Al Franken Lashes White House Over Health Care Leadership

Al Franken flipped out at David Axelrod Wednesday, taking him and the administration to task for failing to provide leadership on the health care bill. The outburst came after President Obama urged Senate Democrats to “finish the job,” but didn’t give them any idea how to do so. Afterwards, in a closed-door meeting, an enraged Franken lashed out over that omission, sources tell Politico.

“It was all about leadership and health care and what the plan was going to be,” one source said. The meeting was held panel-style, with Democrats addressing questions to Axelrod, Tim Kaine and Paul Begala, but Franken’s outrage was directed solely at Axelrod. Franken wasn’t alone in his anger, the sources said, merely the most vocal. “There was a lot of frustration there,” said one senator. “People were hot.” (More Al Franken stories.)