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| 12/12/2007 1:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Al Franken talks issues in Aitkin
By ANN SCHWARTZ
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| Democratic candidate for United States Senate Al Franken stopped in Aitkin on his way farther north. |
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Al Franken, Minneapolis, a Democratic candidate for United States Senate, stopped at the Aitkin Independent Age office recently. He was on his way to a bar in Chisholm to watch the Vikings game and then on to a house party in Bemidji.
Franken is an Emmy-award winning writer for Saturday Night Live, a New York Times bestselling author and a former radio talk show host. He said he is now a full-time candidate, one of several vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican. The Democrats will pick their candidate in June.
"I'm honored to have the endorsement of both Rep. Loren Solberg and Sen. Tom Saxhaug," said Franken.
He said that in his opinion, Coleman is not doing a good job. He said that Coleman made a statement, shortly after the late Sen. Paul Wellstone died in an airplane crash, that "I'm a 99 percent improvement over Paul Wellstone." Later, Coleman apologized and said he was 99 percent better at supporting President George Bush.
Franken said that Coleman stood solidly behind Bush and the Iraq war when both were popular and now Coleman is trying to distance himself from both.
Franken said he is a big supporter of the troops and has done USO shows in Afghanistan. He said that his radio listeners raised lots of money to buy helmet liners for the Marines. He said he is also a big supporter of veterans.
Why should Republicans and Independents vote for you?
"In reality, the Democratic Party is both the liberal and conservative party in this county," he said. "There is nothing conservative about this brand of the Republican party that we've seen the last few years. There is nothing conservative about running huge deficits. There is nothing conservative about voting in earmarks for such things as the $230 million bridge to nowhere. There is nothing conservative about violating the Geneva convention and torture. There is nothing conservative about suppressing science. There is nothing conservative about cronyism, such as Brownie and Katrina. "
He said that the people in Congress have enabled President Bush and encouraged him to do everything that he has done and Congress should be held accountable. "And Norm Coleman is the number one enabler."
Franken said he's always been so proud of being a Minnesotan and he had a great childhood growing up in St. Louis Park. Putting money into education is part of Minnesota's tradition that he'd like to see continue, he said.
Franken has a wife, Frannie, and two grown children. His daughter, 25, an Early Childhood teacher and chef, will be soon be working for his campaign. His son, 22, is working in currency trading.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2007
Article comment by:
BILL HERRIED
As the father of an Iraq casualty, I can only pray Mr. Franken is successful. I can remember my son, before he was killed calling and telling me of seeing one of Al's USO shows. He was very excited. God bless you Al!
Posted: Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Article comment by:
wayne halverson
I went door to door campaigning for Sen. Coleman when he was a Democrat. Big mistake, sheep in wolf's clothing's are my feelings about him. Al Franken bring in the right mix -in the Wellstone tradition. Al, I am voting for you!
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