Al Franken Interviewed On "Today Show" About Coming To The Senate (VIDEO)

Asked by Meredith Vieira on the "Today Show" if it was difficult to ignore his penchant for speaking out and keep a low-profile while the recount and appeals processes in Minnesota dragged on, Senator-elect Al Franken replied, "Fortunately I lost my sense of humor right away. (laughing) So I didn't have a problem... Minnesota has a real process here. Minnesotans should be proud of our process. It's thorough; we can say that. It's transparent. And our election officials acted with incredible integrity. "

Reflecting on the extraordinarily close result of the election (out of 2.9 million votes cast, Franken won by a margin of 312 votes), he acknowledged that he's "very conscious" of that fact and realizes a lot of Minnesotans didn't vote for him.

Franken reiterated that he doesn't see himself as the 60th Democratic senator but rather as the second senator from Minnesota.

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Comments

[army193]

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Where is the State named here your the 60th individual that will be held accountable if you fail to break filler buster...T­hen vote your states will.

[weatherwaxx]

English, please?

[fun2bfree]

Wow!- that is the oath by LAW!--and contrary to the Constitution they are promising to uphold which unequivocally states in Article VI-
"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

--the oath which is not in the constitution but is apparently prescribed by law passed by these hypocrites-in including the phrase "So help me god" in the oath seems to exclude any non-theists and becomes a religious test - in direct violation of the Constitution.

[nancyalis]

"Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!"

Let the Al Franken decade begin !!

Congrats to Al !!

[kitten645]

Yay! I love this comment! Cheers!

[BannedInBoston]

I'm as happy as any other Dem to see Al Franken going to the Senate. I just sense that, like a lot of more standard politicians, he's letting his handlers tell him what to say.

[GramE]

I think he is intelligent enough to speak for himself and Minnesota. I am relieved and proud to have a man with his wit and savvy in the Senate. I also think he can handle the handlers.

[cyberlucas]

I'm not a Minnesotan,but rooted for and supported Al,and hope he holds to his progressive ideals and helps pass health care with a public option. and an strong energy bill that is not a giveaway to big coal and oil. Also look forward to following his career,after having supported him on Air America.Wh­en it comes to policy,he knows his stuff,not like the clown Inhofe.

[metalhead39]

Congratulations, Senator Franken!

Now the real work begins . . .

[lazercat2008]

Somehow that creep Coleman is going to come back.

[gcallaghan]

Oh, hes surely over in the shadows licking his wounds and his sugar daddy

[weatherwaxx]

But possibly not until after a jail term..

[jeffrey678]

Senator Franken will have a lot of new material. I hope he gives some stand-up comedy on C-SPAN in the evening. He could take ratings away from the Factor.

[madisonhack]

If they give him a chance to overhaul the FCC he might take away the Factor.

[Badfickle]

I have to say during this whole process Al was remarkably restrained. I don't recall him running his mouth or complaining or trashing his opponent who some would say had it coming.

[weatherwaxx]

He's shown more restraint than I could have. But he wasn't elected to do standup.

[TOOO]

As much as I like Mr. Franken, we need to be careful about going crazy with praise for him.

This praise for Senator Franken sounds eerily similar to... the same praise President Obama was (and still is) getting. You know, the one who's turned out to be such a big disappointment for progressives?

Let's be careful about building pedestals nobody can reach.

[Knowitall]

I'm constantly baffled by those who thought Pres. Obama ran as a progressive. He really didn't. I thought he ran center left. Anyone who was paying attention knows that. In fact, I was disappointed during the campaign by some of his positions that were too conservative for me--positions on health care, gay marriage and faith based initiatives come to mind. But I've never agreed with the entire platform of a party. However, I know where the majority of my interests and concerns lie, and that's how I vote.

I shudder to think where we would be now if McCain/Palin were running the show.

There's no need to "build pedestals". In Washington it's a waste of time anyway, anyone can be toppled very easily. One day you're up, the next day you're Tom DeLay or Tom Daschle. The name of the game is building consensus, keeping your head low, and trying to get something done. It ain't easy.

[DBtv]

President Obama is not a disappointment to anyone with a rational mind.

[kitten645]

Amen to that. I'm not disappointed. He was left with alot of bad sh*t and he's doing the best anyone could. He STILL has my full support.

[jbrantow]

I supported and voted for President Obama. I still support him but if I don't speak up when I disagree with him, than I'm no better than the koolaid drinking wingnuts that cheered GW Bush for 8 years...re­gardless of what he did.

[obamaisking]

Unfortunately for you, your rationale is long gone...

BO has broken EVERY promise so far from his campaign..­...he is and always will be a tax and spend liberal...­.

Change that he never believed in but suckered you fools into believing!

[weatherwaxx]

How about you get over yourself -- you arent' speaking for all Democrats or all progressives. I don't agree with everything President Obama has done, but he's hardly a 'big disappoint­ment.'

And compared to what we'd have had if he'd lost....

Nope, not disappointed. And I don't expect to be disappointed by Al Franken, either.

[dogman44]

Nobody lika me here. They maka my words go away. I cannot maka talky times.

[Knowitall]

Perhaps if you'd try to make sense.....­...

[DBtv]

Quelle idiote!

[kitten645]

Oui Oui..or wee wee small brain.

[RevBookburn]

Now you can regain your humor. Bush-types of Democrats, 'pro-life' Democrats, and similar. Just when you thought you were surrounded by peers.... Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

[Yellowbird]

Well Well SENATOR Franken.

You feel you don't speak for ANYONE BUT MINNESOTANS.

BUT YOU ASK FOR DONATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE NATION!

How can it be that you accept DONATIONS from 50 states but only represent ONE?

Come on Al. You can't have it both ways.

You ARE the 60th SENATOR and had better vote for health care.

This issue is a deal breaker with 80% of the nation.

[FalconerHK]

But see, he CAN have it both ways. Welcome to the Ruling Class, Al. Don't let it go to your head.

[Deadgnome]

Many candidates benefit from Political Action Committees. We need to say that to all of them, or stop donating to the things.

[Anthro]

I think you are off on a toot to nowhere. He was just paying respect to his state and the people who voted for him. I will still send him money because of course his vote counts for all of us in the Senate and I would want to keep a Dem. in office. I don't think ANY senator would say he or she represents the whole country. Ultimately they represent the people who VOTE for them, but people in other states who like the way they vote might want to support their re-election bids.

[applescruff]

Thank You .For pointing out the obvious

[BannedInBoston]

Oh, please.

[1088]

He has a great surprise awaits him when he gets there in Washington, like mostly all the Dems are actually are Republicants.

[gussman2000]

I hope he can hold up against the Gop mafia, and Elliot Ness em.

[ppp1604]

When God is on your side, you simply can't lose. Right Al?

[Jaladeno]

He is an intelligent man, with great intentions, and will be a good Senator. And by doing so, he will make the Repubs look even more out of touch than before (assuming that is possible) with their snarky remarks about him. I mean really, who is Inhofe to call anyone a clown???

[machivellianX]

he will soon be introduced to the horror that is the senate. maybe we will have someone now that has spine to fillibuster bad law or law that nobody has the time to read.....w­ouldn't that be a refreshing change....­..

[witz]

We can only hope that he rubs off . . . is that possible?