Dems Afraid Al Franken “Politically Radiocative” Over Playboy Article
“McCollum said she spoke briefly with Franken on Thursday and that the candidate wanted to speak again.
“I told him this is a serious problem,” she said. “I told him my cell phone’s ringing off the hook. Union leaders call me, state House members are calling, I’ve had people in the coffee shop approach me, very concerned about this. They really feel this article is politically radioactive.”
WASHINGTON- Senate candidate Al Franken ’s satirical and explicit take on virtual sex and other topics, published in Playboy magazine eight years ago, is drawing concern instead of laughter from some Minnesota Democrats.
Rep. Betty McCollum, who supported the comedian’s rival Mike Ciresi until he dropped out of the race for the party’s nomination for the Senate, complained Thursday that she and other Minnesota Democrats will be on the same November ballot as a candidate “who has pornographic writings that are indefensible.”
“Do they spend all of their time defending him, or do they spend their time talking about issues that are important to this election?” McCollum told The Associated Press in an interview. “The whole story was a shocking surprise.”
Franken, a former “Saturday Night Live” writer and performer and a best-selling author, is the Democratic front-runner to take on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Minnesota Democrats hold an endorsing convention next week and a primary Sept. 9.
“Al understands, and the people of Minnesota understand, the difference between what a satirist does and what a senator does,” Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr said. “It’s unfortunate that she’s trying to create divisions in our party rather than working with other DFLers (Minnesota Democrats) to take on the special-interest senator.”
Two other Minnesota Democrats in the House, Keith Ellison and Tim Walz, also expressed concerns about the 2000 satirical article that Republicans began circulating last week. None of the critical House members called on Franken to step aside.
At one point in the Playboy piece titled “Porn-O-Rama!” Franken called the Internet a “terrific learning tool,” writing that his 12-year-old son was able to use it for a sixth-grade report on bestiality.
“As a parent and an aunt, and talking to other parents, people are very concerned about the type of Internet use that’s out there, and how it has a potentially harmful effect on children,” McCollum said. “Sexually explicit material is one of the things that parents are very concerned about, and want to make sure that they’re steering their children away from.”
Ellison said that and other parts of the article about sexual activities “made me feel a little uncomfortable.”
“I have to ask myself, can I explain it to my 11-year-old daughter? I’d have considerable difficulty,” Ellison said, adding that voters who have talked with him about it are “just sort of appalled.”
Nonetheless, Ellison said he will support Franken if he receives the state party’s endorsement. McCollum was making no such promises. “I’ll have to see,” she said.
Franken is the heavy favorite to take on Coleman, although he faces a challenge from college professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington remained firmly behind Franken. “We believe he’ll beat Norm Coleman in the fall,” said DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller.
McCollum said she spoke briefly with Franken on Thursday and that the candidate wanted to speak again.
“I told him this is a serious problem,” she said. “I told him my cell phone’s ringing off the hook. Union leaders call me, state House members are calling, I’ve had people in the coffee shop approach me, very concerned about this. They really feel this article is politically radioactive.”
(AP)
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Why does this surprise the Defeatocrats? Franken was always an a-hole.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:27 pmAbout half the liberal icons are perverts:
Gavin “Im a fag” newson
Barney “I like teenage call boys” Frank
Eliott “I butt fuck prostitutes” Spitzer
Bill “I sniff cigars that have been in cunts” Clinton and The Lion “Make me feel dirty mistress” of the Left
The rest are crooks:
The guy who ran Air America and was busted in Guam
the dude with the bribe in the freezer
Keith “what, me pay taxes?” Olberman
But al “what, me pay my staffers health insurance/my 12 year old likes bestiality” Franken is a nice blend of both.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:32 pmI wish I could say that all Republicans are pure-as-the-driven-snow saints, but we all know that isn’t so.
You all know I support Republicans and especially conservative ones, but I’m just pointing out here that the “R” before a name doesn’t necessarily mean conservative or moral. Take Larry Craig, for instance and a number of others that I will leave unnamed. That is why I’m reluctant to join in a “look at that sinner democrat” pile-on on even a low-life like Al Franken. The Republican Party needs a purge of its own perverts like the “log cabin” republicans.
But there is no question that even the worst Republican looks good compared to Demorats like Franken.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pmThis from the party that supports the likes of Reid,Pelosi,Kennedy,Gore and Kerry. Someone like Franken would fit right in.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pmLook, Franken isn’t a serious person. The dems made this loon their candidate. So, what do they expect? Of course he’s going to have tax dodging, porn spewing and other nasty things in his background.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pmThe above list was missing Scott “Im against the war, hey little girl want to see my dick” Ritter.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:22 pmOld Sailor — Point well taken and agreed.
Here comes the ‘however’ part…This is the major difference between the Republican Party and the Democrat(ic) Party — Republican candidates are quick to be dismissed by the Republican Party when they get caught tapping the floor in an airport mens room (among other things).
What is the Dem’s policy with their perverts? All we need do is go to the article to find out (keeping in mind it is by the AP so accuracy is anyones guess) –
“Ellison (D-Minnesotastan) said that and other parts of the article about sexual activities “made me FEEL a little UNCOMFORTABLE.
I have to ask myself, can I explain it to my 11-year-old daughter? I’d have CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY,” Ellison said, adding that VOTERS who have talked with him about it are “just sort of APPALLED.” NONETHELESS, Ellison said HE WILL SUPPORT FRANKEN if he receives the state party’s endorsement.”
And the National Dem Party position? “The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington remained FIRMLY BEHIND FRANKEN. “We believe he’ll beat Norm Coleman in the fall,” said DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller.”
As an old salt, I am sure you are familiar with the term, ‘towing the line.’ Evidently, Dem policy is filling congressional seats with ANYONE with a ‘D’ beside their name ALWAYS trumps character of the candidate. Not so with the Republican party.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:33 amWhat’s new?..What do we really expect from the DNC and Franken-fuk?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am