Posted on 07/29/2006 8:02:13 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
July 28, 2006
Al Franken Getting Celebrity Support
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) -
The list of contributors to comedian Al Franken's political action committee reads like a celebrity who's who: singer Barbra Streisand, writer-director Nora Ephron, actor-writer Larry David and actor Jimmy Smits.
Franken, who hosts a radio show on the liberal Air America Radio network, is considering challenging Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., in 2008. Franken moved his show from New York City to Minneapolis earlier this year, fueling speculation of a possible bid.
His leadership PAC, Midwest Values PAC, raised $500,000, according to a review of campaign finance reports. Franken couldn't use the money for his own race, but he can contribute to other candidates, engendering goodwill.
He has used the cash to contribute to national Democratic Party organizations, Minnesota Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar and House candidates Coleen Rowley, Tim Walz and Patty Wetterling,
Among the contributors to the PAC were actor Larry Hagman, directors Christopher Guest and Barry Levinson, and writers Harold Ramis and Aaron Sorkin.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David said he couldn't refuse Franken.
"Al is a friend of mine, so more than anything, when friends ask me to do things, I have a hard time saying no to people. If he asked me to drive him to the airport, I'd do that too," David said in an interview Friday.
Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer, said that most of the contributors are people he knows from the business.
"These are people who do quality work who I'm very, very proud to be associated with," he said in an interview.
Franken says he still hasn't decided whether to run for the Senate. Coleman's office declined to comment, but his campaign is already making an issue of Franken's Hollywood money.
"One of my potential opponents is comedian Al Franken," Coleman wrote in a fundraising letter a few months ago, "but there's nothing funny about his venomous 'Air America' liberal radio show, his high-powered and deep-pocketed Hollywood friends, his national network of Bush-haters or the magnitude of his personal wealth."
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David said he couldn't refuse Franken.
"Al is a friend of mine, so more than anything, when friends ask me to do things, I have a hard time saying no to people. If he asked me to drive him to the airport, I'd do that too," David said in an interview Friday."
I despise Larry David's and his wife's political slants, but I am a huge Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fan. Life goes on.
Disgusting that the liberal media runs non-stories like this about Leftists. Diana Irey's challenge to "Pruneface" Murtha in Pennsylvania is much more interesting but she can't get the time of day.
LOL! That made my Potential Tag List (see my profile)!
If Franken runs for the senate that will be the funniest thing he has done since Saturday Night Live.
Please run, Al! That will show the whole country the intelligence level of the average Dem. I hope they telecast the debates between Al and Norm Coleman to the nation. I can't wait!!!
Don't we have enough morons in the senate already?
This guy is a psychopath.
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and darn it, people(movie stars) like me!
Well....if Al runs...and wins...then Air America loses its owner draw card to the network. If I were the Democrats...I'd be begging Al to stay and keep the network afloat. But then...the scenario of having a comedian (even a Democratic comedian)...appeals to me. I'd like to see McCain and Franken in a senate exchange...in fact, I'd pay $10 just to watch such a heated debate between the two.
oh, GOD!
PLEASE let Stuart Smalley run!
PLEASE let him get elected!
PLEASE let him finish off the Donks as they now exist, like unto his doughty Works with Err Amerika!
Barbara Streisand seems intent on throwing her money away. At this rate, she'll be a bag lady by 2008.
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