March 25th 2008 8:56 PM

Al Franken's Campaign: Same Old Stuff- Heavy on Attack and Unfounded Accusations, Weak on Policy and Actual Solutions

 

Franken Says…
In his first year, when President Bush's approval ratings were high, he voted with the President 98% of the time.
The Facts Say…Al, there you go again.
In 2003, while CQ found Sen. Coleman to have supported the President 98% of the time, it also found him to be the eighth most likely Republican to break from his party on party unity votes, at 92%. The 2006 survey placed him in exactly the same position - eighth most independent Republican.
Fully half of the 2003 presidential support votes were not partisan and enjoyed the support of both Republicans and Democrats. This explains why, for example, CQ finds that Harry Reid supported President Bush 53% of the time in 2003, Mark Dayton supported the President half of the time, and even Ted Kennedy supported the President 47% of the time. Thus, half of the Presidential support votes were actually consensus votes, not for (or against) the President or Republican positions.
Senator Coleman has never hesitated to go his own way when it is best for Minnesota, working closely with his own party, as well as working across the aisle whenever feasible. His consistent votes in favor of raising the minimum wage, protecting the Farm safety net, increasing Pell Grants for college students, maintaining crucial programs like the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), funding the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and opposing drilling in ANWR, clearly demonstrate that point. 
 
Franken Says…
He was a cheerleader for the war in Iraq, and even to this day continues to support the Bush policy of endless war.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
First and foremost, Senator Coleman continues to stand strongly in support of the men and women serving in our military and selflessly putting their lives on the line every day to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. He constantly monitors developments in Iraq, traveling to Iraq five times, participating in Senate hearings and continuous conversations with military leaders and soldiers and their families alike.
Senator Coleman believes that progress has been made in Iraq since the surge was implemented, but the American people want to see a light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq. 
Senator Coleman believes we can reach the goal of having Iraqi troops serving on the front lines, with American soldiers serving in a secondary capacity by the end of 2008. 
Senator Coleman is a firm believer that at the end of the day, we must leave Iraq stabilized and capable of maintaining peace, while ensuring that efforts by Iran and others in the region to undermine the country are not successful. Senator Coleman will not support, and has not supported, arbitrary timelines for withdrawal. 
Senator Coleman has been consistent in his support for our troops. Al Franken, on the other hand, changes his stance with the seasons. He's been for the war; he's been against it; he's been for cutting off funding to the troops; he's been against it.
 
Franken Says…
He continues to support the Bush economic plan of irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy, and even wants to make those tax cuts permanent.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
 Raising taxes on hardworking Americans and their families during a time of economic slowdown is not only counterproductive but is bad policy. More money should be put back where it belongs, in the pockets of American taxpayers who best know how to meet their own needs, and that is why Senator Coleman continues to support making the tax cuts permanent.
What's more, it is undeniable that the Bush tax cuts have helped working families. Thanks to these policies, a family of four making $40,000 will receive $2,010 in tax relief this year. 116 million taxpayers will see their taxes decline by an average of $2,420. Over 6 million individuals and families will see their income tax liabilities completely eliminated. 45 million families with children will receive average tax relief of $3,184. 16 million elderly individuals will save an average of $3,052. And 27 million small business owners will save an average of $5,169.
Senator Coleman voted for tax cuts for every American, as well as the Alternative Minimum Tax and marriage penalty relief, expanding the 10% bracket, and increasing the child tax credit to $1,000.
 
Franken Says…
Five years ago, Norm Coleman was given the amazing opportunity to serve the people of Minnesota in the Senate. But instead, he sold out to those same special interests.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
Senator Coleman continues to be a strong, independent voice in the U.S. Senate who puts the best interest of the citizens of Minnesota first. His voting record places him consistently among the most independent Republicans in the Senate.
 Senator Coleman has incredible support from Minnesota donors to his campaign. He is proud of the support he's received from employees of companies that benefit the good of the state and people who support the way Senator Coleman votes and the job he is doing representing Minnesota in the Senate. Senator Coleman doesn't base his votes on the amount of money he receives, whether it's five dollars or 5,000.
"So far, Franken far outpaces the field in outsider contributions, with 77 percent of his individual donations coming from non-Minnesotans. Coleman follows with 60 percent." (Pat Doyle, "All politics local? Not in U.S. Senate race," Star Tribune, January 20, 2008)
 
Franken Says…
After cashing checks from Halliburton, Senator Coleman fell down on the job as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations while waste, fraud, and abuse sabotaged the re-construction of Iraq.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
Working in concert with his Democratic colleague, Senator Carl Levin, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has aggressively launched investigations and hearings into nuclear terrorism and dirty bombs, port security, price gouging in the natural gas market, illegal tax shelters, abusive credit counseling practices, and mismanagement at the Department of Defense. 
Senator Coleman was an original sponsor of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and remains one of its staunchest allies to this day, supporting keeping the office going and strengthening its capabilities. In fact, there are twelve other US government entities charged with oversight in Iraq, and Senator Coleman has fought to strengthen them as well. Most recently, Senator Coleman worked to convince the State Department to reverse a decision to pull USAID inspectors out of Iraq.
 
Franken Says…
After cashing checks from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, Coleman voted to prohibit Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for lower prices on prescriptions, costing seniors and taxpayers billions of dollars.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
Senator Coleman supported the Medicare prescription drug bill, which gave over 90% of seniors- including over half a million Minnesotans- prescription drug coverage for the first time in history. 
Additionally, Senator Coleman was one of six Republicans to vote to move forward and consider legislation to lift the ban on Medicare involvement in drug price negotiation.
 
Franken Says…
And Minnesotans should know that their Senator, Norm Coleman, voted against allowing people forced into bankruptcy because of high medical costs to protect their homes.
The Facts Say…Al You're Wrong.
Senator Coleman voted against an amendment by Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to the bankruptcy bill which would have overridden state laws to protect $150,000 in home equity for filers who had taken off four weeks to care for a sick relative - even if this time off had nothing to do with the bankruptcy filing. The amendment would have resulted in giving relatively wealthier filers an advantage over those lacking home equity. A study by the Justice Department found that only 5 percent of bankruptcies were attributable to medical expenses (discrediting another report which had been cited by amendment supporters). Instead, states should continue to be allowed to decide for themselves the amount and types of assets that should be exempted from liquidation under bankruptcy proceedings. The amendment failed by a bipartisan vote of 39-58.
The bankruptcy bill, without this dangerous amendment, passed by a bipartisan vote of 74-25.
 
And Al Says…
…We need universal health care, but doesn't say how he will get us there.
….That No Child Left Behind doesn't work, but doesn't say how he would make things better.
…That he would make pensions more secure, but doesn't say how.
…That we need good public schools, but doesn't say how what he'll do.
But once again, Al doesn't say how he will make things Better. Al, You're Wrong for Minnesota.
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