Jul 30, 2008 11:11 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Norm Coleman's Bowling Buddies
(WCCO)
By Minnesota standards, Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman's campaign ad has a mean streak. It shows three guys in a bowling alley talking about his Democratic challenger, Al Franken.
The ad shaves corners off the truth, but it's not inaccurate.
The main character in the commercial says, "The guys and I have been talking. Now, we've read all this stuff about Al Franken, you know, not paying taxes, going without insurance for his employees."
That's MOSTLY TRUE.
Franken says he paid $70,000 in back taxes to 17 states on income from speeches and other paid appearances.
He blamed an accounting error and said he overpaid taxes in Minnesota and New York.
Franken also paid a
$25,000 penalty in New York state for not providing workers compensation insurance for his employees.
The campaign ad goes on to criticize his "foul-mouthed attacks on anyone he disagrees with, tasteless, sexist jokes and writing all that juicy porn."
It's framed in a negative way, but the bottom-line facts are TRUE. Franken's R-rated comedy career and edgy writing are center stage in this senate campaign.
They include books labeling right wing critics as "lying liars," Rush Limbaugh as a "big fat idiot," and a
sexually-graphic satire in Playboy magazine.
The characters in the commercial say, "We decided we're running for U.S. Senate. Why not? We're just as qualified as Al Franken. And we're better bowlers."
Here's what you NEED TO KNOW about this ad strategy, which is not without risk. Instead of attacking Franken on issues like gas prices, the economy, or the War in Iraq, Coleman is attacking his character and trying to make a case that the former comedian is unfit to serve in the U.S. Senate.
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