Changes

Franken was born in [[New York City]], and spent several years while growing up in St Louis Park, a suburb of [[Minneapolis]]. Until he decided to run for the Senate, he lived in [[California]] and [[New York]] all of his adult life.<ref>[http://www.owenfranken.com/bio.html Owen Franken, Biography, statement about where Al Franken resided]</ref>   

Franken was born in [[New York City]], and spent several years while growing up in St Louis Park, a suburb of [[Minneapolis]]. Until he decided to run for the Senate, he lived in [[California]] and [[New York]] all of his adult life.<ref>[http://www.owenfranken.com/bio.html Owen Franken, Biography, statement about where Al Franken resided]</ref>   

Franken was a bit player on ''Saturday Night Live'' for nearly two decades, starting in 1979.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291253/#writer1970</ref> Unlike many other SNL performers (such as Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Tina Fey or Steve Martin) he was unable to parlay his time into a successful movie or film career. His one starring film role was in the 1995 movie ''Stuart Saves His Family'', which was a commercial and critical disaster. The film is certified "rotten" on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, scoring just 28% positive.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stuart_saves_his_family/</ref>

Franken was a bit player on ''Saturday Night Live'' for nearly two decades, starting in 1979.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291253/#writer1970</ref> Unlike many other SNL performers (such as Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Tina Fey or Steve Martin) he was unable to parlay his time into a successful movie or film career. His one starring film role was in the 1995 movie ''Stuart Saves His Family'', which was a commercial and critical disaster. The film is certified "rotten" on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, scoring just 28% positive.<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stuart_saves_his_family/</ref>

==Policies==

==Policies==

Franken is known for his anti-conservative hate speak (he has called them "nasty, hateful people" <ref>[http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/doasisay/quiz.pdf Random House.com]</ref>) and his coarse humor. He once quipped to the Harvard Crimson, "I dislike homosexuals. I was glad when that [Harvard] homosexual got killed." <ref>[http://www.gaypatriot.net/2007/01/18/al-frankens-anti-gay-past/]</ref><ref>[http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2007/01/al-franken-jokes-about-murder-of-gay.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=112149]</ref> In his book ''Lying Liars'', Franken wrote that a "Methodist minister had had his head up his %#@" in a dispute about the Bible "Do you know what God’s punishment is for liars?" [the minister] asked me ... "God’s punishment for liars is that they believe their own lies." The minister was referring to 2 Thess 2:10-12 which says substantially that. Franken acknowledged his mistake in the paperback version.

Franken is known for his anti-conservative hate speak (he has called them "nasty, hateful people" <ref>[http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/doasisay/quiz.pdf Random House.com]</ref>) and his coarse humor. He once quipped to the Harvard Crimson, "I dislike homosexuals. I was glad when that [Harvard] homosexual got killed." <ref>[http://www.gaypatriot.net/2007/01/18/al-frankens-anti-gay-past/]</ref><ref>[http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2007/01/al-franken-jokes-about-murder-of-gay.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=112149]</ref> In his book ''Lying Liars'', Franken wrote that a "Methodist minister had had his head up his %#@" in a dispute about the Bible "Do you know what God’s punishment is for liars?" [the minister] asked me ... "God’s punishment for liars is that they believe their own lies." The minister was referring to 2 Thess 2:10-12 which says substantially that. Franken acknowledged his mistake in the paperback version.

At one point his radio show was going to be called "The Liberal Show."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/magazine/21FRANKEN.html?pagewanted=8&ei=5007&en=5c47bbc5c11b11f2&ex=1395205200&partner=USERLAND Al Franken, Seriously]</ref>  but upon debut, it was known as "The O'Franken Factor," a name Franken chose to parody [[Bill O'Reilly]] and taunt him into a lawsuit, getting his show free publicity.<ref>[http://www.kgw.com/business/stories/kgw_033004_biz_progressive_radio.d7edf1d8.html Al Franken's liberal radio network comes to Portland]</ref> When the lawsuit failed to materialize, the show was renamed "The Al Franken Show."

At one point his radio show was going to be called "The Liberal Show."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/magazine/21FRANKEN.html?pagewanted=8&ei=5007&en=5c47bbc5c11b11f2&ex=1395205200&partner=USERLAND Al Franken, Seriously]</ref>  but upon debut, it was known as "The O'Franken Factor," a name Franken chose to parody [[Bill O'Reilly]] and taunt him into a lawsuit, getting his show free publicity.<ref>[http://www.kgw.com/business/stories/kgw_033004_biz_progressive_radio.d7edf1d8.html Al Franken's liberal radio network comes to Portland]</ref> When the lawsuit failed to materialize, the show was renamed "The Al Franken Show."

==2008 election==

==2008 election==

In the 2008 election campaign,  Franken's rudeness, vulgarity, and coarse style led critics to ask about whether he alienated himself from the important undecided swing voters.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1083904.html Star Tribune retrieved 6 April 2007</ref><ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/06/frankens-senate-race-haunted-by-1995-rape-joke-on-snl-set/ Franken’s Senate Race Haunted by 1995 Rape Joke on ‘SNL’ Set]</ref> Franken was under fire for an interview he did in Playboy magazine that was considered by many to be unbecoming for a senatorial candidate<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/franken_playboy/2008/05/29/100040.html?s=al&promo_code=635B-1] and [http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Washington_Post_franken/2008/06/18/105702.html]</ref>   

In the 2008 election campaign,  Franken's rudeness, vulgarity, and coarse style led critics to ask about whether he alienated himself from the important undecided swing voters.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1083904.html Star Tribune retrieved 6 April 2007</ref><ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/06/frankens-senate-race-haunted-by-1995-rape-joke-on-snl-set/ Franken’s Senate Race Haunted by 1995 Rape Joke on ‘SNL’ Set]</ref> Franken was under fire for an interview he did in Playboy magazine that was considered by many to be unbecoming for a senatorial candidate<ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/franken_playboy/2008/05/29/100040.html?s=al&promo_code=635B-1] and [https://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Washington_Post_franken/2008/06/18/105702.html]</ref>   

The election was very close, with multiple recounts and appeals. On January 5, 2009, the Minnesota election board declared Franken the winner by a razor-thin 225 votes. Coleman filed a lawsuit, which by state law had to be resolved before Franken could be seated.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/ap_on_el_se/minnesota_senate</ref> He was seated July 7, 2009, upon which the Wall Street Journal proclaimed that "Mr. Franken now goes to the Senate having effectively stolen an election." <ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2009/07/02/al-frankens-blue-ball Al Franken's Blue Ball; American Spectator, July 2, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jromano/2009/05/07/perkins-coie/ When Dems Don’t Have the Votes, [[Perkins Coie]] Finds Them - Big Hollywood, May 7, 2009]</ref>

The election was very close, with multiple recounts and appeals. On January 5, 2009, the Minnesota election board declared Franken the winner by a razor-thin 225 votes. Coleman filed a lawsuit, which by state law had to be resolved before Franken could be seated.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/ap_on_el_se/minnesota_senate</ref> He was seated July 7, 2009, upon which the Wall Street Journal proclaimed that "Mr. Franken now goes to the Senate having effectively stolen an election." <ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2009/07/02/al-frankens-blue-ball Al Franken's Blue Ball; American Spectator, July 2, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jromano/2009/05/07/perkins-coie/ When Dems Don’t Have the Votes, [[Perkins Coie]] Finds Them - Big Hollywood, May 7, 2009]</ref>

*"In an odd way, I blame Linda Tripp and Ann Coulter for Sept. 11, because if they hadn't dug this stuff up, it may not have happened," Franken on-air comment following separate interviews about 'wagging the dog,' a reference to conservative accusations that Clinton diverted attention from the Monica Lewinsky scandal by launching attacks on terrorists.<ref>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/7/04</ref>

*"In an odd way, I blame Linda Tripp and Ann Coulter for Sept. 11, because if they hadn't dug this stuff up, it may not have happened," Franken on-air comment following separate interviews about 'wagging the dog,' a reference to conservative accusations that Clinton diverted attention from the Monica Lewinsky scandal by launching attacks on terrorists.<ref>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/7/04</ref>

*"I think, for example, under god probably shouldn't be in the pledge of allegiance, it wasn't put in there since, like the 50's, but it's not that big a deal to me. In god we trust probably shouldn't be on the coin. I don't care." <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rmm5ioINl4</ref>

*"I think, for example, under god probably shouldn't be in the pledge of allegiance, it wasn't put in there since, like the 50's, but it's not that big a deal to me. In god we trust probably shouldn't be on the coin. I don't care." <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rmm5ioINl4</ref>

== Playboy Article ==

== Playboy Article ==

==United States Senate==

==United States Senate==

Franken was sworn into the Senate on July 7, 2009, and is currently ranked 99th in seniority. To much surprise, a September 14, 2009 Senate AMDT. 2355 prohibiting use of funds to fund the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now ([[ACORN]]), Franken voted with the winning majority to strip ACORN funding.<ref>[http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00275 U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 1st Session]</ref> This after having received ACORN support in his Senate election campaign, ''"I'm thrilled and honored to receive this endorsement,"'' and ''"more motivated than ever to work with ACORN."'' <ref>[http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/61519432.html?elr=KArksDyycyUtyycyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU Katherine Kersten: Worst trouble with ACORN is at the polls, StarTribune, September 26, 2009]</ref>

Franken was sworn into the Senate on July 7, 2009, and is currently ranked 99th in seniority. To much surprise, a September 14, 2009 Senate AMDT. 2355 prohibiting use of funds to fund the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now ([[ACORN]]), Franken voted with the winning majority to strip ACORN funding.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00275 U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 1st Session]</ref> This after having received ACORN support in his Senate election campaign, ''"I'm thrilled and honored to receive this endorsement,"'' and ''"more motivated than ever to work with ACORN."'' <ref>[http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/61519432.html?elr=KArksDyycyUtyycyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU Katherine Kersten: Worst trouble with ACORN is at the polls, StarTribune, September 26, 2009]</ref>

===Sexual harassment===

===Sexual harassment===

In November and December 2017, Franken was accused by several women – with photographic evidence – of groping and sexually harassing them.<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> While liberals and the establishment were significantly more lenient on him than they were on [[conservative]] [[Roy Moore]] for unproven (and in all likelihood, false) allegations,<ref>Multiple references:

In November and December 2017, Franken was accused by several women – with photographic evidence – of groping and sexually harassing them.<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> While liberals and the establishment were significantly more lenient on him than they were on [[conservative]] [[Roy Moore]] for unproven (and in all likelihood, false) allegations,<ref>Multiple references:

*Scarry, Eddie (November 17, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/major-newspapers-hold-fire-on-al-franken-in-contrast-to-roy-moore/article/2641022 Major newspapers hold fire on Al Franken, in contrast to Roy Moore]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

*Scarry, Eddie (November 17, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/major-newspapers-hold-fire-on-al-franken-in-contrast-to-roy-moore/article/2641022 Major newspapers hold fire on Al Franken, in contrast to Roy Moore]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.

*Mason, Ian (November 17, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/17/gop-leaders-who-threw-fellow-republican-moore-to-the-wolves-stay-silent-on-dem-franken/ GOP Leaders Who Threw Fellow Republican Moore to the Wolves Stay Silent on Dem Franken]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.</ref>  Franken, after initially resisting calls for his resignation, eventually was forced to announce his resignation "in the coming weeks,"<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> although he cast himself as a "victim" of his accusers.<ref>Nolte, John (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/disgraced-sen-al-franken-lying-left-wing-women-forced-resign/ Defiant Al Franken Blames Lying Women for His Resignation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> He used his resignation speech to attack Moore and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 7, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/al-franken-falls-sword-party-can-attack-donald-trump/ Al Franken Falls on His Sword So the Party Can Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> Many of Franken's staffers cried at his resignation speech, and almost every Senator present at his resignation speech – almost all Democrats – embraced him afterward.<ref>Weaver, Al (December 7, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ready-democratic-senators-and-staffers-shed-tears-during-al-frankens-resignation-speech/article/2642861 'Ready?': Democratic senators and staffers shed tears during Al Franken's resignation speech]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref>

*Mason, Ian (November 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/17/gop-leaders-who-threw-fellow-republican-moore-to-the-wolves-stay-silent-on-dem-franken/ GOP Leaders Who Threw Fellow Republican Moore to the Wolves Stay Silent on Dem Franken]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 17, 2017.</ref>  Franken, after initially resisting calls for his resignation, eventually was forced to announce his resignation "in the coming weeks,"<ref>Moran, Sean (December 7, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/sen-al-franken-will-resign-in-the-coming-weeks/ Sen. Al Franken Will Resign ‘in the Coming Weeks’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> although he cast himself as a "victim" of his accusers.<ref>Nolte, John (December 7, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/disgraced-sen-al-franken-lying-left-wing-women-forced-resign/ Defiant Al Franken Blames Lying Women for His Resignation]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> He used his resignation speech to attack Moore and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 7, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/07/al-franken-falls-sword-party-can-attack-donald-trump/ Al Franken Falls on His Sword So the Party Can Attack Donald Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref> Many of Franken's staffers cried at his resignation speech, and almost every Senator present at his resignation speech – almost all Democrats – embraced him afterward.<ref>Weaver, Al (December 7, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ready-democratic-senators-and-staffers-shed-tears-during-al-frankens-resignation-speech/article/2642861 'Ready?': Democratic senators and staffers shed tears during Al Franken's resignation speech]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</ref>

Franken officially resigned on January 2, 2018.<ref>Samuels, Brett (January 2, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/367105-franken-makes-senate-resignation-official Franken makes Senate resignation official]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2018.</ref>

Franken officially resigned on January 2, 2018.<ref>Samuels, Brett (January 2, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/367105-franken-makes-senate-resignation-official Franken makes Senate resignation official]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2018.</ref>

== Books by Franken ==

== Books by Franken ==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*''[http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/acorn_minnesota_franken/2009/07/06/232551.html Did [[ACORN]] Elect Al Franken?]'', David A. Patten, Newsmax.com, July 6, 2009.

*''[https://www.newsmax.com/headlines/acorn_minnesota_franken/2009/07/06/232551.html Did [[ACORN]] Elect Al Franken?]'', David A. Patten, Newsmax.com, July 6, 2009.

   

   

== See also ==

== See also ==

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291253/ Al Franken] at the Internet Movie Database

*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291253/ Al Franken] at the Internet Movie Database

*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1142525 Al Franken] at National Public Radio

*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1142525 Al Franken] at National Public Radio

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0] Al Franken engaging in highly unbecoming behavior

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0] Al Franken engaging in highly unbecoming behavior

{{Liberalism}}

{{Liberalism}}