DNC Chair: Coleman Should Concede

DNC Chair Tim Kaine called Tuesday for Norm Coleman to concede the Minnesota Senate race to Al Franken, after a three-judge panel declared Franken the winner the night before.

Coleman challenged the results of the election in November that left Franken with a 225 vote lead. After an extensive recount and numerous challenged ballots, Franken's lead grew to 312 votes.

"Enough is enough," said Kaine. His statement:

"It is time for Norm Coleman to concede and for Al Franken to be sworn in as the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. The voters of Minnesota months ago elected Al Franken to the Senate - and during every step in the legal process that judgment has been confirmed. Norm Coleman's own legal challenge resulted in more votes for Al Franken and now a three judge panel has ruled Al Franken the winner. Former Senator Coleman's insistence on continuing his quixotic quest for this seat at best shows that he is putting his own political ambition ahead of the people and worst that he is complicit in an effort by national Republicans to deny Al Franken this seat for as long as possible so there is one less Democratic vote for President Obama's agenda for change.

"The people of Minnesota deserve two Senators and the people of America deserve 100 in the U.S. Senate. More importantly, the voters who cast ballots on Election Day deserve to have their verdict stand. Senator Coleman may have a right to continue his legal challenges no matter how hopeless they are, but the right thing to do here is to concede defeat and allow this saga to end once and for all."

Comments

[WarrenPease]

Dems air ad calling on Coleman to quit

By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune
Norm "Delay" Coleman is losing the support of all but the most rabid lying conservative partisans.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/43029787.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EkP7K_V_GD7EaPc

[RickCoMatic]

Blame Minnesota Governor Pawlenty. The Conspiracy doesn't work unless he's crooked and got bought.
He makes it sound like he's in a quandary. Get out of here. The whole thing becomes moot if he hands Al Franken a Election Certificate. Furthermore, that low-life, on-the-take, miserable excuse for a Governor left that Minnesota Senate seat VACANT for his Co-conspirators rather than sending-down a temp to represent Minnesota while the Legislation for the Stimulus was being crafted. Pawlenty did NOTHING but kiss-up to the GOP and look at examples of Presidential Campaign Art while his State left one of its Senate Seats VACANT, following orders to leave it that way because the GOP Conspiracy NEEDED it that way to retain power in the Senate. Pawlenty got led down the path to do the GOP's bidding and NOW stands center stage in the spotlight, with his pants down around his ankles needing to explain why he's got his pants down over his loafers. Are you going to say you needed to tuck your shirt in and give Al Franken the Election Certificate he has rightfully earned? Or are you going to keep letting your GOP Buddy's keep telling you what a good little boy you are and leave your seat open for them?

[MWChris]

Norm Coleman is making Richard Nixon's decision to concede defeat to Kennedy in 1960 look statesmanlike....

[jazzman]

Sore loser? Hypocrites? Anti-democratic? Hopeless cause? Of course. They know it and we know it but they say 'So what?' They know that they've got the courts all twisted in knots, the Governor in their pocket, the people of Minnesota all playing Minnesota nice, the partisans rationalizing and spinning this absurb quest. They all know that they're behaving badly but they don't care. To them using the system to obstruct democracy and keep a Democrat out of office is all that counts.

It's frustrating to have such people wield this kind of power but what are you going to do? Only when the people of Minnesota get so angry that Gov. Pawlenty fears for his political life will you see this nonsense stop. Right now, Minnesotans seem content to let Texans run their politics and keep their Senator out of office. Glad I don't live in that State. I've got too much self-respect to stand for the kind of crap they're willing to put up with.

[traveler501]

I'm willing (if only barely) to accept the hitherto weak support from the Democrats because he wouldn't be certified by Minnesota prior to this ruling (and even State Supreme Court should that be invoked)...but enough is enough. Franken has won and grown his lead at each juncture...it is time to seat the man (and let the fun begin!) I'm SO ready for the Al Franken Decade in Congress..(!)

[jazzman]

Oh Harrrrryyyy Reeeeeeiiiiiddddd. Wheeeerrreee aaaarrrrreeeee yyyyyooooouuuuuu??

Are you going to stand up Harry? Are you going to lead Harry? Are you going to say something Harry? Are you going to get tough Harry? Are you going to threaten Harry? or are you the person that T.S. Eliot was referring to when he said, "This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but with a whimper."

[Jacqueline3]

hear hear!

[Penthos]

Yes, its about time the Dems got behind Franken on this... Now l want to hear the same calls from every other prominent Democrat and any prominent Republicans with integrity (oxymoron I know).

I'm almost as pissed at the Dems for not standing up for Franken as I am at the Repugnicans for continuon this cynical, disingenuous battle against him.

If the party roles were reveresed on this issue the Rebulicans would be melting down on every show that would have them demanding that the obstructionist DEmocrats seat their justly elected senator.

BUTCH UP DEMOCRATS, YOU WON; ACT LIKE IT!

[enriquecaliente]

Obstructionist.

[UkieOlie]

The man is pathetic. The voters of Minnesota should be screaming.

[Melizzy]

Since the wingers are sending teabags to Congress, can the dems send truckloads of sour grapes to Norm's offices? That would be teh awesome.

[Laserbeam]

I love your idea!

[GLT21]

Talk about a sore loser.

[2smart2brepublican]

Of course the DNC calls for him to give it up. A real Republican authority, like Limburger (as if Steele has any weight), needs to call him out. Waiting for the SNL skit on this one. They could bring back Franken in a guest spot.

[Jamie Kowalski]

Thank you. Now one more time, and LOUDER.