Changes

Franken ran for a [[Senate]] seat in [[Minnesota]] in as a [[Democrat]] during the 2008 election. Franken's rudeness, vulgarity, and coarse style led to questions about whether or not 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 also called 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</ref> Many claimed that the article hurt him in his Congressional run.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Washington_Post_franken/2008/06/18/105702.html</ref>  The election was very close, with incumbent Norm Coleman leading by less than 300 votes.  According to Minnesota state law, a statewide recount would automatically commence.  Coleman and his supporters called on Franken to halt the recount and concede, but Franken refused to do so. Some believe his refusal to concede was due to ACORN and others working on his behalf to manipulate the vote count in his favor. <ref>http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/18048/</ref>  Indeed, the respected [[Wall Street Journal]] has noted that the count kept changing before the recount, and only in Franken's favor.  Looking at what is happening in the vote tallying from a mathematical perspective, they find that it is an extreme statistical improbability.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/franken_stealing_election/2008/11/12/150391.html?s=al&promo_code=711A-1</ref> Further multiple examples were given where the board overseeing the recount blantly applied different standards for Franken and Coleman, choosing to award Franken votes where similar circumstances for Coleman were denied.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470892,00.html</ref>

Franken ran for a [[Senate]] seat in [[Minnesota]] in as a [[Democrat]] during the 2008 election. Franken's rudeness, vulgarity, and coarse style led to questions about whether or not 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 also called 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</ref> Many claimed that the article hurt him in his Congressional run.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Washington_Post_franken/2008/06/18/105702.html</ref>  The election was very close, with incumbent Norm Coleman leading by less than 300 votes.  According to Minnesota state law, a statewide recount would automatically commence.  Coleman and his supporters called on Franken to halt the recount and concede, but Franken refused to do so. Some believe his refusal to concede was due to ACORN and others working on his behalf to manipulate the vote count in his favor. <ref>http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/18048/</ref>  Indeed, the respected [[Wall Street Journal]] has noted that the count kept changing before the recount, and only in Franken's favor.  Looking at what is happening in the vote tallying from a mathematical perspective, they find that it is an extreme statistical improbability.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/franken_stealing_election/2008/11/12/150391.html?s=al&promo_code=711A-1</ref> Further multiple examples were given where the board overseeing the recount blantly applied different standards for Franken and Coleman, choosing to award Franken votes where similar circumstances for Coleman were denied.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470892,00.html</ref>

On Monday, January 5 2009, the Minnesota board declared Franken the winner of the Senate race by a razor-thin 225 votes. However, due to the controversy over the recount and the extreme closeness of the race, Republican Norm Coleman's lawyer is set to file a lawsuit, preventing Franken from actually taking office. <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/ap_on_el_se/minnesota_senate</ref>

On Monday, January 5, 2009, the Minnesota board declared Franken the winner of the Senate race by a razor-thin 225 votes. However, due to the controversy over the recount and the extreme closeness of the race, Republican Norm Coleman's lawyer is set to file a lawsuit, preventing Franken from actually taking office. <ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/ap_on_el_se/minnesota_senate</ref>

==Controversial Statements==

==Controversial Statements==