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The Norm Coleman vs Al Franken mess: when will Norm walk away?
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On November 4, 2008, incumbent Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman (R) appeared to have narrowly defeated Democrat Al Franken in one of the closest elections in history. In the days since the election, the historically narrow vote tally has remained, but after a recount and a plethora of legal challenges, Franken now appears to be the winner. The only question remaining is will Coleman finally walk away in defeat.
The day after the election Coleman declared victory by a mere 725 votes. This is after 2.9 million Minnesotans chose to vote in this senatorial contest. Two days after the election, Coleman’s lead had dwindled to 438 votes, triggering an automatic recount mandated by state law. Ironically, at this point in the proceedings, Coleman urged Franken to concede defeat and waive his right to a recount. Coleman claimed that a recount would cost too much money and that after such a bitterly contested race; it was time for the healing process to begin.
"I just think the need for the healing process is so important,” explained Coleman as part of his rationale for claiming victory and in his mind earning another six years representing the fine people of Minnesota.
On Monday, January 5, 2009, the state canvassing board declared Al Franken the winner of the election by 225 votes. This was after the five person board reviewed the validity of every vote cast on Election Day and via absentee ballot. Shockingly, the need for expediency expressed by Coleman shortly after the election was replaced by the need to stretch the process out as long as possible via every single legal contention in the book.
Coleman and his legal team have complained of bias from the canvassing board even though Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed two of the board’s members and the governor publicly stated the impartiality of the board. Coleman has also challenged the rules and regulations of Minnesota election laws even though he had no public issue with them during the course of this race or during any of the numerous other elections he has been a part of throughout his political career.
On Tuesday, Coleman announced one of the most hypocritical claims in the history of politics. Because all of his legal challenges have not resulted in a reversing of Franken’s 225 vote lead, Coleman is asking the Minnesota Court to redo the election. His contention is that the judges will be unable to declare a winner due to what he believes is the many misgivings that took place during the voting process. Evidently, in Coleman’s mind, the tax payers of Minnesota are now in a position to pay for a new election; however, in November, that simply was not a possibility. This type of rhetoric is not the least bit surprising coming from the mouth of Norm Coleman.
Coleman served his first term as mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota as a member of the Democratic Party. He was re-elected as mayor and than shortly after he switched parties and became a Republican. Coleman ran for senate in 2002 after he was handpicked by Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney. He won election over former Vice President Walter Mondale, who ran after incumbent Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone tragically died in a plane crash shortly before the election. His close relationship with the White House appeared to dissipate during the 2008 senate race when Coleman distanced himself from the Bush Administration, even though he strongly supported them before their poll number dipped below 30 percent.
Norm Coleman will say and do anything to remain in power. Changing parties, changing allegiances, suing his political opponents in the middle of a race and stretching out every legality possible even when he was adamant that his opponent should end the race quickly after the initial vote count was tallied. This is who Norm Coleman is.
As of March 5, the people of Minnesota still only have one senator. The office of Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is backlogged with constituent requests that normally are handled by two Senators. But, since the state only has one senator, citizen inquiries are taking a back seat to selfish needs of Norm Coleman.
Norm Coleman should follow in the footsteps of 2000 Democratic Presidential Nominee Al Gore. Gore bowed out of his legal battle with President Bush one month into his challenge, even though he was fighting for the highest office in the land and he had the legal standing of winning the popular vote. Gore became a Noble Prize Winner, not a sore loser. Norm Coleman’s legacy is looking more along the lines of becoming a historic sore loser. For the good of himself and his state, it is time for Coleman to say good bye to the senate.
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