Video: Coleman Backtracks On Recount, Ethics Issues

Sen. Norm Coleman said on Friday that he would not give up his right to challenge the results of Minnesota's recount election should he find himself trailing Al Franken, even though in the immediate aftermath of the November 4th vote, he demanded that Franken do just that.

The Minnesota Republican, speaking to reporters for the first time since the election ended, did not directly answer a question as to whether he would respect the results of the recount should they show him behind his Democratic challenger. Reminded that in the aftermath of the initial vote, when he was shown to be leading Franken, he said he would not have called for a recount, Coleman replied: "I don't think I'd have made the same statement."

The contest between Coleman and Franken has dwindled greatly since that November 4th night. Once leading his Democratic challenger by 700 votes, Coleman's margin has decreased to double digits, according to internal counts by the Franken campaign. Coleman said that he was concerned that games were being played "on both sides" when it came to ballot challenges, but declared of the recount: "I've got faith we'll get it done the Minnesota way."

The topic of whether it was fair to challenge election results wasn't the only issue on which Coleman back-tracked on Friday.

Following his press conference, Coleman was pressed by members of the media to answer questions about the ethics charges swirling around both him and his family. The Senator allegedly received $75,000 in payments from a friend and GOP financier (through his wife) without reporting the gift on his personal financial disclosure form.

Coleman avoided the press, making a bee-line through a parking lot of cars in order to get into his van.

"Tom, I'm not going to talk about it," he said to a reporter waiting for him at the door.

Coleman, who could face an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee should he be reelected, had previously said that he would welcome any investigation into the allegations.

"As another Democratic group that spent millions of dollars attempting to defeat me calls for a politically motivated investigation, I want to be clear that I not only welcome such an investigation, but I am eager to have it move forward immediately," read a statement from his office.

Comments

[smilodon1]

11:10 AM on 11/22/2008

He's a typical republican­derthal. Here in Washington State we had a similar situation for Governor in 2004. The bad guy was ahead after the initial count but it was contested and a recount began. At this time the r'andertha­l made statements to the effect that the dems should "grow up and accept the election" or "don't be childish" and others equally dismissive­. When the numbers went against him suddenly all his criticisms were fashionabl­e enough for him to use. Fortunatel­y, he lost and we have an effective governor rather than someone who wants the power. Hopefully, Al Franken will be able to do the same to Coleman.

[OhComeOnNow]

08:51 AM on 11/22/2008

That should have been spelled "WHINER". Of couse, I believe he does not understand the meaning of the word "winner".

If you think switching parties and abandondin­g principles to get elected, you're a winner.

If you think the world owes you, you're a winner.

If you think telling the whole truth is too much to ask, you're a winner

If you think anyone not rich is not worth listening to, you're a winner

If you belive in neoconserv­ative fascism, you're a winner.

If you believe in nasty personal attacks, you're a winner.

If you believe in blind allegience to the worst president in history, you're a winner.

If you believe in getting a free ride (or greatly discounted­), you're a winner.

If you flip flop and say anything untrue, you're a winner.

[plzchuteme]

08:30 AM on 11/22/2008

TYPO ALERT! TYPO ALERT!
The photo caption was supposed to read: Norm Coleman: "I'm A Wiener" and NOT Norm Coleman: "I'm A Winner." The management would like to apologize for any misunderst­anding this error may have caused.

[bubbuh]

05:04 AM on 11/22/2008

It being Minnesota, I guess one doesn't need a freezer to cool off hot cash.

[pir anha]

01:46 AM on 11/22/2008

lies, and the lying liars who tell them, indeed.

[anangryamerican]

12:50 AM on 11/22/2008

FU Coleman...­CONCEDE and let the nation move on!

[jse17]

12:13 AM on 11/22/2008

"Republica­ns seem to practice what I call, to coin a phrase, "situation­al reality".

Additional­ly, good Republican­s are masters of conspicuou­s and convenient piety!

[V4Vigilance]

07:51 PM on 11/21/2008

Have a little pity on Coleman.

It's tough to be consistent when you're talking out of both sides of your face.

[bygollymissmolly]

07:49 PM on 11/21/2008

If Coleman loses the recount, even if it is only by 100 votes, I don't believe he can demand another recount. I think they only do a recount once.

Besides, is anyone surprised that he's a hypocrite?

It's going to be fun watching him explain away the $75,000 he got through his wife. Especially since the guy who gave him the money said it was originally going to go directly to Coleman.

[Horus45]

09:36 AM on 11/22/2008

Coleman should be hoping and praying that he loses the election because that is the only way he will avoid prosecutio­n for the $75,000 bribe.

[booker52]

07:30 PM on 11/21/2008

I this what the GOP calls running a fair campaign?? I would say Coleman needs lessons.

[adlerman]

07:26 PM on 11/21/2008

Coleman is a pathetic individual and should be stoned for lying. Where are all the fundamenta­list
republican­s when you need them?

[EosBlue]

12:45 AM on 11/22/2008

Oh, oh. Another Demogoon calling for "stoning"?­?? I'm getting tired of this French 1790's "Off with their heads" mentality. What the hell is wrong with you people? We just came through 8 years of polarizati­on and now it going to continue? Get a life.

News Flash....

We Won. Obama will be sworn in as our new President and there were gains in the both houses. Let it go and celebrate instead of all this whining. When either Coleman or Franken come out of the recount with the most votes, they'll get the nod.

None of you "negatives­" will add or detract from the vote count, so SHUT UP.

[JessWonderin]

01:25 AM on 11/22/2008

Oh . . . the "Voice of Reason" . . . .

sorry, I really have NO compassion for those that used their position to destroy this GREAT nation foe self serving gain . . . are you denying the fact that Coleman is hiding a MINIMUM $75,000 BRIBE and still wants to be a "peoples' representa­tive", trusted to make decisions on where we go as a nation and what we spend tax dollars on????

sorry, Obama many have "won" but there is still some outhouses NEEDING cleaning . . . .

[CAPlatt]

09:01 AM on 11/22/2008

Yo Eos - Who is "we" and what did we "win?" Americans are polarized and always will be. If you think Obama is going to change that one little bit then think again. Look at his cabinet - not one person who isn't an insider, all with ideas that have already been tested and resulted in failure. Such a sad end to all the campaign rhetoric about new starts. It isn't the color of a man's skin that counts - it is his/her ideas and actions. So far, Big O is a Big disappoint­ment in those department­s.

[CaptainZero1969]

07:20 PM on 11/21/2008

Republican­s seem to practice what I call, to coin a phrase, "situation­al reality".

[AxelDC]

06:59 PM on 11/21/2008

So, if Al Franken has a legally mandate recount, he is a sore loser.

However, if Norm Coleman refuses to accept that he lost in the recount, he is NOT a sore loser???

[FortuneTeller]

08:59 PM on 11/21/2008

No...he's just a Loser...bu­t we already know that.

[NationalTreasure]

06:45 PM on 11/21/2008

republican­s lie like dogs and are such hypocrites

[PTAOfficerforObama]

11:38 PM on 11/21/2008

Please do not insult dogs.

[JessWonderin]

01:27 AM on 11/22/2008

gonna hear from the SPCA!

[AlGionfriddo]

06:28 PM on 11/21/2008

"...I want to be clear that I not only welcome such an investigat­ion, but I am eager to have it move forward immediatel­y,"

Yeah, me too Norm. What a jerk.

Funny that people complain about having a comedian in the Senate when we've had a clown in the White House for the last 8 years.

[HockeyMom]

09:45 AM on 11/22/2008

hahaha

[WhatsLeft]

10:11 AM on 11/22/2008

Is Norm welcoming such an investigat­ion like Palin welcomed the "Trooperga­te" investigat­ion and then refused to testify or cooperate until she was forced to do so? Me thinks they are all alike.