Al Franken's Not-So-Serious Moments
Minnesota voters took comedian Al Franken seriously when he ran for the state's U.S. Senate seat in 2008. After 238 days of recounts and contested ballots, Franken was sworn in last July. As Franken wraps up his first year as a senator, we bring you some less-than-serious moments featuring the political satirist turned politician.
No hint at all of a future life in politics in this clip. Rolling around on stage in a tiny tank top and tight white pants is about as unserious as the future senator could get. Appearing on the 1980s TV show Solid Gold, Franken and comedy partner Tom Davis impersonate Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, respectively, belting out the Rolling Stones classic "Under My Thumb."
The Full Ginsburg responds:
Eric Cunningham: The idea that this video is a deviation from the progression of Franken's political career is a classic misinterpretation. This video is political. Solid Gold? That's about gold being a stable investment in rocky economies. "Under my Thumb"? That's about Congress needing to stand up to the President as an equal partner in the federal government. And the orange tank-top? Alright, that one doesn't have a metaphor. Al Franken just likes wearing orange tank-tops, I guess.
Jared Bloom: I remember seeing this when I was 5 years old and thinking, "Yeah, this guy's definitely gonna be a Senator." Unfortunately, I was wrong---my "Draft the back-up dancer from the Solid Gold Band" movement never got off the ground.
Zara Findlay-Shirras: Well, he's no John Ashcroft, that's for sure. Not to mention a Larry Craig.
Barely Political responds:
Ben Relles: It's pretty amazing that John Edwards was affected by that 30 second viral hair-drying video, and Rudy Giuliani was said to be hurt by all those pictures of him in drag. Meanwhile, Al Franken can get away with videos like this and still win his election. In political elections today it has become more and more important that candidates avoid having a gaffe or bad moment slip out on on a YouTube video. But the public seemed to understand that in comedy, being ridiculous is part of the job description.
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