Coleman Should Concede to Victorious Senator Franken

On the morning after the November 2008 election in Minnesota, incumbent Senator Norm Coleman prematurely declared victory in his long, hard-fought reelection bid against opponent Al Franken.

After stressing on national television the importance of a "healing process" and the costliness of a recount, the Republican tried to take the moral high ground by adding, "If I were trailing, I would step back." Well, Norm, it looks like you finally got your chance to do something right and good for Minnesota.

It has been nearly two months. After all legally cast votes were counted and then recounted by hand, after thousands of challenged ballots were adjudicated, and now that nearly 1,000 improperly rejected absentee ballots were opened and counted by agreement of both campaigns, Al Franken has not only reversed Coleman's unofficial election-night lead, he has surpassed it and widened his own lead to 225 votes. The contest, however, seems far from over.

Coleman's earlier admonishments about healing quickly and sparing taxpayer dollars, and his stated "confidence in the Minnesota [election] system," have given way to a stubborn refusal to be a man of his word. Considering his promise of "inevitable" legal contests (among the several lawsuits he already filed) and the threats by his GOP buddies to filibuster the seating of an imminently victorious Franken, Coleman-and-Friends seem destined to drag this out in the courts for weeks or even months. But to what avail?

Coleman's only conceivable bases for an election contest would rest on having to prove dubious assertions. The campaign contends the bipartisan canvassing board erred in their decision to revert to election-day totals for a single precinct that lost ballots during the recount--a decision that netted 46 votes for Franken. But Coleman ignores the fact that dismissing altogether legally cast votes from election-night due to a clerical error weeks later disenfranchises voters.

He also is hanging his hat on the tenuous allegation that slightly more than 100 votes for Franken were "double-counted"--despite the lack of clear evidence to substantiate the claim. The math, however, is abundantly clear: even if the Supreme Court is moved by both weak arguments, Al Franken still wins the election.

Of course, Coleman now wants to add nearly 650 more rejected absentee ballots to the count. But this strategy poses two major public-relations disasters for the campaign: the new ballots are overwhelmingly from cities and precincts that Coleman won on election night--making him seem like a disingenuous cherry-picker. And local election officials from these predominantly red precincts continue to stand by their original decisions to reject the improperly cast ballots--rendering his request legally shaky and seemingly desperate.

Embarrassing as it may be to to fall so far behind in votes on the very day his Senate seat expired, the (former) senator should stay true to his word from last November. With no votes left to count, he is "trailing" and it is time for him to "step back" and concede.

C'mon, Norm... start the "healing process."

Comments

[gothvanhellsing]

Personally I see challenging this in court as a good thing no matter who is winning. When it is challenged it opens up the process to a lot closer look. Rather then stopping the quest for truth when the team you pick is winning why not look and see where voting in this country is degrading. If we fail to look into the problem it will not be long till ballets cast will be nothing more then a guideline, and no longer a voice. One has to wonder who benefits the most from making sure a system like this stays broken.

[DenaL]

I have never seen such whiners as Republicans. Move on Coleman--you LOST!

[KidsOfSlaves]

I , the Kidofslaves just have one thing to say to Norm coleman ! actually several things to say to Norm coleman. Mr Coleman after Paul wellstone was Killed in a plane crash; The day after to be exact! You told the people of minnesota TO "GET OVER IT" ! Do you Remember that? and how the republicans turned a man who fought for people like me turned his memorial service into a three ring circus? Like they had a realationship with him . Also you said a day after the 2008 election that Al Franken should not cost the people of minnesota more money and just concede. Furthermore on your first election that You ran AS A DEMOCRAT and won! you Said !" i am now serving the republican party on behalf of the minnesota people" Do you Remember this? Well i got some words for you NORM! on behalf of the people of minnesota your services will no longer be needed! i know it hurts but all i can say to you is...........GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!

[bronceye]

Coleman is just a repubican, nothing more, nothing less. As for Al, doggone it, people like him.

[choctawfrazer]

Norm Coleman is disingenuous. I hope the final cut is made and Franken fully wins the Senate seat and undergoes no protests from the Republicans.

[ru155]

Really?

Love to see the exuberant research conducted by those at HuffPo. Pretty much anything benefiting the DNC is considered golden.

Why not enlighten the readers with such facts that reputable papers, like the Wall Street Journal, go into depth over the possible legal issues. For instance, in several precincts there were more votes tallied in the recount than there are registered voters.

Hmmm..... maybe instead of conceding, Coleman should as for the REAL vote totals.

[silverball]

"reputable papers, like the Wall Street Journal".....fyi, wsj = faux news and rupert murdoch......

[noralou]

Norm Coleman is just showing his true colors. Its not about what's good for the state of Minnesota, its all about what is good for Norm Coleman. Maybe he thinks that if he is a sitting senator the other legal problems he has will be more easily addressed. Norm: look at ex-Senator Stevens of Alaska. If Lady Justice is blind, he will end his days in the federal penitentiary system. And, Norm, he was much more powerful than are you. Goodbye, you loser and good riddance!

[Rogan]

Most Republicans don't seem to understand that in this information age, anything they say, publicly, gets remembered, verbatim, whenever it becomes relevant again.

They're all continuing a policy of blithely lying and constantly contradicting themselves, that was based in media culture that made it highly improbable that anyone outside a few expert observers would notice. Now, after the information explosion, that just doesn't fly. But these crooked Republicans never notice. They'll even repeat the same lies over and over, scant days after the Internet has forced the Mainstream Media to acknowledge and cover the lies, emphasizing their self-embarrassment.

I guess if you're used to using brute dishonesty as a major tool in your work, you're loathe to give it up, when it becomes technologically outmoded...

[JenniferInMO]

I remember when Coleman said he'd back out "gracefully" if he was running behind. I forgot about it until now. There were so many ways to smack Coleman with this but Normoyle chose the clever, slow, logical slam dunk approach.

I suppose Coleman would rather have no one represent Minnesota than finally stop kicking that dead horse? Doesn't he have some law suits to defend himself against? An investigation to worry about?

[stepper]

This is startling. Why are the Republicans supporting Coleman? They have 41 Senate seats. Dems can't end filibusters even with Franken. Its just an embarassment to keep fighting, smearing the good names and hard work of canvassers (from both parties) all over the state. Coleman is behind by 225 votes and has no path to victory. If my memory serves:

1) The courts already heard and rejected his argument that votes were double counted.

2) The bipartisan state canvassing board already heard from both sides about the 133 missing votes and supported Franken's position.

3) The 650 'improperly rejected' absentee ballots were reviewed and rejected TWICE by local canvassing boards, once at the time of the election and again after the state supreme court told all counties to review them and forward any to St. Paul that were improperly rejected.

If somehow all of these decisions are reversed in Coleman's favor, he may still not gain the lead. Time to stick a fork in him. He's done.

[Brian Normoyle - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Stepper:

Thanks for participating in the discussion. Why they'd continue to fight this so hard is beyond me and I think you're right he has no path to victory.

However, I'd point out that

1) The Supreme Court did not necessarily rule on the issue of double-counted votes. They decided that the recount should not be halted because of that allegation and that it was better left to determine in an evidentiary hearing during an election contest AFTER the recount was finished and a winner declared. So they're still open to hearing the case after Coleman loses.

2) The canvassing board did not necessarily support Franken's position... they merely came to the conclusion that they did not have the authority to adjudicate the merits of the allegation.

3) You're absolutely right on that one... these ballots were twice rejected by election officials, and no one but Coleman thinks they should be included.

And, yes, rulings in his favor on #1 and #2 would not reverse the outcome.

Let's hope he develops some grace in the next two days.

[Whinger]

Sore losers never concede defeat gracefully, every single vote is begrudged the victor!

[FormerLutheranChick]

Note to Norm Coleman:

We have windchills of -30, -40 here in northwestern Minnesota.

HELL HAS FROZEN OVER. GIVE IT UP, NORM! AL FRANKEN HAS WON.

[judesuper]

Here's what I expect from Coleman:

When I'm ahead, then Franken must concede. Now that I've lost, there is no way that I will concede. Oh, and by the way, I'm under FBI investigation. Hey what do you expect? I'm a republican!! Sincerely, your former senator, Norm Coleman.

[bygollymissmolly]

There is nothing in it for Coleman to continue the fight. He is unlikely to ever again be voted into public office and he faces an impending corruption trial. But, I'm betting the RNC has made a deal with Norm. I'm betting they have told him that if he continues to obstruct, they will pay his impending legal bills for his corruption trial.

[RickCoMatic]

Is there no shame for Norm Coleman, the GOP and the Republican Senate Committee. Won't someone whom they will listen to explain to them that the glass is neither half-full nor half empty. There is nothing in the glass. They have lost after all was said and done. Now, they must release their fingers from the death grip on the Senate Chair. Al Franken is the new Senator from Minnesota. Franken won the election. Now, you must emerge from the denial that it would ever happen and accept Franken's victory. Franken; not Coleman. Coleman is out. Franken is in. Now, you come to grips with hearing and saying: Senator Al Franken. Senator Franken. Rhymes with spanking. Like the one you took when the Absentee Ballots were opened and read with hardly any of them for Norm Coleman. So, we're at the point where we are all waiting for you to concede and let the story end with: "And they all lived happily ever-after." I mean, ... that's what we're all hoping happens. It would be nice to have you take the high road. Concede, not make a fuss, and let Al Franken get down to Washington and begin work. That would be a lot nicer than you and the Republican Senate Committee all shitting in a brown paper bag, sticking it on Al Franken's front porch and lighting it!