't the fact that the Democrats appear to be scared sheep trying desperatly to hold on. That is what Jon Stewart is on to. He is fighting back. He is saying we will not be bullied. He is giving people on the left an outlet for their anger. Anger that the media is so clearly pushing the debate in favor of the Republicans. This rally is exactly what the left needs. It is a sign that can't be ignored by the press. Liberals are not out of the fight, we just need someone to lead the charge. If Democrats were wise they would glob on to the satelite rallys in their districts and use them as a springboard for their get out the vote campaign not a hurdle. It would be a place that the candidates could show up and stump and gladhand.

[ReElectNoOne]

02:05 PM on 10/08/2010

"...ineptitude in carrying out the promises of the last campaign season"

This is false. If anything the dems are not doing enough to take credit.

Obama's administration, even with all the GOP disruption has accomplished more in 18 months than most presidents ever accomplish. At his estimation he has already done 70% of what he set out to do. According to his recent Rolling Stone interview he keeps a list in his pocket as a reminder of what he promised. ( Remember, a campaign is not the same as doing the job. Obama, as are all presidents, have to rely on Congress to actually do things. )

Anger is a good thing provided it is not the sole basis on making a decision in November.
I decided to make yet another web site... www.angrycitizens.us to talk about JUST our anger and how to channel it to do some good.

[Gaylord P Farqua]

09:11 AM on 10/07/2010

Democrats have had nearly two years to stand up to the GOP and chose to beg for the nonexistent bipartisanship instead. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show provide more in the way of truth than the spin doctors and outright bulls**t artists that we have elected already or are currently running for office have the courage to express. Fox, the Tea Party/GOP network, pumps nonsense into the media sphere every time they open their collective mouths. Not one Democrat has had the courage to simply stand up and recite a dozen or so easily discovered lies/distortions these people have aired. When Stewart provides chapter and verse and even at one point gets Hannity to offer a weak  apology the Democrats still look the other way. Too late mules, the elephants own the floor and unless your lethargy can be broken they will kick your butts back to wherever you were elected from never to be heard from again. Since the Democrats cannot save their own butts maybe a bunch of professional comedians can. Now that would be poetic justice. 

[intolleft]

08:47 AM on 10/07/2010

The "it can't happen here" crowd will show up in droves for this gem.

[realtruthseeker]

11:17 AM on 10/07/2010

the March to keep Fear Alive is very popular with you 'sanists'

[intolleft]

11:49 AM on 10/07/2010

Do tell.

[texastrixie]

08:21 AM on 10/07/2010

Democrats have a much better chance getting young people re-fired up to vote (via Stewartpalooza) than in rapping on doors in any neighborhood. People are pretty entrenched in who they are going to votge for this time, if they are going to vote. I've always thought this "get out the vote" stuff only worked the day of the election anyway. People are either going to vote, or they're not. The weekend before an election is after early voting in probably every state in the union. Better to have people manning phones on election day (or the weekend before) to line up those that might need a ride to the polls, etc.

[PoliticalRockChick]

07:40 AM on 10/07/2010

Can't wait to get on the sanity bus.

[Gracielou Who]

03:35 AM on 10/07/2010

"Furthermore," Mr. Corn continued, "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

[Luceee]

03:34 AM on 10/07/2010

Spreading this rally locally....out there to the small cities and towns ...the neighborhoods...will inspire folks to get out and vote..it will fire them all up....
If someone out there ...some organizer...knows how to stir this up, to get buses out there to real folks for low price bus fares...free..is better. word will spread folks who go to the rally will go back to their towns and tell everyone of their trip.. ..fire 'em up...to get out and vote.

[Luceee]

03:26 AM on 10/07/2010

Seems to me that most middle and poor Americans NEED to be at this rally and cannot ..afford the bus fair. The poor aren't in Tribeca to take advantage of Ariana's generous offer. The right... somehow manages to get folks out there...the retiree's, the middle, the low end of the middle....you've seen them....They get bused around for free.....
I think the fine democrats out there should get to attend this rally...it would have a whole different meaning to them then it does to some of us here....

If anyone reads this and ....can come up with an idea to get some buses out there locally, for free or almost free...maybe organize something and rent some school buses...I don't know....but I do know the right get them there....
maybe some donors..maybe some congressman can be of some help?
Any rich lefties reading this ? ...Ashton......You see this? How about John Mayer.....talk about image salvation, John....you'd be looking like a good, kind, caring rock star...;-)

[saranaghati]

06:15 PM on 10/11/2010

There are satellite Rallies happening all over the world. On is at the Base Camp on Mt. Everest, Napal. Go onto the Rally web site and find the list of rallies, maybe there is one near you.

[pepimartinez]

01:53 AM on 10/07/2010

Instead of "sweating" this, the democractic party should hire Stewart and Colbert (and their staff) not only to motivate young people to support their party, but to show how insane, corrupt, and two-faced many of the candidates republicans are nominating are. After all, they expose hipocracy on both sides every night. It'd be easy.

[PoliticalRockChick]

07:40 AM on 10/07/2010

That's right.

[Libleet]

10:54 AM on 10/07/2010

Many times I have wondered why the Democrats don't just use bits from his show as campaign ads. I know copyright law prevents it, but they could harness the sentiment.

[pepimartinez]

11:08 AM on 10/07/2010

He does the work for many politicians already... he exposes hypocrites better than any other "real" news show on television, and calls people on their BS to their face because he doesn't care if they don't come back on his show.

[OneHeart]

12:53 AM on 10/07/2010

If you're worried about voter apathy, this event is a great tool that should be shown at every Democratic candidate or party headquarters to bring out the vote. If you can't make it, have an event to promote this event. This will bring in the young voters and independent voters. Dems. Don't you know Stewart and Corbert are doing this for you?!

David Corn? Think positive and stop being a Blanche Lincoln, will you!