Day 2: Franken Goes Silent on Iraq, Refuses to Answer Questions About Where He Stands on War in Iraq

Saint Paul ­- A day after the Coleman Campaign released a web video of Al Franken’s many positions on the Iraq War in his own words, comedian Franken refuses to answer the question about where he really stands.

“Al Franken claims he feels so strongly about his position on the Iraq War that he decided to challenge Norm Coleman for the United States Senate.  He has traveled across Minnesota to college campuses and DFL gatherings, telling Minnesotans how strongly he feels about the war,” said Coleman Campaign Manager Cullen Sheehan. “But now, when confronted with his conflicting views on where he really stands on the war, about withdrawing from Iraq, and his belief that the President should cut off funding for the troops, Al Franken is silent.”

In statements released by a campaign spokesman, Franken refused to answer questions about his own positions on the Iraq War. The spokesman dismissed the video, made up entirely of Franken’s own words, as “word games.”

“The only word game being played is the one Al Franken is playing with Minnesota voters regarding his many positions on the War in Iraq. He owes it to Minnesotans to be honest about a critical issue like Iraq. Instead, he’s chosen to go silent on the central issue of his campaign.” concluded Sheehan.

The web video can be viewed at  www.youtube.com/colemanforsenate.

More Franken Inconsistency on Iraq:
 
Franken advocates for and against Levin-Reed, legislation that required the President to begin a troop pullout within 4 months, and impose a withdrawal deadline of April 30, 2008…

“Franken said he wasn’t sure he was comfortable with the April 30 date proposed by some Congressional Democrats.”

(Patricia Lopez, “DFLers Put Pressure On Sen. Coleman,” Star Tribune, July 11, 2007)

“I would have voted for Levin-Reed and I think that we have to redeploy our troops, some to Afghanistan, some to Kuwait, and get everyone home.” – Al Franken

(“Almanac,” TPT, August 24, 2007)

Franken believes we should stay in Iraq in 2006, ‘Staying there won’t change anything’ in 2007…

“I’m not for pulling out right now. I don’t know if I’m right on that. The stakes are so high because of the tremendous carnage, not just to our soldiers and Marines but also to the people of Iraq.” – Al Franken

(Warren Kalbacker, “Playboy Interview: Al Franken,” Playboy, February 1, 2006)
 
“There’s nothing we can do to change the situation. Staying there won’t change anything.” – Al Franken

(Susan Larson, “Franken Supports Additional Veterans’ Benefits,” Fergus Falls Daily Journal, July 25, 2007)