ROCHESTER, Minnesota, June 7, 2008
Ex-Comic Franken Wins Senate Endorsement
Former Funnyman Al Franken Gains Nod From Minnesota Democrats Despite Uproar Over Past Jokes
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"To the people of Minnesota, let me say this: I'm not a perfect person," said Franken, a former writer and performer for the "Saturday Night Live" TV comedy show. "I'm not going to pretend to have all the answers. But I'll tell the truth, I will keep my spine, and I will work for you."
Franken's only competitor, college professor and peace activist Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, withdrew after Franken passed the necessary 60 percent threshold on the first ballot. Nelson-Pallmeyer proposed that delegates unanimously back Franken, putting him over the top.
Franken's show of strength came as something of a surprise after a rocky few weeks in which some Democrats, led by U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, criticized a racy column he wrote for Playboy magazine in 2000 and, earlier this week, joking comments he was reported to have made about rape that were included in a 1995 New York magazine article about "Saturday Night Live."
Rumors flew that Franken's support was collapsing, and that other candidates were considering a late entry into the endorsement stakes. Franken finally tackled the controversy head-on in his nomination speech to delegates, where he said some of the things he said and wrote over 35 years as a writer were "downright offensive."
"I understand that," said Franken. "And I understand that the people of Minnesota deserve a senator who won't say things that make them feel uncomfortable."
As a best-selling satirist and commentator for a liberal talk radio network, Franken was known for lampooning conservative commentators like Rush Limbaugh and President George W. Bush.
Nelson-Pallmeyer said he would work for Franken's election and won't run in the Democratic primary in September, and for now Franken is facing no opposition. But trial attorney Mike Ciresi, who dropped out of the endorsement race several months ago, has said in recent days that he is considering running in the primary.
Republicans have also hammered Franken for months on some of the more outrageous comments and writing from his years as a comedian, as well as problems with his personal finances. They promised to keep up the heat now that he is the chosen Democratic candidate.
Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan attacked Franken as "unqualified, unfit and unprepared to be a United States senator." He said the campaign will employ old Franken material.
"Al Franken wants to wants to talk about Norm Coleman's record. We're not going to be shy about talking about Al Franken's record," Sheehan said.
As he wooed delegates throughout the day, Franken used the Republican assault as a badge of honor and touted himself as someone who can take the fight right back to the Republicans.
"The Republicans don't want me to be the nominee," Franken said. "But guess what? Thanks to you, I'm going to be, and guess what? I'm going to beat Norm Coleman by holding him accountable."
On Saturday morning, Franken took a key step in quelling controversy over his past jokes when he earned the endorsement of the feminist caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, as the Democratic Party is known in Minnesota.
Jackie Stevenson, the group's leader, said the caucus was impressed with his direct answers on issues critical to members, including domestic violence. She said the group was willing to look past salacious material from Franken's past that some have considered degrading to women.
"At the time he didn't realize how it would affect him later in life," Stevenson said. "He wouldn't do it again today."
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Coleman voted Bush 95 percent of the time so his material is easy to find.
Coleman is easy to find too, just look at Bush''s lap...
Posted by LibH8er at 03:00 PM : Jun 09, 2008
No McCain and No Coleman...
This only proves that democRATS in MN have no class, no morals, and no clue!
Posted by artisan004
And he''s a tax evader in 17 states. A very principled party and a very perfect candidate
Yes, it''s so evident that Liberals do such a good job of picking their candidates. And that is why the Republicans have won 7 of the last 10 Presidential elections. It''s because of that marvelous skill those liberals have in picking candidates. Gotcha!
We need some one who has real skills, not a court jester.
Posted by hamiltongrad at 02:15 AM : Jun 09, 2008
Well, considering he really isn''t funny (acting stupid doesn''t make you funny), he couldn''t possibly be a worse politician than comedian. Could he? Here''s a possible bumper sticker - ''Elect Al - he''ll be less pathetic at this than his last career''.
Did he or did he not give money to his terrorist cousin in Africa to help overthrow the govt there ? Did he belong to a racist church for 20 years with ties to farakahan, wright, black panthers and renzko ? Did he not purchase land at a very low price from renzsko to build his home on ? Does the church doctrine say that if their God is not a blacvk God they should kill him and that they promise allegiance to the motherland of Africa ? Did wright not make the statements GD America and that white America deserved 9/11 ? Did wright not state that the U.S. govt gave aids to the blacks to destroy the race ? This is more than enough proof for me. As for being American i served 20 years in the military and also retired from law enforcement. I never mistreated a prisoner of any color. Yes i am an American and probanly more so than you so you grow up and F*** O**.
We need some one who has real skills, not a court jester.
Posted by artisan004 at 05:51 PM : Jun 08, 2008"
Spoken like a true right wing, narrow minded, fascist nutjob.
Posted by libsluv2spit at 06:56 PM : Jun 08, 2008"
Yes, we Liberals do a very good job of picking our candidates, unlike you CONservatives.
His deciets have often been shocking.
Posted by kesac4650 at 08:35 PM : Jun 08, 2008"
Really, would you care to post a link to any of these so-called intentionally dishonest statements from Franken, I''m sure we would all love to see them.
lots of difference..
Posted by libsluv2spit at 12:22 AM : Jun 09, 2008"
Yer certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Posted by patriot12436 at 10:47 PM : Jun 08, 2008"
That''s just foolish, there is no proof anywhere of anything Obama has ever said that is racist. There are no smoking guns of any terrorist connections, that''s just stupid. If he had any connections to terrorist he would be in jail not the Democratic candidate for President. You need to grow up.
Don''t be such a complete idiot. Even the vilest liars on FOX don''t make such sick and disgusting comments. You are one pathetic American (if you are one).
I have prided myself in always being nonpartisan. I like to look at the issues and vote for the candidate that has the best ideas. I disagree with you about obama . I think there is enough proof of his racism and his terrorist activity to make it so i could never vote for him. Yes i blame bush for the current ecomonic situation. . I blame the DNC for trying to shove obama down our throats. I think Powell did not want to run for fear of being assasinated for being black. I have given up on the political parties tio solve our problems. I believe we are now headed for a civil war. When the people cannot feed their families they wil revolt. I feel sorry for the homeowners who have worked hard all their lives and are now losing their jobs and their homes. The rich who are losing their homes i have less sympathy for. They had the money and their homes should hav been paid for.
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