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

[MissyPat]

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

Good answer!

[foxbat]

It's a pretty pragmatic answer too. Franken's pretty smart and understands that by him being the 60th Senator, he doesn't have any special powers. Matter of fact, with the 60, if there is any true power to be gained, it just ended up being simultaneously applied to all of the other Dems. Franken's smart to keep his eyes on his elected duty to the people of Minnesota. He's got a great mentor in Klobochar and he's intelligent enough to recognize that.

What I find really strange is the anxiety levels from the GOP on this. That 60 number means a lot less that it normally would with Byrd and Kennedy fairly sidelined. Specter's hardly someone that you can count on and then you've got the likes of Lieberman slinking around. My guess is that the GOP is taking the easy way out by making a big stink over something that's hardly guaranteed so they can try to claim Dem failure or faux GOP success.

[booboo111]

You can count on Specter and Lieberman this time around, I assure you.

[afgail]

I'm sick of Blue Dog Democrats, like Ben Nelson, who was elected with less than 400,000 votes being able to dictate to my Democratic senator who was elected with 7,000,000 votes. If Nelson isn't happy with the proposed Health Care reform bill with a public option then he should just get out of the way and let those who can lead on what the majority of Americans want.

If his constituent don't want to participate they can decline. But why foreclose everybody else from choosing to participate in a public option if they want to? FTBDs.

[sb250guy]

Every Democrat is the 60th senator.

[Indy 44]

I like Franken and can't stand him at the same time.

[apoyo]

LOL!!!

[notyouraveragebear]

Oh - you're a flip-flopper. Heh

[Tyler-Durden]

hopefully NOW some sh*t will get done in DC to help the rest of the country now that the elite are back on their feet (at our expense)

i won't hold my breath.

[rukiddingmerightnow]

please do

[StonyStoner]

You go first.

[TurnToTheLeft]

Congratulations Senator Franken!

I have read his books and listened to his radio show. Al Franken understands the struggles of the working class and middle class. He is smart, authentic and empathetic. He has a great wit. He will become one of our great senators.

[jojothedoggirl]

I've never known a funny person that was'nt smart. Well you have to exclude those who are accidently funny like Palin , ya know.

[apoyo]

That's because she is not funny. She's peculiar.

[lmab]

Funny....peculiar is almost like being unique......

[nacilbuper]

sorta like a soup sandwich

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

A freak is more like it.

[BeachBubbaTex]

Hey Al, try reading one of your books... even though they're a little dated, they still make me laugh out loud (and thanks for that, too... dark times, man).

[lbrty 2112]

It's his constituents that will need the sense of humor now.

[xstevejx]

Yeah...to be able to get over all the undue stress Coleman brought on!

[Kdog630]

Especially those represented by Michelle Bachmann.

[freethinkergirl]

She's already a laugh-a-minute!

[AbstractImp]

Welcome home, Al.
Congratulations.

And that's a great point.
Minnesota can teach a lot of places
about democracy,
and about the proper role of the judiciary.

Florida and Iran come to mind . . .

[OceanSize]

A class act all the way. Meanwhile, all Coleman did was show just how UNclassy he is.

[Apachejew]

Yes, Al, we really like you!

[Blurp]

It's absolutely DEE-licious watching Hannity and Beck and all the other Fox stable of yahoos going nuts with Franken's victory over Cappy Captooth. Congrats Al... and Minnesota.

[roseau]

Our government needs as much presence from midwestern progressives as we can get. Glad to have you on the job, Al!

[salamanca1]

Al Franken is funny as all get-out, but more importantly, he's smart as a whip. He's much smarter, for instance, than the dopes on this post who don't like him, think he's a failure (what?!) think he's a clown. I've kept track of him for years, read his books, and I've listened to members of Congress for nearly 40 years, and I can tell you he's in the top 5 percent in intelligence in the entire U.S. Congress. The Senate is getting a valuable and able member, and Minnesota is getting a fine advocate.

[christopherflynn]

and I, wholeheartedly, agree.He'll be a breath of fresh air compared to all those lawyer types which propogate the house and senate...

[landstar]

And don't be forgettin' that White House!!!! C'mon now!

[newbridge]

Senator Imhofe from Oklahoma calling Franken a clown is like the pot calling the kettle black. Have you ever heard his views on climate change and guns, pollution and torture? He is the clown.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

No clowns are least interesting and smart, Imhofe is in the pocket of big oil, which makes him corrupt.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

Inhofe's crowning achievement in life was destroying an insurance company while he was its CEO.

[Whycee54]

Well Al, If you are going to Washington to be a Senator you had better get your sense of humor back if you want to survive.