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MESABI DAILY NEWS: “FRANKEN WON; DFL FEMINIST CAUCUS LOST”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | June 16, 2008
“Al Franken won at the DFL State Convention last week. He beat Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer on the first ballot for the party’s U.S. Senate endorsement.
But the real loser was the DFL Feminist Caucus, whose board voted 72 percent in favor of Franken’s endorsement.
The board did so despite the ‘Saturday Night Live’ comedian’s history of some raunchy, perverted and really nauseating attempts at satire — with women the target — in writings, on television and on radio. He did so in a ‘Playboy’ article; he did so on ‘SNL;’ and he did so on “Air America.
And he didn’t go for the cheap laughs and shock value just using the most basest of comedy’s common denominators — sex. He did so trying to make a funny out of the ugly violent crime of rape against women.
Nearly all of us enjoy a good off-color joke or skit or article of a sexual nature. It would be falsely prudish of most people to say otherwise.
But rape? There is absolutely zero, nada, nothing funny about such a horrific act.” Source: Mesabi Daily News, June 14, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
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“But why did it take so long — last Saturday, the day of the Senate endorsement — for Franken to finally publicly apologize for the jokes and comments and writings that so degraded women? Because he was forced to do so by Democrats of high character such as U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and U.S. Rep. James Oberstar. And also because he realized he could lose the endorsement. As such, it then became the most insincere of apologies.” Source: Mesabi Daily News, June 14, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
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13 Responses to “MESABI DAILY NEWS: “FRANKEN WON; DFL FEMINIST CAUCUS LOST””
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June 16th, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Exactly how many members comprised this 72%? Does anyone have the actual numbers?
I’m betting the vote was 18 Franken, 7 No Endorsement/JNP, as 18 is the smallest number that can equal 72% evenly in a calculation. A convention supposedly swayed by a handful of people in the end.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Actually there were 2 no’s, 1 no endorsement, 1 recusal. All others voted to endorse.
Seriously, the coronation of sainthood of one member who resigned rather than endorse Franken is over the top.
Why not ask WHY he was endorsed? Members will be glad to tell you. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with brainstorming sessions and lame jokes written a decade ago.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:06 PM
So only 18 members voted, 13 for Franken….and, as reported, that vote was a key factor in Franken getting the endorsement. Sad that such an important decision could be swayed by a handful of people.
As to the president resigning, it was not just one member but 6% of the voters of the Feminist Caucus!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:06 PM
This may be similar to MN GOP Chairperson, Ron Carey attending the MN DFL State Convention, and WINNING an Honorable Mention for being there on his 27th Wedding Anniversary, but LOSING to the Hot Half Dozen II [Representative Laura Brod and the five (5) other signers of a letter criticizing the DFL's eventually endorsed U.S. Senate candidate.]
June 16th, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Contrary to reports, it wasn’t the Feminist Caucus who endorsed at all but the Board of Directors of the Feminist Caucus – of which there are 18 members. Sad that some wish to misconstrue what was one endorsement of many Franken has received rather than reporting the truth.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 PM
Hey [redacted], why exactly did that “one person†resign? I’ve heard it was a bit more than just you all blindly endorsing Franken. Know any of the background information on that, or are you just playing the same old same damage control for Franken?
All I’m saying is that you all personally liked Franken from the get-go and that’s why you endorsed him – not because he stood up for feminist ideals. I wasn’t there, but I’m guessing there was a fair amount of rationalizing your choice.
“It has absolutely NOTHING to do with brainstorming sessions and lame jokes written a decade ago.†Well, see maybe some of us are trying to point out that perhaps you may have considered that, you know?
“Feminists� You just tossed it all away. Nice job.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:28 PM
WMD: Team Franken sent out a press release announcing their endorsement by the DFL Feminist Caucus. Did the DFL Feminist Caucus not endorse Franken’s campaign?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:40 PM
I wasn’t there either, Dude. I’m not playing damage control either. I just know because I voted by email as a member of the Board that it was the Board and not the Feminist Caucus as a whole. There wasn’t a meeting of the Caucus to endorse. Only the Board screened the two candidates, too.
As to “liking” Franken, that’s not the point. The point was Franken has had many meetings with women over months where he answered questions about his positions on issues. He was endorsed based on the answers to those questions – not things he wrote a dozen years ago.
Obviously your definition of feminist is different than mine. Mine is based on holding to principles I hold dear such as the right to privacy, the right to make decisions for myself, the right to equal pay, equality in the workplace – not on jokes written by a satirist many years ago.
Michael – the press release was prepared by the Political Director of the Caucus that morning from what I understand (Jackie Stevenson, DNC member). It said Feminist Caucus endorsement but the reality was that it was incorrect. It was actually the Board of the Feminist Caucus that endorsed.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:51 PM
WMD: Has there been any conversations about the wording of the press release from Team Franken about the endorsement?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:52 PM
MBB,
The information that I received was also different than MDE’s.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:01 PM
MBB – Absolutely! There has been lots of conversation about it. The Feminist Caucus Board is preparing a press release about the endorsement and I’ll make sure you receive it. It will address the reasons why we endorsed Al Franken. I would note that the two who voted no both were strong Ciresi supporters all along.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Yeah, the board met Saturday morning last-minute even though the caucus meeting was the next morning. Weird timing, eh?
You’re right, our definition must be different. Because mine includes the ability to actually accomplish the goals you laid out, not just believe in them. What’s clear, at least what will be clear in November, is that he cannot win and therefore will not accomplish anything.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Dude, the caucus meeting on Sunday was a forum on Children’s Issues – not a business meeting. The Board meeting on Saturday was just that – a meeting of the Board. They are different things.
Yep. Different definitions. I believe he can win and will be a vast improvement over Coleman.