Reality Check

Reality Check: Distorted Ad Campaigns

(WCCO) Minnesota's U.S. Senate race is not only among the most expensive in the country, it also features some of the most distorted claims of any campaign.

Including a series of ads intended to portray the Democrat Al Franken as unfit to serve in Congress.

"His profanity laced anger followed by violent outbursts," said the announcer in a National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee ad.

This appears to be a deliberate DISTORTION.

The 'angry Al' video is in fact from a tribute to the late Senator Paul Wellstone.

Franken was re-telling a story from Wellstone's son David about the times that Wellstone would run alongside him at cross-country races to urge him on.

"And my dad running along side would start yelling, 'You can take this guy! You can take him. You can take this guy! You can take him. You can take this guy,'" Franken said in an ad.

And there's MORE.

The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee alleges that Franken physically assaulted a protestor, but it leaves out pertinent facts to exaggerate what really happened.

"He physically assaulted a protester," said the Republican ad.

That's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.

News accounts from 2004 report that it happened at a Howard Dean for President rally in New Hampshire.

A screaming heckler appeared to make a lunge for Dean. That's when Franken wrestled him to the ground and with the help of two others, and removed him.

"I was later given the key to the city," explained Franken.

This is TRUE.

News reports said Franken later regretted his impetuous behavior.

But two weeks later the mayor of Manchester, N.H. publicly thanked Franken and awarded him the key to the city.

That's Reality Check.

Al Franken, Seriously (2004)
Al Franken, Seriously So (2004)

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