Vulgarian at the Gate [Al Franken (D-MN) Senate candidate]

The Washington Post ^ | June 18, 2008 | Michael Gerson

[2ndDivisionVet]

Warning: The following contains extreme vulgarity by a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

In the razor-close and nationally important Senate race in Minnesota, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman is presented with a unique political problem. Should he raise in his ads the issue of comedian Al Franken's offensive vulgarity? Or would this risk a backlash against Coleman for coarsening the public conversation? Remember that when Ken Starr detailed Bill Clinton's most repulsive antics -- stained dresses and such -- it was Starr who was accused of sexual obsessiveness.

Franken's defenders explain that his edginess is the result of being a "satirist" -- a term he embraces. "My work, dare I say, is provocative, touching and funny," Franken has explained. "It sounds immodest, but I now have a brand name in political satire."

Satire has been called "punishment for those who deserve it." Writers from Erasmus to Jonathan Swift to George Orwell have used humor, irony and ridicule to expose the follies of the powerful, the failures of blind ideology and the comic weakness of human nature itself.

So what is Franken's "provocative, touching and funny" contribution to the genre? Consider his article in Playboy magazine titled "Porn-O-Rama!" in which he enthuses that it is an "exciting time for pornographers and for us, the consumers of pornography." The Internet, he explains, is a "terrific learning tool. For example, a couple of years ago, when he was 12, my son used the Internet for a sixth-grade report on bestiality. Joe was able to download some effective visual aids, which the other students in his class just loved." Franken goes on to relate a soft-core fantasy about women providing him with sex who were trained at the "Minnesota Institute of Titology."

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just what we need: A racist, black separatist, far-left president and another far-left, sick & depraved senator.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"Franken's defenders explain that his edginess is the result of being a "satirist" -- a term he embraces."

Maybe he means "satyrist".

[Berlin_Freeper]

Expect more of these types to get elected in the future. A popularity contest for a job that provides lots of media exposure from an adoring media that celebrates the Left.

The whole society and culture is going right down the crapper - head first.

[Army Air Corps]

Franken's defenders explain that his edginess is the result of being a "satirist"

I didn't know that "satirist" was a synonym for "blithering git."

[Lijahsbubbe]

I think that Franken is a certifiable head case.

[rlmorel]

Not Photoshopped.

This bears repeating...

[happygrl]

Al Franken is seriously unbalanced, an extremely angry man, and NOT funny.

But that won't stop Minnesotans, who elected "commando" Jesse Ventura, another clown-act, to high office.

[Loyal Buckeye]

The poll I saw yesterday indicates this is not a raiser-thin race.

[TNCMAXQ]

Just the fact that Franken is competitive in this race shows how low we have sunk as a society.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I can’t believe that this guy or BHO will be elected.

[rbg81]

I agree. From what I have seen of Franken, he is probably just short of being mentally ill; at a minimum, he is a, narcissitic, class-less lowlife with a meanstreak the size of Poland. If the little psycho gets elected, look for him to run for President one day (possibly with Kucinich on is ticket). Sadly, I'm not kidding--after Obama gets done with the country, anything is possible.

[Ann Archy]

A racist, black separatist, far-left president and another far-left, sick & depraved senator

The electorate gets EXACTLY what THEY are.....corrupt elects corrupt.....vile elects vile......depraved elects depraved.

[tdscpa]

Me either. But then, I could not believe Bill Clinton would be elected. Impossible to underestimate the American voter.

[Lizavetta]

For example, a couple of years ago, when he was 12, my son used the Internet for a sixth-grade report on bestiality. Joe was able to download some effective visual aids, which the other students in his class just loved." Franken goes on to relate a soft-core fantasy about women providing him with sex who were trained at the "Minnesota Institute of Titology."

This isn't even remotely funny.

[Colonel_Flagg]

But that won't stop Minnesotans, who elected "commando" Jesse Ventura, another clown-act, to high office.

So remind me who your governor is again?

[happygrl]

So remind me who your governor is again?

HA HA, WE have THE GOVERNATOR!!!!!

Wouldn't you like to see a smack down between the two?