Bellingham offers key to 'Daily Show' host
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Not to be outdone by his Mount Vernon neighbors, who plan to honor Fox News Channel conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike says he's offering a key to his city to Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's satirical news program "The Daily Show."
The Bellingham invitation comes after Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris announced that Beck would show up Sept. 26 to receive the key to that city about 25 miles south of here. In July, Beck said he believes President Barack Obama is a racist.
Norris' decision has caused a heated debate in Mount Vernon, including protests. But some 700 tickets quickly sold out.
Pike says if Mount Vernon can give native son Beck a key, "perhaps Bellingham could provide a key to Mr. Stewart for the better reasons of providing cogent yet comedic analysis of news events and personalities." Pike says he and Stewart attended the same New Jersey high school.
Pike says Bellingham is "bigger and better" than Mount Vernon, adding that the offer is part joke, but the invitation to Stewart is real.
"If Mr. Stewart cannot come to Bellingham to accept, perhaps I could deliver the key to him the months ahead," Pike said.
He has yet to hear back from "The Daily Show."
Steve Albani, Senior Vice President at Comedy Central, said that while he hasn't talked to Jon personally about the matter, the entertainer has a weekly show to producer and going to Bellingham is likely not going to happen.
Most people we talked to on Bellingham streets Wednesday were supportive of the Mayor's offer, saying they found Stewart more in keeping with the feelings of the city of Bellingham.
Although one resident, Peter Gunn, said "I don't think Jon Stewart will come to Bellingham. The mayor might have had more luck if it was Martha Stewart."
The Bellingham invitation comes after Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris announced that Beck would show up Sept. 26 to receive the key to that city about 25 miles south of here. In July, Beck said he believes President Barack Obama is a racist.
Norris' decision has caused a heated debate in Mount Vernon, including protests. But some 700 tickets quickly sold out.
Pike says if Mount Vernon can give native son Beck a key, "perhaps Bellingham could provide a key to Mr. Stewart for the better reasons of providing cogent yet comedic analysis of news events and personalities." Pike says he and Stewart attended the same New Jersey high school.
Pike says Bellingham is "bigger and better" than Mount Vernon, adding that the offer is part joke, but the invitation to Stewart is real.
"If Mr. Stewart cannot come to Bellingham to accept, perhaps I could deliver the key to him the months ahead," Pike said.
He has yet to hear back from "The Daily Show."
Steve Albani, Senior Vice President at Comedy Central, said that while he hasn't talked to Jon personally about the matter, the entertainer has a weekly show to producer and going to Bellingham is likely not going to happen.
Most people we talked to on Bellingham streets Wednesday were supportive of the Mayor's offer, saying they found Stewart more in keeping with the feelings of the city of Bellingham.
Although one resident, Peter Gunn, said "I don't think Jon Stewart will come to Bellingham. The mayor might have had more luck if it was Martha Stewart."