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

[wadenelson1]

Don't lose your sense of humor Al. It's the only thing that will keep you sane, especially in DC.

Myself and millions of Americans all across the country support you, and believe in you. Go to DC and do the right things. Fight for what you know is right. Expose what is wrong. Help us get our country back.

Be the man we ALL believe you to be. Honest. Funny. And Good.

[dogman44]

I like you. Wonder if this will get by the cen..sors.

[gaja]

well said!

[Batts]

ABOUT TIME!!!!

[sueinmn]

Why dont either Palin wear wedding rings??

[sueinmn]

sorry, wrong post!!!! Hey go Al Franken, finally we you !!

[Axekick]

Senator Franken, you are a class act. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you and about you and your lovely family in the years to come.

[BlueZoo]

Al, you can't lose your sense of humor when you get the last laugh! Enjoy!

[Bongborg]

Lost his sense of humor? I guess dealing with Norm day in and day out would do that.

Wait until James Inhofe or Lindsey Graham begins to talk out loud in the Senate after Al has been seated. I hope they get closeups of Al's face so we can see when he's struggling not to laugh out loud.

[Hawaii5-0]

I'm glad Coleman finally conceded. The GOP should have told him to use some of the money they gave him to "buy a clue."

[Bongborg]

He did, and reported back to them that it was Colonel Mustard with the pistol in the dining room. They asked for the money back.

[dogman44]

Bullcarp. It was Mr. Green in the library with the lead pipe.

[dogman44]

It was cheney in the bunker with torture.

[Enid]

He was on TV yesterday protesting he conceded only for the good of the state. Nothing else he still feels as if he won. You wonder why they don't get the Steven Colber
Report

[Bongborg]

He has the part about "good of the state" absolutely right.

[RoseMerry]

Senator Franken, you never were that funny. But if you stick to your values, stay true to your family and your nation and have bit of that "incredible integrity", you may one of the greatest Senators of all time. If they don't shot you! Stay safe, Senator. We need you.

[JHancock]

Actually he was hilarious. I missed him when he left SNL.

[Jaladeno]

How can someone who started the chant: WHAT DO WE WANT? PATIENCE! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW! not be funny?

[dogman44]

He always had me in stitches. He tells the truth in a very funny way.
I've read all his books. Sometimes I feel bad for laughing. But gallow
humor is still funny.

[talkingdog]

He strikes me as pretty serious about it, for love of Country,.......he'll be shocked when he realizes the scoundrels he'll be sharing air with in the chamber.

[StringOfLights]

He knows. Read his books. :)

[unbozo]

Because he's good enough!. He's smart enough! And doggone it, I like him.

Congratulations! Senator elect Franken.

[halfitaliangirl]

Bravo!

[JohnSawyer]

"SNL to Senate". Cool.

[SoCalNick]

By way of HARVARD with Honors. Don't let the Righties forget that.

[dogman44]

Hard to forget what you don't know. The reich makes up their own "facts".

[Bazzz]

Why was I reminded of what happened to the John Belushi character at the end of Animal House?

[Jaladeno]

Please tell me you also thought of Coleman as Niedermayer!!!

[layman]

A very refreshing breath of air inside the very stuffy congressional chamber.
Way to go Al !!!!!!!!

[qdog112]

Congratulations to Senator Franken. I hope he is not changed by the group he joins. He is a real voice for the people and I consider him in the class of Michael Moore. They are truth tellers.

"Lies and the Lying Liars who tell Them" is a must read.

[larryjackshon]

co-sign

[Tunghoy]

Agreed, though I think of him more as the bearer of Paul Wellstone's banner of the progressive grassroots. I still miss Wellstone a lot, have attended Camp Wellstone political training, and think Franken is the best person to hold his seat.....and to hold the rest of the Senate's 198 feet to the fire.

[Bongborg]

Bought a hardcover edition as soon as it came out.

[biglith]

I hope he has security. With all the right wings creeps out there with their bitter hatred fueled by the right wing media like FOX who now what could happen.