Al Franken

Al Franken is an American comedian, actor and, after a lengthy and contentious recount, was declared the winner of the 2008 Minnesota Senate election.VOA News: Democrat Al Franken Named Winner of Minnesota Senate Race (January 5, 2009) Senator Franken was previously host of The Al Franken Show on Air America Radio.

As a strong supporter of health care reform and a public option, Franken has asked to join with Republican Senator Tom Coburn on an amendment that would require senators to get their health insurance under the newly created public plan. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20091205_12_0_WASHIN148297

Franken was a comedian, writer, and political radio talk show host prior to his election to the Senate. He became famous during his stints at Saturday Night Live, creating characters such as multiple 12-step program participant, Stuart Smalley, and a One Man Mobile Uplink news crew. Senator Franken is author of several books of political commentary, including 'Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them' and 'Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot'.

The race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken was one of the most costly in Senate history. Coleman attacked Franken for the vulgarity in his past comedy routines, while Franken characterized Coleman as a corrupt supporter of the policies of George W. Bush.

The original results of the Minnesota Senate election showed incumbent Senator Norm Coleman defeating Franken by 221 votes. A recount was ordered and delayed the official results through January, 2009. Minneapolis StarTribune: Coleman Wins, Recount Coming(November 5, 2008) FOX News: Minnesota Ripe for Election Fraud (November 10, 2008)

On January 12, 2009, after waiting the required seven days after being declared the election winner, Franken's lawyers requested that he be issued an election certificate so that he could take his seat in the Senate. However, Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reported that state law prohibited them from issuing the certificate until all legal challenges to the electoral results were resolved.FOX News: Minnesota Governor Won't Issue Franken's Election Certificate (January 12, 2009)

Just days after Franken was declared the winner in the Minnesota Senate election, Norm Coleman announced he had filed a lawsuit to formally challenge the results of the recount.West Central Tribune: Coleman sues over Minnesota Senate recount result (January 6, 2009) On June 30, 2009, Minnesota's Supreme Court unanimously declared Franken the winner of the election after dismissing Coleman's challenge.http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/30/franken.ruling/index.html

Franken has attracted the ire of conservatives with his outspoken style. In his 2003 book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, Franken blasted Fox News, as well as conservative pundits Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.

His 1996 book "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations" targeted Limbaugh specifically. His Air America radio show initially was entitled "The O'Franken Factor" to goad O'Reilly, and he was sued by Fox News when he used the catch phrase "fair and balanced." The case was thrown out in a summary judgement.

In December 2009, Al Franken denied Joe Lieberman an extension of to the ten minutes of time he had taken to describe amendments Lieberman intended to offer during the health care reform debate. Requesting the time extension, Lieberman was surprised when Franken said, "n my capacity as senator from Minnesota, I object." The incident was not without precedent in the Senate, but raised considerable irritation among the opponents of health care reform. http://www.slate.com/id/2239201/

Franken is a vocal opponent of the Bush Administration's policies regarding taxes, the war in Iraq and Social Security. Franken also favors a Universal Health Care system.Official Site: Al Franken for Senate

"It kills me that things I said and wrote sent a message ... that they can't count on me to be a champion for women, for all Minnesotans. I'm sorry for that. Because that's not who I am."—Al FrankenStarTribune.com: Franken Sweeps to Endorsement (June 8, 2008)