Comedians' pre-election rally throngs Washington

Two of America's best-known television comedians drew tens of thousands of people to a rally Saturday that was part variety show and part political rally to call for common sense before tomorrow's congressional elections.

Satirists Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, hosts of late-night cable TV shows, poked fun at politicians and the media for stoking partisan fervor.

But in a moment of seriousness, Stewart said Americans were more united than the media made out.

"We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is, on the brink of catastrophe, torn by polarizing hate," he said. "The truth is, we work together to get things done every damn day."

US voters will choose a new Congress and governors in tomorrow's elections after months of bitter campaigning.

Republicans are predicted to take control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats, due partly to discontent over the high unemployment rate.

The rise of the Tea Party movement, many of whom are Republicans, has heated up the political atmosphere.

Some in Saturday's exuberant crowd carried signs with quirky political messages. One placard read, "It's a sad day when our politicians are comical and I have to take our comedians seriously."

Some of the others said, "Green Tea Party," and "In reason we trust."

Rojas and Vicki Metcalf, political independents from Annapolis, Maryland, said they came to the rally because they were tired of the vicious discourse in Washington.

"Things have gotten really, really, really out of hand," Rojas Metcalf said. "We don't think anybody's a communist. There's just too much anger. There doesn't have to be so much anger."

AFP