Betty McCollum spent some time to get to know Al Franken. An email to her supporters:
Dear Fourth District DFLers:
“Crisis” now describes a long list of issues facing Minnesota families
and our country. From healthcare to energy prices, the economy to
ending the Iraq war – America faces serious challenges that require
urgent action. In Washington, we need leaders who are willing to take
America in a new direction. I am proud of the work Democrats in the
U.S. House have accomplished to pass important legislation.
Unfortunately, much of our work has been stalled in the U.S. Senate by
an obstructionist Republican minority. That needs to change.As I look forward to 2009, I want to be represented in the U.S. Senate
by two Minnesota senators who will support and vote to advance our
positive, action oriented Democratic agenda to strengthen our economy,
keep our nation secure, and invest in our country’s future. That
means in this year’s race for the U.S. Senate I will be voting for Al
Franken.This spring I voiced concerns about material from Al’s past career. To
have remained silent when asked would have been hypocritical and
dishonest. I am confident my concerns have been heard and since then
I have watched Al’s campaign take steps to address these matters. Now,
I believe Al and his campaign are appropriately focused on building a
solid relationship with voters based on our shared Minnesota values,
ideals, and hopes for the future. Like all candidates, Al understands
that he is not only asking Minnesotans for their vote, but for their
trust. As November 4th approaches, Al Franken will earn the trust of
Minnesotans and I intend to work with him to win this election.Fourth District DFLers, thank you for your on-going support. This
year I will continue to campaign hard to turn out the vote to elect
Barack Obama to the White House, Al Franken to the U.S. Senate, and
win my own re-election to Congress. I know we will all work together
in the 4th District to win in November and together take Minnesota and
America in a new direction.Sincerely,
Betty McCollum
Member of Congress
This is fantastic news for the Al Franken campaign.
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Too little, too late. But I suppose we’ll have to take what we can get.
Jeff,
In a round-about way, is it possible the Betty’s initial outrage actually helped? Now, maybe this is far fetched, but hear me out. I know many good hearted, strong conscienced men and women who were really offended by Franken to the core of who they are as Democrats and Feminists.
Now they have a role model of someone of conscience and character who felt the same way they did, but was able to forgive and come around. I am sure many of those folks aligned with Betty on her eaarlier, and some would say hurtful comments, and hopefully they are able to follow Betty in her acceptance.
Hopeful,
Alec Timmerman
The reason you have political parties is to organize and present a united front… it is not a one way street. This is very important for Betty McCollum. There are many DFLers who were unhappy with her dancing to the Republican’s tune this Spring. She needs to do more than this to prove that she deserves a Democratic Party that is loyal to her. If Franken loses, there will be many who point fingers at her failure to deal with her issues within the Party as one reason.
Well gee. For some reason I don’t think McCollum actually supports Franken. This announcement only highlights the discontent of members of the DFL party with Franken.
Sorry Team Franken, McCollum knew Ciresi was the only candidate who could beat Coleman. Nice try though.
@ PB
You know, the way you purity trolls prognosticate, you should all be millionaires via futures investments, no?
On topic: Good for Betty. I was pretty livid when she started toting bales for the republicans during the primary.
Yep, you got it. Not immediately following her party was “toting bales for the republicans during the primary.” When Franken loses by a landslide, don’t blame it on disunity in the DFL, blame it on unity by the rest of us against Franken.
Yes, I was pretty mad when McCollum came out against Franken, and it hurt doubly because of how much respect I have for her and her voting record. I kind of wish she wouldn’t have said anything to begin with. Again, as devil’s advocate, at least we are not the party of Loyalty Oaths. It is hard being the party with actual and consisant values. It makes it harder to live up to them, but it makes us the better party. We could be the REpublicans who give standing ovations to people like wife cheater Vitter, while they pretend to defend marriage. Franken will be an awesome Senator. I hope Betty can help him. I hope Team Franken can forget what was a painful disagreement between allies. I hope and wish Betty would explode the vote in the 4th, my district.
VERY doubtful Coleman will win, but if he does, it will be due to the following, not Betty M. This is satire, people, satire…
Q: Have you watched Coleman’s ads versus Al Franken’s?
A: Uh, err, yeah. Al’s a bad bowler, eh?
Q: Are you familiar with the Democrat’s policy issues versus the Republicans?
A: Uh, err, yeah. Franken writes smut. Coleman is an Independent for all of us.
Q: Are you going to watch a debate between Coleman and Franken?
A: Uh, err, no. Coleman fixed his teeth to smile at us and Franken doesn’t smile enough. That’s all I need to know.
This was based on actual overheard conversations. Still way too many people who know squat about policy and real issues. Still way too many people who simplify their voting tendencies. AND the Republicans know this and will continue their stupid ads, like the bowler one. Minnesota deserves so much better than the likes of Norm Coleman — that bowler ad just shows how ridiculous and small minded the GOP really is.
No, Mr. Sunshine. McCullum dredging up republican/purity troll talking points about something which happened 8 or 20 years ago is indeed toting bales for the opposition.
Betty McCollum has the greatest of respect in the 4th district. So if you are a Franken supporter, you are not doing your candidate any good, when you trash Betty McCollum. And Betty’s endorsement will make a huge difference to the Democrats of the 4th district, since we trust Betty McCollum. Given the many events at the convention, the timing is perfect to rally many people after a calming period. If you support Franken, we expect graciousness. We expect the mean vicious attacks from Republicans.
Grace has the bottom line. Al will be a great Senator. Al needs the heavily Democratic 4CD to turn out in droves. The 4th CD loves Betty. Team Franken can be bitter or get on board. Sorry for the hurt feelings and all.
Betty McCollum gained herself a little national spotlight - and hoped to get Cerisi somehow back into the mix apparently.
The impression is that she jumped ship on that one. And she sure didn’t need to, at a crucial polling time.
She has lost my respect for her, irrespective of what she has in the 4th district.
Would that this endorsement received the same attention as her earlier out-of-place slam.
Fact remains, there is a process. Cerisi couldn’t make the cut. Jack Nelson Pallmeyer ran a better campaign than Cerisi offered up.
The same thing could be said for Miles Lord’s daughter getting in now, after bypassing the primary process. All she can do is help confuse the issue given the type of ads she has been running.
As for other posts here:
Anybody who wants more Normy is more than a little foolish. They are hangers-on to the disaster known as George W Bush. Taking advocacy of Coleman to culpability in the mess we have today in the economy! They own this mess!!!
Thus its clear why those posters here would support Norman “Bush League” Coleman. They are probably self-destructive!
This development hurts Rep. McCollum more than it helps Al Franken. Her betrayal of her own values will not convince anyone to give Franken a second look, but it will cause those to whom integrity is important to reassess her.
People are not as stupid as the Democrat party thinks they are.
More specifics in McCollum’s letter would have been helpful. She writes ” I am confident my concerns have been heard and since then I have watched Al’s campaign take steps to address these matters.” But what exactly has Franken’s campaign done? It had a beautiful opportunity to actually lead on a really significant matter - women’s reproductive rights. A couple of weeks ago the Feds plan to redefine abortion came to light. Did Al stand up and speak out? No there was absolute silence from the Franken campaign. Did Al say anything about how absurd this new definition was? How potentially harmful it was for women - nah…why bother when you already have the backing of the DFL Feminist caucus. The redefinition would further limit birth control options in an era where healthcare coverage is abysmal and in a society where the number one cause of maternal mortality is violence - usually done by the guy who impregnated the woman.
And Demure One where does New York Norm stand on this issue of redefining women’s reproductive rights? Since he is pro-Life he may actually be supporting the change rather strongly.. you think? And Al Franken is the problem because he has not made a public statement? Hmmmm….
Al Franken is the problem because he won’t stand up for reproductive rights.
Al Franken is failing women now.
Unlike his opponent Norm Coleman who will not even meet with Planned Parenthood or other women’s reproductive rights organizations? I suggest that Norm is, has and will fail to support women’s reproductive rights programs… not that that matters to you.
Amuseinc - news flash - Norm isn’t the only one in the US Senate who is failing women on reproductive rights. We need a senator who will stand up against these people and fight the good fight. Al is being silent much like a bystander watching a bully in action. What’s the point of continuing to send people to DC who can’t stand up to bullies - indeed their silence is disinterest at best, at worst support.
So lets send ANOTHER “one in the US Senate who is failing women on reproductive rights” named Norm Coleman because Al Franken has not done exactly what you think he should do? That is called cutting your nose off to spite your face… but since you seem convinced that is how to go… well welcome to it.
The important date is August 21st. We need a united DFL for the State Fair.
Amuseinc the there are other candidates besides Norm and Al….you seem to keep forgetting this…
And you know continually sending people who are not in it to stand up to injustice but to simply get a closer seat to the action - that’s not the way to go.
And exactly what are the chances of a third party candidate in the Minnesota Senate race? Is it none or nill…
Beyond it all you are lying about Al Franken’s views and actions on Women’s Reproductive Rights… he has consistently and vocally supported progressive causes including women’s reproductive rights. He just hasn’t done it to your specifications and from all indications no other politician has done so either. You just have some weird obsession against Franken which means you are doing your best to re-elect New york Norm Coleman. It really is kind of sad.
Maybe if another obnoxious alpha male who fails to have any statements about reproductive rights on his website looses the DFL will wake up and figure out that women do matter.
make that loses - exactly when and where did Franken come out for reproductive rights? And if he is a supporter why isn’t he addressing this recent attack on reproductive rights?
The idea that McCollum was acting like a Republican for raising concerns about Franken is exactly why Franken is going to lose this race. It isn’t just Republicans who have problems with Franken past, and mocking people who are concerned about Franken’s past statements isn’t going to win them over.
We need more Democrats like Betty McCollum - people who are willing and able to call bullshit when it needs to be called.
@ demure one
“male who fails to have any statements about reproductive rights on his website”
Demure one: You are an idiot.
Health care. We must get to universal health coverage. I have a plan for health care in this country that will require every state to develop a system to provide universal coverage and enroll every child in a plan similar to SCHIP. But the kind of care that’s available matters as well….Women deserve affordable access to contraception and reproductive health care in general. Women know their own bodies and can make informed and educated decisions with their doctors……Part of ensuring that women can make these informed decisions is to ensure that all of our children receive age-appropriate sexual education in school. Education, prevention, and access are necessary components of any healthcare plan. http://www.alfranken.com/content/WFF_issues/