Stewart rally to 'restore sanity,' while Colbert pushes to 'keep fear alive'

Two dueling Comedy Central rallies planned in Washington have something for everyone.

If you're the type of person that wants to tone down the political debate then Jon Stewart wants you to mark your calendar. While Stephen Colbert wants you to march with him if you want to amp up the fear.

Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" and Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive" will be held on the National Mall Oct. 30, 2010.

Stewart was first up with his announcement. The Christian Science Monitor reported:

"A million moderate march...a clarion call for rationality!" Stewart exclaimed.

With the motto of "Take it down a notch for America," Stewart is offering to provide signs with the "appropriate" level of political emotion, such as "I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler."

You could also go with "I am not afraid of Muslims/Tea Partiers/Socialists/Immigrants/Gun Owners/Gay...but I am scared of Spiders."

Colbert followed with the announcement of his march. The Monitor observed:

To counter Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and to restore "truthiness," Stephen Colbert announced his own rally: The March the Keep Fear Alive.

Calling Stewart's announcement "disturbing," Colbert says he will "not take it down a notch," saying that "Now is the time for all good men to freak out for freedom!"

And, "Need I point out that 'reason' is one letter away from 'treason?'" Colbert asks.

Just days after Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally, Colbert fans organized on the internet and called for him to hold his own protest.

Time Magazine noted that the internet wins:

When the web calls, Stewart and Colbert answer.

After a lengthy, persistent Internet campaign started by users of the site Reddit that raised over $200,000 for charity, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have relented. They will host opposing rallies on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on October 30.

This video is from Comedy Central's The Daily Show, broadcast Sept. 16, 2010.

Stephen Colbert announces counter-protest: 'March to Keep Fear Alive'

This video is from Comedy Central's The Daily Show, broadcast Sept. 16, 2010.