The difference between Coleman and Franken, in inaugural and fundraising messages
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 5:39 pm
- 2 Comments
Al Franken (Photo: Aaron Landry) and Norm Coleman (Photo: WDCpix.com)
In separate e-mails sent almost simultaneously this evening, Al Franken and former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman offered takes on President Obama’s inauguration as diametrically opposed in style as the Senate contenders are opposed in their rival campaigns. Franken’s is an unadorned, even bland two-paragraph statement about the honor he felt at attending the inauguration and the need to work together to face our challenges — with no mention of the vicious election contest. Coleman’s, by contrast, is titled “The Difference Between Obama and Franken” and caps off slams against Franken and the State Canvassing Board with a plea for cash, replete with links to the contribution page at his campaign Web site.
But earlier in the day Coleman’s blog carried his own bland statement, and on Monday Franken issued his own fundraising plea. Full texts of both e-mails and both earlier messages after the jump.
Norm Coleman message, datestamped 5:11 p.m., Jan. 20, 2009:
Dear Friend,
Today marks an historic occasion for each and every American, from all backgrounds, all political philosophies and all walks of life. We all wish our new President well, and we will support him when we agree with him and be the voice of the loyal opposition when we do not.
Unfortunately, the kind of change that President Barack Obama brings to Washington is worlds apart from the kind of change that Al Franken is seeking here in Minnesota.
Barack Obama won a majority of our nation’s votes fair and square.
Al Franken had to change the rules of the game to overturn our victory.Barack Obama was elected based on the principle of one person – one vote.
Al Franken’s lead exists because some votes were counted twice, while others weren’t counted at all.Franken’s coordinated attempt to silence voices must not stand. But it might, unless I hear from you soon.
Click here now to contribute $15, $25, $35, $50, $100 or more — up to $2,300 per person — to the Coleman for Senate Recount Fund.
The amount you contribute is important, but even more critical is your immediate reply.
In less than one week, a three-judge panel will begin to consider our legal challenge to Franken’s outrageous power grab.We can’t be a day late or a dollar short in providing them with all the information they need to see that the latest results of the Canvassing Board are patently unconstitutional and inherently undemocratic. With George Soros raising millions for Franken’s Recount Fund, I need your generous continued support.
Please let me hear from you soon. Can I count on you to go my website now to get the latest news on our legal challenge, and to support our recount fund with your best contribution?
Yours truly,
Norm Coleman
Al Franken message, datestamped 4:59 p.m., Jan. 20, 2009:
It was a great honor to join so many hopeful, excited Americans in Washington today to witness the inauguration of our new President. Franni and I congratulate President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and their families on this momentous occasion, and like all our fellow citizens, we celebrate with both incredible joy and the solemn recognition of today’s place in our nation’s history.
Today, President Obama made clear what we all know: the challenges we face are significant, and change won’t happen overnight. But today, we are one nation united and ready to get to work, with a President ready to lead us. Like so many others, I have been inspired by our new President to look towards the future with optimism, and with the knowledge that there is nothing we can’t accomplish together. The next few years will call for bold action and courage on the part of our leaders and our citizens. And I know that, with all of us working together, we will meet that call.
Al Franken
Today marks an extraordinary moment in the history of our country. Watching Barack Obama be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States will forever be etched into the minds of so many of us as one of those moments for which you remember where you were and what you were doing when it happened. This is a great day for all Americans to come together for the good of our country. Laurie and I join the millions of Americans in congratulating President Obama and our thoughts and prayers are with he [sic] and his family as he assumes the office of the President of the United States.
I’m in Washington to witness the inauguration of our new President, Barack Obama, and I have to tell you what you probably already know — this is an amazing moment for our country.
It’s a moment to reflect on our history — but it’s also an important opportunity to change our future. We face some pretty imposing challenges, but we finally have a leader (and a progressive majority in Congress) that will get America back on the right track so we can meet them together.
I’m ready to get to work in the Senate to help President Obama bring us the change we need, but I still need your help to get to Washington. Norm Coleman has sued to overturn the result of the election, and we’ve got to have the resources we’ll need during the upcoming election contest proceedings.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY!
The state-wide canvass, the hand recount, the challenged ballot review, and the improperly rejected absentee consideration are all completed — and yet Norm Coleman seems content to continue dragging the process out in the courts, preventing Minnesota from having equal representation in the Senate during this critical time.
2 Comments
Comment posted January 21, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
I thought Norm Coleman message, datestamped 5:11 p.m., Jan. 20, 2009. Was much much more loyal then frankens.
Comment posted January 21, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
The difference between Coleman and Franken is that Coleman exemplifies hypocrisy. He asks for concessions, but stubbornly holds on to a failing cause. He braces a country for austerity while he runs up impractical personal debts. He uses political friends as “piggy banks” to save him for poor financial planning, but does what he can to frustrate any investigation. He uses his political friends for room, board, to pay debts, to buy his personal wardrobe, and to finance the legal battle to defend himself from the charges of impropriety. No, Coleman is a mooch with an unjustified air of superiority that is only bolstered through the charity of others.
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