Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Franken Gets Funny Again

Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 14, 2009 8:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,” Franken said: “Its not really that big a deal. I mean, it's only health. Education. Labor. And pensions.”

“I mean, who really would care about those things? Except for maybe people who are concerned about their health, or their kids' health, or maybe want their kids to go to, oh, a good school, or, I don't know, people who work.” Franken was a bit of an anomaly at the event, CNN notes, which is usually dominated by presidential wannabes. On stage in 2007: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and Chris Dodd.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. greets members of the 133rd Airlift Wing, and their families, upon his arrival, with President Barack Obama, not shown, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009,  at  Minneapolis St. Paul Airport.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. greets members of the 133rd Airlift Wing, and their families, upon his arrival, with President Barack Obama, not shown, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, at Minneapolis St. Paul Airport.   (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., watches during the Senate judiciary committee's confirmation hearing for Sonia Sotomayor, July 14, 2009.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., watches during the Senate judiciary committee's confirmation hearing for Sonia Sotomayor, July 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
JimW
Sep 16, 2009 6:19 AM CDT
Software glitch. My last comment was to Thinker.
JimW
Sep 16, 2009 6:16 AM CDT
How true. I watched him on TV the other night, and watched him draw an accurate map of the U.S, all 50 states, in under 2 minutes, talking the whole time. I doubt there is another politician in office that can do at least that... Had a good Minnesota joke too, never heard it before. Why is Minnesota so windy? Because the Dakotas blow, and Wisconsin sucks... lol
hamsammichs
Sep 15, 2009 4:23 AM CDT
hahahaha thats so funny, what he said! hahaha damn he is a riot!

More Newser Stories

Senator Franken Is Finally Being Funny Again

Dodd Rips Newbies—Ahem, Franken—for Lacking 'Civility'

Franken Plays It So Straight It's Funny

Don't Expect Laughs From Sen. Franken

How Comedy Turned Serious


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne