GOP Throws The Kitchen Sink At Franken

The National Republican Senatorial Committee put out a kitchen-sink type ad Monday, accusing Al Franken of writing pornography, laughing at the disabled, humiliating minorities and demeaning women.

The meat of the ad is lifted, primarily, from Franken's time as a humorist. And it comes at a time when the Democratic challenger appears close to pulling of an electoral upset.

But the real back-story here is as much about Franken's opponent, Norm Coleman, as it is about the NRSC.

Several weeks ago, the Minnesota Republican pledged to launch a positive campaign. And, subsequently, he took down all negative advertisements. But he has done very little to demonstrate his disapproval of independent groups who are whacking Franken on his behalf.

The Coleman campaign insists that he is prohibited from interceding when it comes to the ads put out by the NRSC. The Senator himself has said that it would be illegal to personally contact outside organizations to "ask them to stop their negative ads."

But other candidates for office have done just that, including Rep. Chris Shays, a Republican from Connecticut and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona. And just this Sunday, Coleman emailed NRSC chair Sen. Jon Ensign about a direct mail piece sent out by the group's independent expenditure arm -- a pamphlet that looks like a children's book and accuses Franken of writing a pornography column in Playboy Magazine and "comedy routines about raping women."

In short, the Minnesota Senate race is witnessing mudslinging at least as dirty as that seen on the presidential level. And Coleman seems to be trying to appear above the fray while reaping the benefits of outside group attacks.

Comments

[formerprosecutor]

That will be the title of Al's next book. Instead of kitchen table politics; it will be "Kitchen Sink Politics"

[massager]

I'll take Al Franken anytime over Ann Coulter. He is a comedian. Coulter is a...

[voltaire11]

The probably have evidence of his Stuart Smalley Movie as evidence that he does bad flicks and that his "Daily Affirmations" are leftist propaganda that is used to subjugate the masses to Marxist doctrine.

[brobike42]

You keep going Al. You'll make a great Senator, because doggone it, people like you.

[johnnyjust]

Franken running demeans us all.

[PghLori]

The entire republican party demeans rational people, not to mention they've trashed the country.

[DeminMN]

How? Anyone has a right to run. I could run for President if I wanted to. You should be clearer in your thoughts.

[TomR]

Norm Coleman, who used to be a Democrat and actually chaired Paul Wellstone's re-election campaign in '96 before running against him as a Republican in 2002, is clearly an opportunist looking out for himself. If Obama wins the presidency, he'll need Al Franken's support in the Senate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVvHvjwshTU&fmt=18

- Tom

[LemonMeringue]

I watched Al as a comedian and I read his serious books. As a woman I have never been offended by him.

He's a hero and a great American. He has enough money; he does not have to do this to help us.

I am looking forward to reading more books written by Senator Al Franken.

[johnnyjust]

A hero and great American?

Maybe you could set your standards just a bit higher?

[BillMelater]

To? Perhaps George Bush or John McSame? McSame had his moment but threw it all away by dissing America. Same for Bush.

Al Franken is real. He looked around and didn't like what he saw going on in Washington. So he is doing something about it. That is heroic.

[tidalfist]

Like ' Norm Coleman ' standards ?
YOUR standards ?!?

[LeeCalif]

Why doesn't the Franken camp show CSPAN footage of Coleman attempting (unsuccessfully) to demean that Scottish or British guy, George somebody, who ended up reaming Coleman , inside and out.

I lost any respect I had for Coleman when I saw the way he was grasping at straws, trying to get one up on the George guy - who had nothing to do with Hussein, but Coleman acted like a weasel, trying to prove a link. There was no link.

Go Franken !!!!!!!!!!!!

[BillMelater]

You know when the GOP sends out its attack dogs after you, you are getting under their skin.

The GOP fascim and hypocrisy that Franken writes about surely upsets them. And that's why I sent Al $20. Keep up the good work, Al!

[MufsMom]

That's our Norm-classy and honest all the way to the end.

[Stilts9]

Ya know what gets Norm Coleman's goat most of all?

Franken has better hair.

[MuseScavenger]

Burn'em up at the poles, Al. You'll be a fine senator!

[bascombe]

such a reminder of the Hubert Humphrey ad.

pathetic.

[ruggy690]

that commercial just makes me want to vote for him! yay! naw, hes a cool cat, a little crazy!

[honestpolitician]

A quote from Obama in his closing speach : "In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history. That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for."

Now GO VOTE!

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