Difference between revisions of "Norm Coleman"
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| − | '''Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr.''' (born August 17, | + | '''Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr.''' (born August 17, 1949) is the Senior United States Senator from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the [[Republican]] party. He is currently the Senate Minority Deputy Whip, making him the third highest ranking Republican in the U.S. [[Senate]]. |
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
| − | Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[ | + | Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and protested against the Vietnam War. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these [[conservative]] kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]]. |
| − | == | + | ==United States Senate== |
| − | Coleman | + | Coleman is a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by [[North Carolina]] Senator Elizabeth Dole by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life but has voted in support of embryonic stem cell research. He opposes [[gay]] marriages and civil unions. Coleman opposed President [[George W. Bush]]'s troop increase in [[Iraq]] in January of 2007. |
| − | == | + | ==2008 Senate reelection== |
| − | Senator Coleman | + | Senator Coleman is running for reelection in 2008. His Democratic opponents will likely be former Air America radio talk show host Al Franklin or Minneapolis attorney Mike Ciresi. The race is being closely watched and many say Coleman might be vulnerable. However, most polls show that he does have an edge in the race. |
==Dumpster Injury== | ==Dumpster Injury== | ||
| − | Norm Coleman injured himself after was looking for | + | Norm Coleman injured himself after was looking for an “antique lamp” that his wife had somehow thrown in the dumpster behind their house. He fell into the dumpster and a piece of wood hit his head, almost knocking him unconscious. He returned to Capitol Hill with a prominent gash on his forehead. |
[[Category:US Senators]] | [[Category:US Senators]] | ||
Revision as of 23:16, July 14, 2007
Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr. (born August 17, 1949) is the Senior United States Senator from Minnesota and a member of the Republican party. He is currently the Senate Minority Deputy Whip, making him the third highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate.
Political career
Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a liberal Democrat and protested against the Vietnam War. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these conservative kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale.
United States Senate
Coleman is a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life but has voted in support of embryonic stem cell research. He opposes gay marriages and civil unions. Coleman opposed President George W. Bush's troop increase in Iraq in January of 2007.
2008 Senate reelection
Senator Coleman is running for reelection in 2008. His Democratic opponents will likely be former Air America radio talk show host Al Franklin or Minneapolis attorney Mike Ciresi. The race is being closely watched and many say Coleman might be vulnerable. However, most polls show that he does have an edge in the race.
Dumpster Injury
Norm Coleman injured himself after was looking for an “antique lamp” that his wife had somehow thrown in the dumpster behind their house. He fell into the dumpster and a piece of wood hit his head, almost knocking him unconscious. He returned to Capitol Hill with a prominent gash on his forehead.
