- checking login information
The Politics Cause
293,233 people care about Politics
Loading...You Go, Al Franken!
Tip o’ the hat to Al Franken! The SNL alum, presently the Jr. Senator from Minnesota, appears to be quite comfortable in his new role.
The contentious debate over health care reform in the Senate seems to have depleted Franken’s patience with some of his colleagues. On that, he is far from alone. Of course, Franken is famous for his wit, but on two occasions over the last week he displayed his sharper, passionate side on the Senate floor.
The first of these displays occurred Dec. 14, when Franken took exception to Sen. John Thune’s speech regarding an amendment to the Senate health care reform bill. Watch Franken — with a solid assist from Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) – passionately dismantle the South Dakota Republican’s false assertions about the legislation:
(C-Span clip edited by TPMTV – see unedited clip HERE)
Much has been made lately of the arguments over the health care bill among the political left. But, as I’ve previously asserted, arguments between progressives and conservative Democrats should surprise no one.
Are the arguments among Democrats representative of the “honest debate” Franken called for above? Not always, to be sure. On this, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut), supposed Democratic Caucuser, is a case in point; which brings me to the second, more recent example of Franken asserting himself.
Watch as Franken, presiding over the Senate, deny Lieberman additional time to complete his Dec. 17 floor speech:
First off, that Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) is worried about the “comity” within the Senate is laughable. Thanks, in large part, but by no means exclusive, to the GOP’s obstructionist strategy, that ship sailed long before McCain lost last November.
Second, perhaps this was petty on Franken’s part , albeit, fully compliant with Senate rules. However, considering how Lieberman has conducted himself throughout this process, Franken went easy on him.
And if it was petty for Franken to dismiss Lieberman in this fashion, it pales in comparison to latter’s own vindictive behavior.
He has torpedoed the health care reform effort at every opportunity; most recently, Lieberman came out against the compromise designed as a replacement for the public option. The deal would have lowered the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 55, allowing millions of Americans to buy-in to the public plan. It was a measure that Lieberman apparently supported just three months ago.
Greg Sargent posted a clip of Lieberman discussing his previous support for expanding Medicare with the Connecticut Post. Sargent’s conclusion from The Plum Line, Dec. 14.:
It’s not entirely clear that Lieberman was offering a full-throated current endorsement of the proposal, but his tone is clearly positive and approving. It’s yet another sign, as if you needed one, that Lieberman’s current opposition to the Senate proposal doesn’t appear to have any roots in a genuine policy disagreement.
Lieberman’s reason for scuttling the deal: ‘Liberals like it too much.’
According to a blog post at The New York Times, posted Dec. 15:
[Lieberman] said he was particularly troubled by the overly enthusiastic reaction to the proposal by some liberals, including Representative Anthony Weiner, Democrat of New York, who champions a fully government-run health care system.
“Congressman Weiner made a comment that Medicare-buy in is better than a public option, it’s the beginning of a road to single-payer,” Mr. Lieberman said. “Jacob Hacker, who’s a Yale professor who is actually the man who created the public option, said, ‘This is a dream. This is better than a public option. This is a giant step.’”
Further, according to Steve Benen, writing on his Washington Monthly blog, “The Yale political scientist [Jacob Hacker] simply never said what Lieberman attributes to him.”
Add to this, Lieberman’s defense of Norm Coleman — Franken’s incumbent opponent in the hotly contested 2008 Minnesota senatorial election — and Franken’s terse treatment of Lieberman is understandable, and from the perspective of reform proponents, completely appropriate.
Keep it up, Senator. Too bad we can’t clone you.
Related Care2 Action:
See Also:
-
Evan McMorris-Santoro, “Joe Lieberman Not The Man He Used To Be On Medicare Buy-In,” Talking Points Memo DC, 14 December 2009.
-
From FireDogLake‘s Youtube channel, “Sen. Al Franken humbles Hudson Institute dillitante over health care bankruptcies.” (Video – 2:27)
Read more: al franken, health care reform, healthcare legislation, joe lieberman, john mccain, john thune, medicare, politics, senate, senate debate, senator
Image via Flickr user Veni Markovski, by way of CreativeCommons.org
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Glad to hear this story Ranger is one unique Doggy,what a sweetheart he knew there was something wrong…
Ugh. Just... ugh.
We read just this morning in the paper about a gay penguin couple in a Madrid Nature Park that were just…
meet our writers
62 comments
+ add your own"It is just the beginning of the loss of our freedom as Americans."
I was so stunned by the falseness of the rest of Bonnie M.'s last post that I missed this line. It seems to suggest that we as Americans have been enjoying an idyllic existence since 1776 and/or that there have not in any recent administrations been any significant curtailing of our freedoms.
Never thought I'd say this, but HUMBUG!!!
One only need look as recently as our last 10 years which saw the George W. Bush administration's unprecedented massacring of our constitution and bill of rights on a great many levels. What world have you been living in, Bonnie M?
Oh, might you also have the Care2 ID "BM"?
Franken is an embarrassment to Minnesota? That from a resident of a state that elected a professional wrestler as governor and Michelle Bachman for anything higher than the seat in the corner of the classroom with the dunce cap. Now, SHE'S an embarrassment!
As a resident of Minnesota I consider Sen. Franken an embarrassment to our state. I agree with Paddy when he says "I still have not seen any evidence that franken won fairly after several recounts where legitimate votes for cole were dismissed it seems to me it was fixed in his favor."
I cannot believe that someone is saying that the Republicans are stalling, when the Democrates have pushed this health care bill through when 70 percent of Americans do not want the bill. It is just the beginning of the loss of our freedom as Americans.
My congradulations go to the Junior Senator, for policing the ranks and not letting his fellow senators disseminate misinformation and for his intolerence in accepting nonsense, too bad we don't see more of it.
Senator Lieberman, in my opinion, has given up on promoting the well being of his fellow countrymen and interest in the big picture and now is out for himself and his own personal interests. If you can read between the lines, this is a very interesting message he is sending.
Debbie is right.
Debbie is right.
Sen. Al kicks butt! Way to go!!! Quite frankly, someone should put a muzzle on Lieberman!!!
We need more of this, Senators with guts enough to call Repub lies just what they are and are intolerant of right-wing stalling tactics.......very refreshing.
For those who think Franken is unqualified because he's a comedian, comedians (the better ones anyway) employ wit which actually involves use of the intellect and some awareness of how screwed up our country is. If George Carlin had run for office, I would have dropped everything to campaign for him. Compare this to a couple of recent "conservative" heroes, Reagan, an Alzheimer's ridden, D grade actor and W., a half-wit who cheated his way through college, a failed governor and failed businessman. Franken is eminently qualified compared to these 2 dolts.
Any Senator who votes for this plan, has already arranged the yacht or other relaxation location for their new occupation at the end of whatever term they are currently in. The bill, whatever it's original intentions, is not an example of the type of legislation that will make anything better and it will be something that they run from in their next campaign... Most polls indicate that regardless of political view, most people do not approve of this bill.
DICK miller. name suits an idiot such as you, dick. I would enjoy putting you down if you had the balls to meet me in person, as for Al franken having a set..........not seen any evidence of that either he is as big an idiot as you
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment
20