Pioneer Press: Norm Coleman Atones on Yom Kippur for Slimy Negative Ads Against Al Franken

Seems like every Jew in Minnesota is involved in this senate campaign imbroglio. Norm Coleman (Jew) has introspected and reflected over Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement) to drop his negative attack ads against opponent Al Franken (Jew) and everyone commenting on this mess in the Pioneer Press article appears to be Jewish too. [As voters tire of attack ads, Coleman pulls his: Is the decision a polite gesture, a political tactic — or too little too late? By Rachel E. Stassen-Berger]

"This is not about a calculation," said Coleman, who made his decision as the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur ended Thursday night.

"This is a reflection," he said. A reflection born of: "Having spent three days on the road in Minnesota listening to Minnesotans; having spent a day where I could sit back and reflect upon where we're going; having watched the stock market go to places where it hasn't been in our lifetime; and making a decision about, 'How you want to be perceived? How do you want to win a race? How do you want to serve in the U.S. Senate?' "

Coleman's opponents and others said the move can be seen only as a tactic....

The Franken campaign didn't make immediate plans to change its ad strategy in reaction to Coleman's move.

Last week, in the candidates' first general election debate, Franken said, to laughter: "We've been running ads against Norm Coleman's record ... so they're negative."

Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley, who hasn't had the money to run TV spots, said Coleman's move won't undo the race's negative tone.

"I think the tone of the campaign has already pretty much been set in stone," he said.

Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute said the move is clearly calculated.

"The very claim of it not being calculated is calculated," he said.

If Jacobs is right, then Coleman cheapens his religion by using it to disguise his tactical political change.

And apparently the chazan was not as effective in Al Franken's shul since he was not as moved by his Yom Kippur davening to repent of running sleazy ads.

Minnesota Senate Race: Al Franken Anti-War Ad - Coleman's Gotta Go

This is how ordinary people in Minnesota express their outrage. It is the best ant-Bush, anti-Republican ad of the season.

Hat tip to Main St USA.

ST: Jesse the Fuzzball Ventura for the Senate in Minnesota?

We like Al Franken and we are sure that Jesse running will spoil the race for Al. So this dreaded news is not good for Al. We could say that it looks like a joke will ruin things for a joker...

Ventura is the epitome of fuzzballness - and many people (especially in Minnesota, take my word on this) are fuzzballs at heart, true closet weirdos.

7/15 UPDATE: HE'S NOT RUNNING UNLESS G-D TELLS HIM TO!


Ventura is saving any news for TV
By PATRICIA LOPEZ, Star Tribune
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura met with advisers on Friday to map out what a quick leap into Minnesota's U.S. Senate race might look like, although advisers say he still has not made a final decision.

That will be revealed on national television Monday night...on Friday afternoon reporters received word that he would give his decision on "Larry King Live" on Monday night.

State of Minnesota Forces Al Franken to Apologize for His Sense of Humor

Wow. Things are pretty weird out there in the DFL in Minnesota. Ya gotta apologize for your sense of humor if ya wantta run for office ...

I guess it is an apology because he used the word "sorry". (Document: Al Franken's acceptance speech).

...It kills me that things I said and wrote sent a message to some of my friends in this room and people in this state that they can’t count on me to be a champion for women, a champion for ALL Minnesotans, in this campaign and in the Senate.

I’m sorry for that....

[He's smiling and thinking, "I just apologized for my sense of humor. What a joke!"]

Is Al Franken Running for the Senate in the Wrong State?

Apparently, some political enemies have brought up a record of Al Franken making a joke about rape in 1995 on an SNL set. I have said before on this blog regarding an Onion satire and I firmly believe that rape is not something that we ever should joke about.

Now we ask, Is that it? Is that all the opponents have? I'm assuming it is. Franken is known far and wide as a squeaky clean, upright and moral man.

However he is running in Minnesota where most folks have a hard time understanding when something is sarcastic or even when something is an outright joke.

I ought to know because I taught at the University of Minnesota for many years, sometimes to large lecture classes. After trying humor on my students for a while and getting little or no response, I came into class one day with a little sign that said on one side, "Joke" and on the other side, "Laugh." The students could not sense my humor -- so I stuck it in their faces. And then somehow it started to work. My courses were recognized for years as rich in content, demanding in work, and funny too.

So the question is not whether Franken is prepared to serve in the Senate. No, the question is whether Franken is electable in a state where many of the residents have little or no developed sense of humor.

That my friends is a real problem for him.

From the StarTribune blog:

Klobuchar on Franken/Coleman

by Mark Brunswick

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar stepped off the podium of the DFL state convention and into a firestorm of questions about her position on Al Franken and his writings, which have inflamed some women and other feminists on both sides of the aisle.

Klobuchar, who left the convention quickly to tour the closed Winona bridge, said she believed Franken was not fatally damaged by the revelations and expected him to address the issue more publicly on Saturday.

Said Klobuchar:

“I found his past writings, some of them, entirely inappropriate. He needs to take this on more upfront and more directly. We will be heading into tomorrow where he’ll be addressing it in a more public way. He’s been married to Franni, his wife, for over 30 years, he loves his family and he loves his country and he cares about the issues and that’s what people need to focus on. But, unfortunately, because this has been boiling up for the last week I think he needs to address this more directly.”

Klobuchar, who has made no endorsement in the Senate race, said she has spoken to Franken and urged him to be more publicly forthcoming.

“Every candidate makes mistakes along the way. Things happen along the way and you have to explain them and that’s what people want to hear. He understands his writings offended people and he regrets that. He’s going to have to bring them along and I think he has the capacity to do that.”

Will she support him if there is a primary? “I’m going to make a decision after the convention.”

On another matter, Klobuchar took no direct shots at the senior senator from Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman, during a speech to delegates, choosing instead to paint a picture of the importance of a Democratic majority in the Senate.

“My message is we need to get more Democrats. We have a 51-vote margin on the war. My whole speech was setting the stage for why we need change in Washington and that includes the Senate race in Minnesota. He has been identified with George Bush, I think we need change and that’s why we need a Democratic senator.”

Minnesota American Jewish World on Al Franken

Thanks to JTA for reproducing this story about Al Franken, our favorite Minnesotan:

Profile of Al Franken
By ERIN ELLIOTT
American Jewish World

Minneapolis, Minn. — His recent television spots have sought to remind Minnesotans that he is serious about becoming their next U.S. Senator. And, should he ultimately win the seat currently held by Sen. Norm Coleman, Al Franken would be the fourth consecutive Jewish senator to hold the seat since 1978.

A Franken-Coleman race would also be the fourth time two Jewish candidates ran against each other, with one of them as the incumbent...more

Franken Closing the Gap in the Duel of the Frozen Chosen

The Barack v. Hillary fundraising contest is interesting. But there is nothing like a fundraising battle between two Jewish senate candidates - not in NY - in Minnesota - Al Franken v. Norm Coleman. Remember in this race Franken is the, "NY Jew who was born in Minnesota." We like Al.

Franken nearly matches Coleman in first-quarter fundraising
By Frederic J. Frommer, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — DFL Senate candidate Al Franken raised nearly as much money as Sen. Norm Coleman in the first quarter of the year, despite getting a late start, numbers released by the candidates show.

Coleman, R-Minn., said Wednesday that he had raised $1.5 million, compared with the $1.3 million Franken had raised. Franken didn't begin raising money until he announced his candidacy on Feb. 14.

Coleman still had a sizable cash advantage at the end of the period, finishing with more than $2.8 million, compared with more than $1 million for Franken.

Next year's Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation.

Comedian Franken Serious About the Senate

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports today that Al Franken has declared his candidacy for the US Senate.

Franken jumps into Senate race
The comedian turned politician will bring controversy and a show business spotlight to Minnesota's Senate race.

We have previously endorsed Franken. He is a brilliant and compassionate man and will be a great senator.

What does the Forward care about the Minnesota Senate race?

We've already endorsed Al Franken for Senate in Minnesota.

Barak (not Obama, yes Zahavy) has tipped us off to this article on the senate race in the land of the frozen chosen: With Minnesota’s ‘Jewish Seat’ Up for Grabs, Comic Eyes Run and GOPer Runs From Bush.

Al quips (oh no, not again), according to the writer, "If he runs, he would be the only New York Jew in the race who grew up in Minnesota."

He has resigned now from his radio job. And his announcement of candidacy is imminent. I know Boschwitz and have met Franken. I went way back when to solicit Rudy for a donation to our Jewish Studies program at the University of Minnesota. He turned us down flat. Why? He said he was getting ready to run for the senate and needed all his money. What a jerk.

I've met Al a while back in the locker room of the Northwest Tennis club in Minnetonka. He's easy to recognize and not a bad guy to meet in person.

So will he win? It depends on who runs against him. Doh! I think he has a lot to offer us in the senate. But.... he is a comedian and that does not necessarily qualify him to serve as a member of the legislative body of the United States.

Nevertheless we endorse him because he stands for liberalism and is an all-around great guy.