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NOT EXACTLY A PROFILE IN COURAGE: FRANKEN ADMITS HE STAYS AWAY FROM TALKING ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE WHEN HE CAMPAIGNS IN GREATER MINNESOTA
By Michael B. Brodkorb | February 13, 2008
This is a video clip of Al Franken admitting that he doesn't start out talking about gay marriage when he campaigns in greater Minnesota. As I wrote yesterday, it will be interesting to see which Al Franken comes to your town. Is it the Al Franken who's not afraid to talk about gay marriage, or is it the Al Franken who won't talk about gay marriage?
This post isn’t about the politics of gay marriage (as Franken does talk about gay marriage later in the video), but rather Franken admitting that he hides his positions from voters, depending on the audience.
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This post also appears on Blogs for Norm!, an online community and blog covering the 2008 U.S. Senate campaign in Minnesota. The primary goal of Blogs for Norm! is to organize bloggers who support U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.
Topics: 2008 U.S. Senate, Al Franken, Mike Ciresi, Norm Coleman, YouTube |
February 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
This guy is amazing.
So either he. . .
1. Is admitting that he is hiding his stance on the issues in front of select audiences, or
2. He is admitting he is avoiding touching on the “gay issue” because it is plaguing his campaign (recall his making light of the killing of homosexuals and calling it satire).
No wonder he is struggling to connect with all but the extreme of his extreme base.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Michael, Franken isn’t - as you claim - “afraid” to talk about gay marriage; what he said - and I quote: “…and I don’t normally go out start in outstate Minnesota talking about gay marriage.”
You’re really, Really, REALLY stretchin’, Michael. Again.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
TPT: I don’t see it that way. The issue isn’t about the politics of gay marriage, but rather Franken admitting that he hides his positions from voters, depending on the audience.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Michael, what he SAID, is he doesn’t START talking about gay marriage.
But, you’re claiming he “hides his positions”.
That’s a stretch, Michael.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
TPT: It is Franken who says he doesn’t talk about gay marriage when he campaigns in greater Minnesota. The video speaks for itself.
I do believe that Franken is admitting that he hides his position.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I am kind of struggling on this one. Are we supposed to vote for the Republican candidate because, apparently in contrast to Al, he does start out talking about gay marriage when he campaigns in greater Minnesota?
I imagine that if he started out every speech the same, you would criticize him for starting his speeches in out state Minnesota the same way he starts them out in the Twin Cities. You’d say he was bad for out state Minnesota because he is apparently not sensitive to their needs and treats them the same way as those in the Cities.
Yawwwnnnnnnn.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Michael, I think you do see it that way. Your post used both the “start” language that Tommy reminded you of and then you quickly slithered into “he’s hiding his positions.” Exposing and spinning it to make people look bad are two different things.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Michael, that’s a snippet of a video; one sentence.
Why don’t you link to the whole video, and put this into context?
February 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Hey!
Someone just sent ME the link!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aJndejk74M
and that’s Al, commenting at minute-mark 3:44; right after he’s been intro’d.
And imagine that - Al DOES talk about gay marriage, in outstate Minnesota.
Whether you agree with Al or not, no one can claim Al doesn’t talk about gay marriage - and it’s right up there, on YouTube.com
February 13th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
TPT: As I wrote in the post, Franken did talk about gay marriage. It is Franken who says he doesn’t talk about gay marriage when he campaigns in greater Minnesota.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Hiding their positions on issues is how Democrats get elected. He’s just running the DFL play book. Few Democrats would be elected if they spoke honestly about their intentions.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
… I mean, just take Tim Walz as an example. He ran as a moderate, hell even a conservative. Then ran to D.C. and voted as one of the most liberal members of congress.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Another big, big strech MDE.
No where does it say Franken refuses to answer to his stand on gay marriage. Why would he start out a conversation in greater Minnesota on this issue anyhow? Its the same as he wouldn’t talk about the violence in North Minneapolis and how it might be related to Bush’s cutting Burns grants.
I don’t think he is avoiding the issue, but what’s clear is that the whole marriage amendment issue has fallen off the radar statewide and fizzled out as a Republican campaign issue. People have other things to worry about like ending the war, rising healthcare costs and losing their job. It’s not going to be on the ballot this election, so why should they care anyhow.
MDE you would think with the wealth of material Franken has given you, you could come up with something a much better then this. Do you get paid for this?
February 15th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Michael, you said:
TPT: As I wrote in the post, Franken did talk about gay marriage. It is Franken who says he doesn’t talk about gay marriage when he campaigns in greater Minnesota.
Where, EXACTLY, does Franken say that?
Michael, you’re doing the GOP no favors, when you’re making really, Really, REALLY long stretches.