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COLEMAN FOR U.S. SENATE PRESS RELEASE: “‘REAL’ AD COUNTERS LATEST LIES FROM AL FRANKEN”

By Michael B. Brodkorb | September 18, 2008

ST. PAUL – As Al Franken continues to air television ads lying about Norm Coleman’s real record of accomplishment, the Coleman for Senate campaign today released “Real,” a television ad that sets the record straight about what Norm Coleman has done to help over 500,000 Minnesotans get prescription drug coverage. In his ad, Franken falsely accuses Senator Coleman of “ripping off” Medicare and the people of Minnesota. The newest Coleman ad comes two days after the launch of the Coleman for Senate Truth Squad.

“Another Franken ad, another lie,” said Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager. “The truth about Norm Coleman’s record is that he supported legislation that provided more than half a million Minnesota seniors better access to prescription drug benefits – legislation Al Franken opposes.  He broke with his party and voted to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies, and, unlike Al Franken, he strongly opposes turning health care over to government bureaucrats.  That’s the truth, and it explains why Al Franken continues to lie about Norm Coleman’s record.”

“Real” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/colemanforsenate. [I posted the video above]

“Real” script:

ANNCR: “Another Franken ad.  Another lie. The Truth: Norm Coleman voted to give seniors prescription drugs. He led an investigation that uncovered billions in Medicare fraud. And voted against his party to let Medicare negotiate with drug companies. The real rip off?  Al Franken.  He opposed prescription drugs for seniors.  Wants government in charge of health care. And his experience?

Franken: “So &$%# shameless.”

ANNCR: “Well, not so good.”

“Real” backup:

“The Truth: Norm Coleman voted to give seniors prescription drugs.” (Senate Vote 459, November 25, 2003 http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459)

“He led an investigation that uncovered billions in Medicare fraud.” “After a recent hearing revealed that 21,000 Medicare physicians owed more than $1.3 billion in federal taxes, Sens. Norm Coleman and Carl Levin plan to introduce a bill today that they hope will address the problem. ‘These tax cheats … make their living from the federal government and, to make matters worse, the average American taxpayer has to pay more taxes to make up the shortfall,’ said Coleman, R-Minn. Levin is a Democrat from Michigan.” (Eric Black and Brady Averill, Senators pursue remedy to collect doctors’ taxes” Star Tribune, May 2,2007)

“And voted against his party to let Medicare negotiate with drug companies.” (Senate Vote 132, April 18, 2007, http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00132 )

“Al Franken.  He opposed prescription drugs for seniors.” “Unlike Coleman, Franken said he would have voted against the measure that created Medicare Part D, which provided seniors prescription drug coverage…” (Rachel E. Stassen-Berger, “Franken’s campaign tour to focus on middle class,” Pioneer Press, April 14, 2008)

“Wants government in charge of health care.” “This is how I’d like to do it, I want to dictate, to mandate that every state gets to single payer. We can pay for it by raising taxes on the top one and a half percent and rescinding the tax cuts.” (Al Franken, 2nd CD DFL Debate in Prior Lake, November 10, 2007)

Franken: “So &$%# shameless.” Video clip from YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5byqTqyOr0, accessed September 8, 2008)

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