NRSC Distorts Franken Video To Make New Senator Look Angry (VIDEO) [UPDATED]

[UPDATED, below.]

The GOP is running this ad online, lamenting the fact that the Democrats now have the sixtieth Senate vote in the form of Al Franken. "It's finally here, with 60 Senators, the Democrats have total control." And thus, the logic goes, you can blame them for everything, because there will be "NO DEBATE", not even where negotiating with terrorists! I mean, should anybody want to start doing that! No senator, Democratic or otherwise, has made that suggestion, but now HOW WILL BRAVE MITCH MCCONNELL FILIBUSTER IT? Why, he can't! He can only stand by, helplessly, as the Democratic Senate majority passes the Let's Set Kentucky On Fire Act of 2009.

[WATCH]

Anyway, it just goes to show, no one is more naively optimistic about Democratic Party discipline than Republicans. But here's an astute catch from Dave Weigel at the Washington Independent: you see that gesture that Al Franken is making, over and over again, that makes him look angry? Turns out, it's all just part of a bit he does while telling a story about the late former Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone.

[WATCH]

Weigel notes that "Former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) repeatedly used the video in ads to make Franken look like a madman." And Coleman lost! And now the National Republican Senatorial Committee is basically doing the same thing. It's all a part of the same awesome strategy that's helped the GOP achieve nearly 40 votes in the U.S. Senate.

I'll point out again, for the 100th time, that the NRSC could have made the point they are trying to make without including this distortion that was readily caught out by people on the internet.

UPDATE: Greg Sargent has a statement from the NRSC about this ad, in which spokesperson Brian Walsh makes the "tongue-in-cheek" suggestion that they use a photo of Franken wearing diapers, instead. It's a bizarre suggestion, given that the photo in question is just ONE MORE EXAMPLE of a well-reported fake. It's weird. It's like Brian Walsh is saying, "My heart wants to make a legitimate critique of the Democratic Party's Senate majority, but body says no, let's act like we're disingenuous fakes who have no idea what the internet is."

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Comments

[TrnsNtnl]

Are they expecting to win support with that add of get someone to off themselves or the next person that pisses them off... geeze that was disturbingly lame.

[Bodryn]

This GOP video idea is just a variation on the McCarthyism theme that keeps on coming to life again like an evil Energizer bunny. Don't win on the issues, just trash your opponent.

[applehead]

franken, you took that guy!

[LeftLeanWing]

These tactic used to work - before YouTube and Vimeo were widely available

Now these tricks are easily debunked and/or parodied before the sun goes down.

Poor Gopees.......
They can't even find a bad photo image of Obama to use where he's being animated or grimacing.

Plus we are much better at these mediums that they can possibly imagine.

[DudleysPa]

From the NRSC website:

Chairman Cornyn's Statement on the Minnesota Senate Campaign

“I would like to commend both Norm Coleman and Al Franken on a hard fought campaign. In particular, I would like to be among the first to welcome Al Franken to the United States Senate.
..."

...and as part of that dignified welcome to a fellow duly elected Senator, I've had the lads over at the NRSC make this fun little video. Enjoy"

I know these guys and gals in the Senate have differing opinions, but they could at least show a little more respect than this. What's the term is for simultaneous handshaking and backstabbing?

[sueinmn]

Not a repub insight when he got sworn in!

[discourse jockey]

Kind of... fascinating, I guess, how the Republicans stick to a dirty tactic when it has already been proved to not resonate with the people.

The Grand Old Party of the golden Bush years would at least have tried a *new* dirty trick at this point. Say what you want about Rove, they used to never be short on new epic sleaze.

Oh well, that too is change I can believe in, sorta.

[Harbinger08]

I've lived through Nixon, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Bush and more Bush. This country has lost a lot of opportunities to gain the ground we still so desperately need to reach, and in so many ways even gone backwards. The current remnants of the Republican Party represent the worst elements and nastiest opportunists of a party that once actually had redeeming core values.

Here's an old timer's advice to the youngsters: Now that you finally have your boot on the necks of these social throwbacks, don't let up. If you do, you will regret it.

[brynnrose thorn]

I have lived though all of the above as well and I heartily endorse the message above.

[discourse jockey]

Rational, compassionate voices capable of independent thought like yours are the ones I prefer to listen to quite closely. Not partisan hacks, but decades-long witnesses to the gradual decline of conservative and, yes, Christian values in the GOP.

For me, the most interesting this is that Republican Party doesn't see this is a positive opportunity to grow and return to its ostensible core values in a modern way. They are actually in a surprisingly good position: They are free of the weight of expectation and of having to communicate their message with both governing hands tied behind their backs. But what do they make of it, how do they use their chance? -- Sarah Palin.

[cosmicbullfight]

I agree. It's really uncanny the way they're squandering an opportunity to stage a comeback as underdogs. They even have a story to tell about fighting back against the supermajority. Someone tell the NRSC that there's a difference between occupying the strategic and the moral low-ground.

[gs425]

This reminds me of when the GOP did the same exact thing to Howard Dean with the barely audible (to audience) HEEYAAAAA! during the 2004 Primary. Those dirtbag GOPer’s hurled accusations of mental issues and anger problems and all kinds of distortions.

Oh wait.....that wasn't the GOP. Which party was that.....hmmmm....uhh....ummm....I give up.

[brynnrose thorn]

That was the so-called "liberal media" running that nonsense 24/7. You are trying to make a connection that just isn't there.

BTW, when you find that "liberal media" please let us know, a lot of us would just love to watch it.

[discourse jockey]

Seconded. I find it highly unfair that apparently, all neocon claqueurs have access to news outlets we others never get to see.

[taquinas]

Totally agree. CNN International has a conservative bias aired in South East Asia.

[Scarlet Fire90]

Not to mention Fixed Noise is the highest rated (ugh!) cable news channel (sheep can't think independently) and Pirate Murdoch dominates many, many media markets.

[gs425]

Ahhh the ever so expected....'thats different"

[sueinmn]

This is the exact clip Coleman used agaisnt Franken to make him look out of control! It worked for Coleman! Coleman ran such a dirty campaign it was pathetic! This is an old skit Franken was telling the story about how Wellstone practiced marathon running with his dad and pumped him up to run! Many ads are deceptive and unimformed Americans fall for these everytime! Thats how they run campaigns. Take Dole as another example! It backfired on both Dole and Coleman!

[skialethia]

Revenge is sweet. Those Rethugs are going down, down, down....and it'll be a very slow crawl back to the top again.

[discourse jockey]

I sure hope so. But my faith in my fellow Americans' judgement is not very strong.

[jeanwny]

Don't underestimate the new progressive younger voters, they are growing in number.
The far right brainwashed, uneducated, continue to diminish in number. Its a new era of communication and the Ultra Conservative media and base are never again going to rule the day. Put that in your pipe faux News and smoke it, it is fact.

[beckpod1]

If the dim republican party would just focus some of the energy they use for mis-information and hate speech...and think about the real problems of real Americans..maybe...just maybe they can take their clown noses and do something good.
Dummies..they put the cart in front of the horse...and blame everyone else !
Power doesn't buy class or dignity....neither do tan faced liars!

[MNmommy]

Nice scrub.

Anyway - I can't believe they dragged this debunked garbage out from Coleman's campaign.

weak.

[Tulka2]

Oh, ho hum. We, Progressives, should be so lucky.

The Republicans just came off control of all three branches of government and they didn't do a damn thing their base wanted. You might have thought they would throw them a crumb, but nada. Most especially, the GOP base fervently wanted Bush to use his lawless governing style to make abortion illegal again. Nope.

Now Progressives most fervently want single payer health care. Will we get it?

This is why i think a third party is most likely to come out of the Progressive Left which is actually for a lot of things rather than out of the right-wing which finds solidarity only in being against things.

[Celebrindan]

I seriously can't believe the audacity, the sheer gall of the Republican Party.
Blaming Obama for Bush's abject failures in economic policy.
As if our current state of affairs had nothing to do with the last eight years of Oil Companies looting our Treasury, and Haliburton treating the nation like an unlimited balance ATM machine.
Trillions upon trillions looted by these cretins, and the rank and file brownshirts of the Republican Party think it's Obama's fault?
Repeat a lie often enough and some people will think it's true.
Where was the outrage when 30 TONS OF CASH was sent to Iraq, AND LOST?
Where was the outrage when NO BID Contracts were handed out to FRIENDS of CHENEY and BUSH?
Where was this righteous indignation when Haliburton was charging $10.00 a pop to our troops for a hot dog or hamburger in Iraq?
I'm a conservative, but I have lost all respect for these brainless dolts, who toe party line, then regurgitate hate and stupidity as if it was grail.

[Imzadi]

Really? You should have lived here when those ads ran every 15 MINUTES!!!

[Celebrindan]

I was here.
I just had the sense to turn off my TV two and half years ago.

[sense oar sheep]

media matters in america

[skialethia]

Because at least 40% are as dense enough to believe everything they see.