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TWO DFL LEGISLATORS BLAST FRANKEN’S GRAPHIC WRITINGS AND JOKES ABOUT RAPE
By Michael B. Brodkorb | June 5, 2008
“Meanwhile, two DFL state lawmakers — Sen. Kathy Saltzman of Woodbury and Rep. Sandy Wollschlager of Cannon Falls — released a statement saying they find Franken’s writings inapproproaite and disturbing.
‘I hope that the delegates who go to Rochester will actually read all of these articles rather than just brush over them,’ said Saltzman.” Source: Pioneer Press, June 5, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
UPDATE: The Pioneer Press‘ blog Political Animal has posted the complete statement from Saltzman and Wollschlager:
“As Minnesotans, we find the articles written by Mr. Franken to be most disturbing. While some may describe these writings to be satire, comedy, or an expression of free speech, we find them offensive and highly inappropriate when linked to a candidate for the United States Senate.
The standard for any party should be doing the people’s work and the prism through which candidates should be vetted and policies examined. While many still believe that Mr. Franken is a viable candidate for endorsement, we find it very difficult to see past these actions.” Source: Pioneer Press/Political Animal, June 5, 2008
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June 5th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
as much as i am in general disagreement with planned parenthood and most dfl officials, i would have to commend them on at least not trying to rationalize franken’s behavior as “none of our business” or “it is a personal matter”. of course it would be nice if they would actually come out against the guy and go with another candidate.
maybe the libs have some values after all.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I like seeing Franken’s character flaws exposed, but hopefully this won’t lead to liberal multi-multi millionaire tabacco trial lawyer Mike Cirisi’s interest in the race again. Guys like him are screwing up America, and giving them power in the Senate will make things much worse.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
If either of these two women can not win with Franken at the top of the ticket, they should really re-examine their qualifications to seek re-election in the first place.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Yeah, and Betty McCollum too. If she can’t win without Al Franken on the ticket, she has no business running.
Leroy is right. If these DFL women don’t like reading stories Al wrote about raping Leslie Stahl, masturbating with robots, killing women, they should just drop out of the race. He doesn’t need them dragging him down.
Yeah, that satire about killing women and raping them is some funny stuff that exposes a greater truth.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
… or could it be that all of these Democrats lining up to oppose Al Franken understand that his brand of hate-mongering, misogyny and corruption are antithetical to Minnesota values, and therefore they rightfully question Al Franken’s qualifications to seek election in the first place.
Maybe it’s time for Al Franken to move on back home to New York City.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Chestnut, in November it won’t be “maybe” for ol’ Smokescreen, it’ll be “will”.
Oh, wait - he’ll move to D.C. for a cushy lobbyist job, instead…..
June 5th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
SEX SELLS.
Franken’s in a Minnesota Pickle.
Republican female Annette Meeks, one (1) of six (6) signers of a letter, was a voluntary FM radio station’s “Polichick,” at the Mall of America.
The Republican National Convention (RNC) Planning Website had a section called “GET YOUR SEXY ON.”
Governor Jesse Ventura has made verbal and written comments about sex.
FEMALE USA MILITARY PERSONNEL in the WAR IN IRAQ have been victims of rape; some have been raped by USA military personnel or are terrified about being raped.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
The Strib headline will read:
Failed satirist Franken nabs DFL endorsement
June 5th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
If I were in a swing district and not a complete morn I’d do exactly what those two did. Good for them. They know they’re going to catch a little flak from the caucus, but at least we can assume they won’t get bitch-slapped the way the override 6 did.
I’m hearing lots of chatter about this weekend. If Ciresi or Clark jump in, it’s an almost definite locked convention. CDs 1, 7 and 8 are are showing pretty wicked movement away from Franken. The uncoms. are leaning away from Franken, the JNPS are sitting tight, and the few Ciresis seem to still be undecided.
Crazy.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Alternate Strib healding:
Dems overlook corruption, deviance, select Franken.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Correct Strib headling:
DFL shows real self, nominates fellow deviant Franken
June 5th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
The “nice” thing about the democrats is that they can always be counted on to endorse the most liberal candidate in the field! Just look at their support for Jihad Aswan Madia!! I mean, so what if he lied … and our troops died … about his support for presidential candidates.
The only problem that “Satire Al” faces is that the guy with the hyphenated name is still in the race (not to be taken as a comment on the ethnicity of any candidate past or present), so anything is possible!
June 5th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
dare2sayit: “Guys like him [Mike Ciresi] are screwing up America,…”
——————————————–
dare2sayit has probably never DARED 2 LOOK AT the website “Foundations at Robbins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi”
I think that the amount of foundation money given away is in at least the top three in the state of Minnesota.
The money that eventually goes to the children attending the St. Paul Public Schools and the children attending the Minneapolis Public Schools is huge.
The money goes where it is needed and it’s been done quietly.
In addition the settlement that Mike had with Big Tobacco gives the State of Minnesota 200 million dollars EVERY YEAR. [That is not counting the lump sum.]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Depends on how you look at it el p. I mean, it’s fair to say that folks like Ceresi, but more appropriately leaches like Edwards, levy massive litigation taxes on everyone. The frivolous law suits and actions of trial lawyers have driven up the cost of goods, and in many cases eliminated access to basic medical services.
O.k., so they donate a few million to charitable causes. That shouldn’t excuse them from causing trillions in harm to society.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
ansel: “maybe the libs have some values after all”
————————————-
Go check out the Liberal Party.
It seems to me that one (1) of the two (2) majority parties in Minnesota is the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Mike grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota.
His father was an immigrant. Mike’s mother died when he was young.
He worked. Graduated from the U of MN Law School, I believe.
He involved in public and private foundations that give back to the Minnesota communities.
He is recently wealthy; he EARNED it.
Some folks win the lottery, some have a great voice and develop their talent, some play winning football or baseball. I don’t understand what some Republicans have against a working, successful Democrat.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
The Republicans went to the well over Franken’s taxes to the point the discussion shifted to Carey and the FEC. Now the Republicans went to the well to the point TwoPutz is connecting Coleman with Abramoff, and painting Brod as a hypocrite for good measure.
Damn, isn’t leadership is doing a heckuva job?
June 5th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I don’t know how the libs can keep defending this guy. Have they no shame?
June 5th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Say, dolt #1?
You’ve done such a good job of helping Al “man up” I wouldn’t be surprised if he offered to take you back to New York with him after he gets his ass handed to him in November…but don’t do it!
In all likely-hood, he’s mistaken your k-mart army man suit for a door man’s uniform. We all know that his former door man quit and he’s probably just looking for a new lacky; with favors.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
“Have they no shame?”
Is that an anagram for: They have no shame.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
“He is recently wealthy; he EARNED it.”
That slogan is carved into the desk set of every ambulance chasing, scumbag lawyer in the country.
“Some folks win the lottery, some have a great voice and develop their talent, some play winning football or baseball.”
Right, and others attach themselves to the success of others and suck their wallets dry like a cash parasite.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
It seems to me that about $6 billion dollars went to YOUR state of Minnesota, in addition to $200 million dollars going to YOUR state of Minnesota EACH YEAR.
If the Republican National Committee (RNC) doesn’t want money to help fund the Republican National Convention (RNC), they why did they go around he country and the State of Minnesota and ask for PUBLIC & PRIVATE MONEY?
Each of this year’s conventions will be SUBSIDIZED with $16.4 MILLION in TAXPAYER DOLLARS, but that is not the only subsidy. Corporate contributions to the host committees are TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE DONORS.
MIKE CIRESI IS A SOLID MINNESOTA CITIZEN who grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Examine the PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS, and examine the work ethic, before you shoot from the hip.
[Source: Twincites.com, "Loophole lets corporations fund political conventions," by Jim Drinkard, 6-4-08]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Well, this little skit that Franken has been trying to write himself into may actually be over if the DFL intelligentsia continues to run for cover this weekend in beautiful downtown Rochester. Al just left too many little literary tracks in the snow. I can’t believe that Rep. Oberstar actually called on him to “disown” his writings. Just exactly how would Franken go about disowning anything that he’s already said or done? Could he “sell” his writings to someone else who is not running for the US Senate and then perhaps donate the proceeds to charity? Could he go to court to have his record expunged? Maybe he could see a dermatologist and have it removed with a laser like one of those unfortunate spring break tattoos that lose their luster later in life. Unfortunately, I think he has pretty much pinned the tail on his own donkey and the only thing that will make these problems go away will be if he goes away. Cut to black, Al. Bring on the rich lawyer.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Ol’ Bear, you get it. There is simply nothing left to say after that. Except “Rich Lawyer” is flat and no energy, excitment or anything else. We already know who he is. We have already rejected him. We don’t want him.
Also he will have to spend his own money. That sucks.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Go with that, Scrotee - you’re a sick man.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I don’t think he failed at satire. He has millions of dollars, and is ready to spend them to send Norm into the corporate lobbying world.
If the republican plan is to run out the clock talking about things Al wrote for Saturday Night Live and not addressing the real issues facing Minnesotans today, I think the voters will recognize that the state is worse not only because Norm has no plan for the future, but because he dredged up a lot of off color stuff from the history books, and gave it all a much larger audience than it had ever received in the first place.
When does pretending to be outraged about a particular statement or joke lose its validity when you are the one providing it to a new audience?
June 6th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Leroy vetting was the Democrat Team Franken’s job.
Leroy you must be a Fanken family member or Franken himself. NOBODY would stand with Franken knowing what the Democrats now know. Even Yoni has submitted. You’re among friends here on this site if you tell us your real name!
June 6th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Franken MIGHT have a stronger case saying Ron Carey neglected to cc (carbon copy) Franken on all the facts he sent out than saying Al’s first amendment rights are being impinged. I say MIGHT because I’m not sure Ron Carey did not cc Franken. From the way Franken - oops, I mean Leroy - is talking, you’d think he hasn’t seen the materials.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:52 am
You’re right Leroy. Al has millions. Hate sells.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
The 1st amendment argument is very very weak.
Ron Carey and the GOP packaged the case against Franken very well (Thanks!). Now it’s up to the DFL to uphold basic Minnesota public life standards by not endorsing Franken. If they do not it won’t be for lack of awareness or info.