Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Al Franken In Sorry State (Smoking Gun)
Smoking Gun ^

Posted on 08/20/2003 12:21:43 PM PDT by Republican Red

Comedian apologizes to Ashcroft for "imprudent attempt at satire" AUGUST 20--Comedian Al Franken last month wrote an apology letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft, admitting that he was not truthful when he previously sought Ashcroft's views on abstinence.

In June, Franken wrote to Ashcroft seeking the AG's story for "Savin' It," which the performer described as a book "about abstinence programs in our public schools." On its face, the letter (which you'll find below) reads like a joke, with Franken advising Ashcroft to "share a moment when you were tempted to have sex, but were able to overcome your urges through willpower and strength of character. Be funny!" Franken also asked, "Did a young woman ever think you were homosexual just because you wouldn't have sex with her? Be serious!"

Franken's missive, written on letterhead from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, claimed that he had already received abstinence stories from other prominent Republicans, including Condoleezza Rice and Senator Rick Santorum. However, in his July 11 apology, Franken admitted that he had not received those abstinence stories and called his solicitation to Ashcroft, "an imprudent attempt at satire."

The comedian also apologized for writing on Harvard letterhead: "My biggest regret is sending the letter on Shorenstein Center stationery. I can assure you that no one at the Shorenstein Center had knowledge of the letter before I sent it." Franken, who was a fellow at the Kennedy School this spring, added, "I am very embarrassed to have put them in this awkward and difficult position, and I ask you not to hold this against the Center, the Kennedy School, or Harvard in general."

While an embarrassment, Franken's Ashcroft miscue will probably only help him move more copies of his new book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," scheduled for release this week. Franken was sued earlier this month by the Fox News Channel, which claims that his use of the term "fair and balanced" in the book's title infringes on the network's trademarked slogan.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: apology
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 last
To: Republican Red
This is a guy who doesn't understand that he could have sent it to the NYT instead, and it would have been published as satire, and he'd have been lauded by his lame contemporaries.
41 posted on 08/22/2003 7:39:52 PM PDT by lainie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Republican Red
Fox Loses Bid to Stop Sale of Franken Book

It looks like FOX lost in the courts.

42 posted on 08/22/2003 7:42:44 PM PDT by Consort
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Republican Red
Sean Hannity talked today about Franken having an insane temper tantrum about him and Limbaugh some months back. This happened to O'Reilly (who I detest) too. Makes me wonder if Franken is mentally ill. (How 'bout it guys?)
43 posted on 08/22/2003 7:45:06 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (Go Arnold Go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Republican Red
From that letter, "I have found that kids respond best to total honesty."

That's funny, anyone I've known who was on that "total honesty" kick was just using it as an excuse to be rude and insulting to people.

44 posted on 08/22/2003 8:01:07 PM PDT by FlyVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nutmeg
Thanks for the heads up!
45 posted on 08/22/2003 10:42:19 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
I love it!
46 posted on 08/23/2003 1:27:13 AM PDT by MEG33
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Timesink
Thanks; I could NOT remember the name of that book.
47 posted on 08/23/2003 1:35:59 AM PDT by hellinahandcart (Die, Tinkerbelle, die!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Timesink
Forget the hotmail address. Well, you can try it, but this one is so much nicer:
Franken, Al

Fellow
Shorenstein Center

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Building: Taubman - 258 Office phone: (617)495-8343
E-Mail Address: al_franken@ksg.harvard.edu FAX phone: (617)495-8696

AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!! The guy's TOAST!!!

48 posted on 08/23/2003 1:42:30 AM PDT by RandallFlagg ("There are worse things than crucifixion...There are teeth.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Abynormal
If he is as amorally vile as Baldwin, he might feel as bad about this as Baldwin felt after his "humor" gibes about Hyde and his family. The worst of the left expose themselves without any self-consciousness.
49 posted on 08/23/2003 1:45:23 AM PDT by 185JHP ( "All not actually on watch, lay to your racks...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Timesink
If there's one thing we know about the Democratic Party mindset in the last quarter century, it's that they'll let you get away with just about anything as long as you swear fealty to The Party.

History repeats itself:

"An organization, however streamlined and efficient, is made up of erring human beings, and in those years when Hitler was shaping his party to take over Germany's destiny he had his fill of troubles with his chief lieutenants, who constantly quarreled not only among themselves but with him."

"He, who was so monumentally intolerant by his very nature, was strangely tolerant of one human condition - a man's morals. No other party in Germany came near to attracting so many shady characters. As we have seen, a conglomeration of pimps, murderers, homosexuals, alcoholics and blackmailers flocked to the party as if to a natural haven."
William Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, 30th Anniversary edition, pp 173


50 posted on 08/26/2003 8:24:46 AM PDT by Noumenon (Those who seek the destruction of a free society are unfit to live in that same society.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Republican Red
Let's forget about Franken for a while...just for the heck of it.
51 posted on 08/26/2003 8:28:13 AM PDT by Consort
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Republican Red
The letter looks like it must have been typed on either
an old manual typewriter or possibly chiseled by hand with
sculpting tools on a rock.
52 posted on 08/26/2003 8:29:13 AM PDT by Twinkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BunnySlippers
Aside from being mentally ill, he is also apparently guilty of federal crime of mail and wire fraud. last time I heard, using the post in a fraudulent manner was a federal crime. Put him in the slammer.
53 posted on 08/26/2003 8:29:36 AM PDT by cyborg (i'm half and half... me mum is a muggle and me dad is a witch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson