The rally was a combination of what initially were announced as separate events: Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and Colbert's satirical counterpart, the March to Keep Fear Alive. The point is that people become crazed when discussing politics and demonize each other, which is counterproductive. A return to sanity is intended to promote reasoned discussion. News reports cast the rally as satirical.

The rally was a combination of what initially were announced as separate events: Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and Colbert's satirical counterpart, the March to Keep Fear Alive. The point is that people become crazed when discussing politics and demonize each other, which is counterproductive. A return to sanity is intended to promote reasoned discussion. News reports cast the rally as satirical.