Obama Agrees: Franken Won The Most Votes

The Obama administration stated its support on Tuesday for a three-judge panel ruling that Al Franken had received the most votes in the Senate election in Minnesota. But spokesman Robert Gibbs wouldn't go so far as to call for Franken's seating.

"I haven't talked to the President about that action," Gibbs said about the possibility of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid putting the Democratic challenger in Congress, "other than just to say what the three judge panel ruled as it pertains to this case and who received the most votes." It was one of the first -- if not the first -- comments on the recount from the White House.

On Monday evening, a Minnesota panel ruled that Franken had won the most votes at the conclusion of the recount process. Former Senator Norm Coleman will almost certainly appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, an action that would prolong the already lengthy race even further.

Asked for a response to the ruling, Gibbs said the administration's position was the same as the panel's. He added that the White House looked forward to having another Senator (not Franken by name) in Congress.

"On behalf of the administration, we would state exactly what the three judge panel said," Gibbs told reporters. "And that was that the election was conducted in their terms fairly, impartially and accurately. And that Al Franken received in that election the most votes. We look forward, hopefully soon, to having an additional U.S. Senator representing the people of the state of Minnesota."

Comments

[southpaugh]

Where is all the conservative clamor about subverting the voice of the people through the courts? Never mind the people AND the courts have spoken...repeatedly! With the same voice. Together. In four part harmony!

[NPA]

Franken pack your bags and get to Washington, let the GOP try and stop you now! If they do (attempt that is) they will end up with egg all over their faces. Do it, draw them in, I double dare ya!!!

[WinterParkMom]

Once again, where are the fiscal conservatives saying that all this challenging by coleman is wasting minnesotas tax dollars? They won't say it, but they're gonna lose in the state supreme court if they take it that far. They are depriving minnesotans of their constitutional right to representation.

[Roose]

Well it's about time!

If this had happened under a Republican president and the leading contender had been a Republican, you know the Washington Repug establishment would have screamed to seat him. They would have fanned out to all the cable networks, organized street protests and just gotten it done.

But no, not Democrats!

[GodBlessAmerica]

Let's be clear: this is all being pushed by the genuine Republican fear that the Democrats being that close to 60 votes will make them completely vulnerable and have no input whatsoever.

Not that I think that denying them input would be a terrible thing, given the last 29 years, but it *would* be undemocratic (little d). I personally think their fear is poorly based on the fear that the Democratic National leaders will .. well, treat them the same way the Republicans treated Democrats when THEY were in control. But I think the Democratic leaders are more gracious, civilized, and patriotic than that, and therefore will make more-than-reasonable accommodations for the "Republican" voice to be heard. (Of course, the Republicans have to decide what that voice is saying.) I personally feel that it will open the floor, so to speak, to all the voices of the Senate, and allow for multiple views, even more than JUST the two of the parties.

[AnotherTry]

Nice, Obama can endorse THIS court ruling, but is mum on California and Iowa's SC rulings in favor of equality. Is this man for real? Where's the change? This is just more of the same spineless democratic BS.

[fredisfred]

Coleman refusing to cede the election is just more of the same spineless repub BS.

[Monrocsol]

You are absolutely right. Obama is mum on gay issues. When he wanted gay people's vote, he went sniffing their behind. Now - not even a chirp. He has not assigned a single gay person to his cabinet.

Well, maybe I am wrong, Napolitano looks very gay to me.

[GodBlessAmerica]

Well, the man *is* a little busy right now with Mexico, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, NATO, and Turkey. And, oh yeah, the economy.

Perhaps his *primary* interest is a fully-staffed and functioning federal government at the moment.

[IrishLad]

Its not about Senator-elect Franken winning, it's about stalling until he takes his seat......Colman is highly unlikely to catch-up now but he can drag this out so the Dems are one vote short in the Senate. And as for MN's remembering this next time round...politicians survive because of the short memory of people, the GOP will trot out its family-first, anti-gay, pro-military, anti-liberal, pro-God (only a Christian one tho') blah blah blah candidate next election and many will vote GOP totally forgetting these election-thwarting tactics from 2008/2009.

[Betrayed]

What a surprise! I am shocked!

[jazzybo]

Al Franken ya gotta love him! Your one tough cookie dude!

[bigbluenat4]

Speaking as some one from MN, GO PAY ATTENTION TO NEW YORK NOW!! MN will vote out Pawlenty and Franken WILL be part of the senate!

[gracie99]

If the GOP/Coleman decides to appeal to the US Supreme Court, will that take YEARS or will that court somehow expedite the case?

The GOP doesn't expect to win, but they have significant motivation to drag this out as long as possible.

[lochnessmonster]

I think the Supremes would be foolish to take this on after they botched the last one they took on.

[LCLA]

Gov. Pawlenty's refusal to sign the documents certifying Senator Franken's lawful election at this point is dereliction of duty. It is popular with his Republican Party, and he hopes to be nominated for President or VP someday by that party. But he has sealed his doom with the majority of the electorate who resent his antidemocratic hijacking of a duly elected Senator. Hope you enjoy the backslapping from your right wing buddies, Gov. Tim. Hope it was worth ending your political career that so recently looked promising.

[ahoyhoy]

Yup, Minnesotans don't put up with these hijinks.

Republicans are DESTROYING themselves, just to block one vote. I know it's a pretty important vote these days, but at the sake of the entire party?

I wish I knew how to fiddle just now.

[MaximMaximus]

Gov. Pawlenty is knowingly and wilfully participating in the obstructionism of the Coleman camp or so it seems. At this point in time, the people of MN are being taxed but half-represented in the US Senate. That is the angle from which Gov. Pawlenty should be seeing things but he refuses to act on principle and is worried about his own political future. Very sad indeed. The people of MN should rid themselves from such obstructionist politicians.

[tisfilm]

GOP= GREED OBJECTION PEA-BRAINED

[dandypuddin]

Norm, the people have spoken. You are not good enough and people do not like you.

[Rjchinook]

What people? It looks like to people voted in his favor! Time to get over it!

[greymom]

re-read. He said "Norm"

[Aquinnah]

It's time for the people of MN to stand up and tell their their governor SEAT FRANKEN OR BE IMPEACHED.

[jjgg5]

I'd like to know if the people of Minnesota are confronting their Governor for his blatant, political motivations to extend this debacle, when Senator Franken should already be in Washington. I live in Ohio where we have a Democratic Senator and a Republican Senator representing the state's populace in the legislative branch of the federal government. I prefer one Ohio Senator over the other, but I want Ohio to have its appropriate representation in the Senate. What's up Minnesota?

[jjgg5]

Sorry: I had meant the last sentence to have read, "What's up, Minnesota?".

[dandypuddin]

It's Minnesota Nice. They don;t like to make waves.

[longtimegone]

the comma makes all the difference

[Shavano]

Excellent point. How 'boot it Minnesota? Let us hear your comments.

[proggirl]

The Gov. is taking the party line that he will not certify the results until the appeals process is exhausted. He may be on safe legal ground in doing so, but we in MN are still divided on this issue. Remember that this election was close enough to mandate a recount, so opinion is likely to be divided on the issue of its resolution.
It's unreasonable and unrealistic to expect monolithic thought from an entire state.
Just as you don't speak for all of Ohio, I don't speak for all Minnesotans in wanting Franken seated NOW, as I do!