Bellingham offers counter to Glenn Beck: Key to 'Daily Show' host

BELLINGHAM — 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.

Bellingham's mayor says he has yet to hear back from "The Daily Show." An Associated Press e-mail to Stewart was not immediately returned late Tuesday night.