On October 22, 2005, my colleague Brent Baker reported Al Franken's disturbing joke to "Late Show" host David Letterman concerning Scooter Libby and Karl Rove being executed for their involvement in the Valerie Plame Wilson affair. Almost two and a half years later, during an interview on CNN's "American Morning" Friday, Kiran Chetry asked the comedian turned Democrat senate candidate about this exchange.
When Franken had the gall to declare, "I didn't even say that in a joking manner," Chetry challenged him in a way that all media members should whenever a politician on either side of the aisle is so obviously disingenuous (video available here, h/t NBer Woody Boyd):
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KIRAN CHETRY, ANCHOR: You said some things about Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby, saying they should be executed for treason because...
AL FRANKEN (D), MINN. SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I did not say that, Kiran.
CHETRY: In a joking manner, in a satirical way?
FRANKEN: No. I didn't even say that in a joking manner.
CHETRY: What did you say?
FRANKEN: I was on David Letterman's show, and he asked me, this is like the day after it was revealed that they had outed, participated in the outing of Valerie Plame and he asked me what's going to happen to him. And I said that President George H.W. Bush before he was president was director of the CIA. And George H.W. Bush said that outing a CIA agent was treason. I said, David, you know what the penalty is for treason. And David asked me what was going to happen to them. I said, so I guess they might be executed which I'm against. I'm against the death penalty. And I'm afraid that Cheney and Bush might be involved in some way, and so we should pass a constitutional amendment to ban the execution of a sitting president, because that would be very demoralizing to the American people. This was, you know -- this is exactly what the Republican party is doing.
CHETRY: Well, this is a - CBS night show quote, just so we're clear, if you say, you were joking around with David Letterman, as a comedian, too. And so basically what it looks like is going to happen is that Libby and Karl Rove are going be executed because outing a CIA agent is treason. Then said you went on to say we should never, ever, ever execute a sitting president. All I'm saying is, when you say things like that in the past, and you're running, obviously those things come up.
FRANKEN: What you said was that I advocated the execution.
CHETRY: I didn't say advocated. I didn't actually say you advocated. I'm just talking about when you say things in the past that can be perceived as divisive, how to you then come together and say, you know what I can be a senator for everyone in the state?
FRANKEN: Because people know the difference between being a satirist and the whole point of that was to show that outing a CIA agent is serious. That's what a satirist does. A satirist points out what is actually serious, and -- but, you know, the trick here is they are going to be taking things out of context, and you're right. The Republican party in Minnesota said that I advocated the execution. Of those guys. And I wasn't. And it was very clear, the Letterman audience and anyone who saw that, and, if -- this is just ridiculous. We should be talking about foreclosures on homes. We should be talking about gas prices. We should be talking about loss of jobs, and that's what I'm going to do.
For the record, the video and audio of what really happened on CBS's "Late Show" in October 2005 are available here: Excerpt #1: Real or Windows Media and MP3 audio. Excerpt #2: Real or Windows Media and MP3 audio.
Brava, Kiran. Brava.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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There is a link to the Chetry/Franken interview at CNN
March 15, 2008 - 02:29 ET by Woody BoydSaving people the trouble of going to the Liberal Website, there is a link to the same video at CNN.
The money part is at the 2:50 mark when you get to the Franken interview after the commercials that pop up first.
"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure." - A. Einstein
Woody
March 15, 2008 - 02:32 ET by Noel SheppardWoody,
Thank you kindly. ns
Glad to help......
March 15, 2008 - 02:46 ET by Woody BoydThat was nothing compared to all the great Global Warming posts of yours I have enjoyed reading. Glad to help when I can.
"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure." - A. Einstein
Now Al Franken has to call home
March 15, 2008 - 06:25 ET by OldSailor88Now Al Fanken has to call home and tell his momma that he got his butt kicked by the softball lobbing liberal cream puff known as Kiran Chetry. Sad.
Stultus est sicut stultus facit
All joking aside (always
March 15, 2008 - 06:36 ET by Jack BauerAll joking aside (always al-Franken's position, him being essentially exceptionally unfunny)..
But don't you just know in your guts this guy has a SPITZER problem lurking.
There are hookers out there who will turn on the TV one day and think... mmmmm., did him! Betcha.
Franken has proved he has
March 15, 2008 - 06:59 ET by motherbeltFranken has proved he has what it takes to be a Democrat...the ability to say "I never said" with a straight face. And to say "what I said was...." and make it something completely different.
Franken did the same thing Ann Coulter did when she said she couldn't talk about Edwards because you have to go to rehab if you use the "f" word. Franken said so I guess Rove and Libby are going to be executed. But everyone screamed that Coulter "called" Edwards a faggot. And Franken is supposed to get a pass, because he was just reporting what Bush 41 said, and he was actually "torn" over it.
They both used the same technique, of saying something without actually "saying" it. The difference is that Ann Coulter wasn't, and isn't, running for office. Does anyone think, even in their wildest dreams, that Coulter could get past that if she were a political candidate?
This is classic Franken. I
March 15, 2008 - 07:30 ET by Dave DThis is classic Franken. I mean since he never uses the phrase "They should be executed for treason" he makes it sound like he wasn't advocating execution. (Which really he did since last I checked there was no automatic sentencing for treason.) He's being really disingenuous for claiming this since he's was basically suggesting an appropriate punishment and Letterman and the audience got that's what he was doing.(But that's Franken's MO, spinning whatever he says so he can claim he's "honest" when he's actually so dishonest it borders on parody.)
I'm not getting this one.
March 15, 2008 - 07:31 ET by bacher468Chetry questions Franken about "saying they should be executed for treason"
Franken says he never said they SHOULD be executed but that by allegedly outing Plame they committed treason and therefore would be subject to being executed, which he stressed is against.
Chetry then fires back with the following quote:
And so basically what it looks like is going to happen is that Libby and Karl Rove are going be executed because outing a CIA agent is treason. Then said you went on to say we should never, ever, ever execute a sitting president.
I'm certainly not a fan of Franken, but how does that not prove that Franken is absolutely 100% correct? What am I missing?
He hates George Bush
March 15, 2008 - 10:29 ET by derbalWhy would he say he's against executing Mr. Bush when he clearly hates the man with a passion? Because he's being sarcastic. That's like saying "Oh yeah, that's what I need, another hole in the head".
Watch the videos, it boils down to the difference in statements.
March 15, 2008 - 13:56 ET by Woody BoydWhat you are missing is the difference between Franken saying on David Letterman
"they are going to be executed"
and then here with Chetry saying
"I never said they will be executed I said they might be executed, they could be executed"
In one case he is making a positive affirming statement as if it will happen and in the other he is hedging and trying to portray his original statement as if he simply offered execution as one of a list of possible options. Even when he says that he is against the death penalty in his follow-up statements he doesn't link it as a reason for them NOT to be executed. Instead he acts like "oh well, it's going to happen".
And in further follow-up statements when David says the real crime is having a man named Scooter in the administration Franken simple says "well he's going to be executed" as if it is a solution to the problem and thus something he is advocating to solve the problem David put forward.
So I guess if you really want to buy Franken's tap dance now that he never said he wanted them executed, but merely suggested it might happen then you must accept that saying it will happen does not connote affirmation as something you desire. It is errily remenicent of Clinton and his debate about the meaning of the word "is".
Somehow I think if he meant to say "it might happen" then he would have said "it might happen". The fact that he is now running for office and wants to alter his previous statement means simply that he was caught and is trying to parse words to get out from under his previous statement.
"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it. Only if every single citizen feels duty bound to do his share in this defense are the constitutional rights secure." - A. Einstein
I watched the clips but that's not the basis of the whole thing.
March 15, 2008 - 17:30 ET by bacher468Here's her question: "You said some things about Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby, saying they should be executed for treason because.." He didn't say that in the clip. He said jokingly that they would be executed.
Chetry was either sloppy or is delibrately trying to twist what he said. I would guess the latter. There's obviously a subtle but significant difference in meaning.
I think these type of word games only help take the bite out of the myriad of other reasons to think Franken is a dork, like the workers' comp. issue for example.
EXACTLY. He did not say they
March 15, 2008 - 20:34 ET by balboaEXACTLY. He did not say they should be executed. He was drawing a joking, satirical conclusion to those guys outing Valerie Plame.
"So it looks like they're going to be executed."
Slam-dunk.
March 15, 2008 - 20:44 ET by tracheostomyIt was an emotional slingshot tactic by the interviewer, and a genius one at that. Confront the target with an accusation and trip them up into protesting too much.
Then you get to dribble Franken down the court anywhere you want, "So you were joking? But you said you weren't joking. So you were serious???"
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
No, read it again. Franken's
March 15, 2008 - 21:27 ET by balboaNo, read it again. Franken's denying he said, serious or joking, that Scooter and Cheney should be executed. That's because he never said either, serious or joking.
He jokingly said that it looked like they would be executed.
Bal, it's based on a false
March 15, 2008 - 21:44 ET by tracheostomyBal, it's based on a false premise. Therein lies the trap. Get it?
[KIRAN CHETRY, ANCHOR: You said some things about Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby, saying they should be executed for treason because...
AL FRANKEN (D), MINN. SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I did not say that, Kiran.]
<<<<<TRAP>>>>>
[CHETRY: What did you say?
FRANKEN: (after squirming in long; drawn out attempt at contextualization) I said, so I guess they might be executed which I'm against.
SUPER LIE!
"might be" x2 in fact! What he really said was (matter-of-factly), "So it looks like they're going to be executed." Very final. No possibilities or "might be" about it.
PWNT!
Either he was kidding around, or he was dead serious and sure as heck that they would really be executed for treason, which would make him look like a total dumbass.
Chetry utterly destroyed him. She even gave him enough rope to hang himself with on the "satire" bit, because if he really wasn't joking, then he meant it verbatum.
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
Disagree, except that
March 15, 2008 - 21:48 ET by balboaDisagree, except that Franken said "might be" to Chetry and "looks like" to Letterman.
He was joking that it looked like they _would_ be executed. He never joked that they _should_ be executed.
Bal: Disagree, except
March 15, 2008 - 22:00 ET by tracheostomyBal: Disagree, except that Franken said "might be" to Chetry and "looks like" to Letterman.
". . .what it looks like is going to happen is that Libby and Carl Rove are going to be executed."
:mugs for the camera, waits for laughter, and doesn't try to clarify:
Then when the laughter dies down, he repeats it. "They are going to be executed."
Bal: He was joking that it looked like they _would_ be executed. He never joked that they _should_ be executed
That's not the point. If he was really honest, he should have told Chetry "I did not say that, I said they were going to be executed. . ."
and either
". . .you took me too seriously, it's satire! LOL!"
OR
". . .and I was wrong."
But pride got in the way and he wasn't paying attention to Chetry's hook. It doesn't matter what he said to cover for it, because he screwed up on a TV interview. Chetry was bouncing him all over the place.
Ohhh. . .so what did you say?
Gahh. . .I said "might be." x2 for emphasis.
???
He got a second chance to redeem himself and blew it to pieces. Total fail. Franken's weakness is he repeats himself in the same breath.
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
If Franken's guilty of
March 15, 2008 - 22:23 ET by balboaIf Franken's guilty of anything, it's being too long-winded in his explanation. But he probably did that to make sure his words didn't get twisted again.
Oh come on boa...he twisted
March 15, 2008 - 22:31 ET by bigtimerOh come on boa...he twisted and lied, got caught doing so...simple as that.
Only you could spin this like you do...
...well, besides Franken.
On Letterman: "going to
March 15, 2008 - 22:41 ET by tracheostomyOn Letterman: "going to be" x2!!!
On CNN: "might be" x2!!!
A double absolute affirmative versus an opposing double inconclusive.
Too bad Bush never got as much slack from you, Bal.
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
OH, right bal....he's
March 16, 2008 - 08:40 ET by motherbeltOH, right bal....he's worried that his words will get twisted. LOL Poor Al....people are always twisting things that he implies.
He used the comedian's tactic of saying something without actually saying it.
You know, like Ann Coulter saying she couldn't talk about Edwards because you have to go to rehab if you use the "f" word. I guess she could legitimately argue that she didn't call Edwards a faggot; would you accept that?
Don't forget how Franken
March 16, 2008 - 09:26 ET by Dave DDon't forget how Franken never actually accused Bush of firing Shinseki. I mean would it be Al's fault if people thought that's exactly what he was doing? (OF course we are talking about Al Franken.)
Or his insane ideas on
March 17, 2008 - 11:17 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltOr his insane ideas on putting a moratorium on foreclosures, or the Feds "creating jobs", or ANY of his other loony economic ideas.
Sheesh... where does one begin with someone so far out in left field that he has no idea how an economy works?
AL FRANKEN...
March 15, 2008 - 07:33 ET by danybhoyWell, as someone who has lived in Minnsota my whole life, I must report that Franken now has a free ride to the ballet in November since his chief rival for the nomination, Mike Ciresi, has dropped out. This will hand Franken the DFL(Dems in MN)nomination. Ciresi is a bigtime trial lawyer, it's kinda sad to see him tap out in such an easy manner. This guy kicked "Big Tobacco's @$$ & got a giant share of a giant settlement, going out to Franken like this is W E A K !!!
So Franken will go up against Norm Coleman for his Senate seat, & I shall have the pleasure to vote against Stuart Smalley. I would hope that Minnesota had it's fill of celebraty politics with Jesse "The Body" Ventura, if the people of my state have had their fill, this @ - hole won't become my junior senator. I'm voting for Norm.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
That's too bad that Ciresi
March 15, 2008 - 07:45 ET by motherbeltThat's too bad that Ciresi dropped out.
I hate politics the way it is now....no one finishes the race. The 24-hour news cycle and the constant polling and re-polling ad nauseam makes politicians look at "poll" numbers and "conclude" they can't win.
Jeez, why don't we just let the media do polls for 3 months and then declare a winner by "consensus"....save the time, trouble and expense of holding actual elections.
We ended up with Bill Clinton because he stayed while everyone else dropped out.
I lived there while "Jesse the Whine" (my nickname for him) was Governor. You don't deserve to be saddled with Franken on top of it. But you'll probably get another bunch of the same kind of 19-21-year old, first-time, "same-day register and vote" voters who went for Ventura because they thought he was "cool."
You have my sympathy.
MOTHERBELT...
March 15, 2008 - 08:29 ET by danybhoyDon't get me wrong, I would never vote for Ciresi, & I said I'm gonna vote for Coleman. But I would have hoped that Ciresi would give Franken a real fight for the nomination, God knows he has the money to fight, he did'nt seem to have the will. It would be nice to at least see Al bloodied up & forced to fight for his place on the ballet. Now it has been handed to him.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
I didn't get you wrong... I
March 15, 2008 - 08:56 ET by motherbeltI didn't get you wrong... I know you said you'll vote for Coleman.
I just think it's pathetic that these guys drop out early instead of waiting for the vote, because of "polls." It's just stupid.
Lest we forget
March 15, 2008 - 07:58 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsLest we forget, here is a link to Al's 'mistakes'.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
"I Never Said" vs "My Statement Was taken Out Of Context"
March 15, 2008 - 08:41 ET by planetrepublicanThis guy is an amatuer. He should have said "my statement was taken out of context" which liberals use all the time and which means "my statement means anything I say it means NOW, not then". He did try the Clintonian "redirect", "we should be talking about x, y, and z, not the vile Bush Derangement Syndrome stuff I ranted about before I was running for office".
This is what pisses me off about liberals
March 15, 2008 - 10:24 ET by derbalWhen you catch them in a lie, they backpedal and completely change the focus of the question. No one said he "advocated" the executions, the point is, he "joked" about them being executed. And anyone with half a brain knows what he meant. He dances around it with Letterman, but the point is clear: I want Bush executed, and Libby and Rove.
No, he didn't actually come out and say "I advocate it", but his meaning is clear. That's how he thinks he got out of it. He never "said" it, but he sure did "imply" it.
i believe al franken this time
March 15, 2008 - 10:27 ET by lunaticcringeradioi think in his puss filled mass of hatred wrapped up in a wad of hair and hidden behind those glasses, he wasn't joking, he sincerely wanted them executed. so unfortunately he was telling the truth to her.
she said he make a joke, and that disqualified anything else that followed in the question.
lunaticcringeradio
Shameless plug alert ...
March 15, 2008 - 10:50 ET by Dave PierreShameless plug alert:
Frankenlies.com: The truth about Al Franken ...
Thank you.
Gosh, it turns out that
March 15, 2008 - 12:15 ET by JerryGosh, it turns out that Al's book, "Lying Liars...." was an autobiography.
Guess what Al... No execution. No treason. No conviction. No indictment.
Franken: "..the whole point of that was to show that outing a CIA agent is serious.."
Hey AL! The person who actually "outed" Plame didn't even get charged with anything. Maybe that's because she was about as covert as a prostitute wearing fish net hose and high heels on the street corner yelling out, "Hey baby, looking for a good time?".
If you read the transcript, it is really sad. Franken cannot put together a complete sentence, nor convey a logical train of thought. If Minne-sooo-tahhhn's are stooopid enough to elect this boob, they deserve what they get.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Deny, deny, deny.
March 15, 2008 - 13:19 ET by UphillDeny, deny, deny.
At least until someone proves otherwise.
Or change the subject.
Why is he getting airtime?
March 15, 2008 - 16:40 ET by kdizzydazeThey pull up an old clip from the letterman show to complain that he advocates the death penalty and the execution of a sitting President? What?!?!?!
The issue here isn't what Franken said it's why is he even on the air with Kiran Chetry? Either they needed to fill some airtime or they wanted to give some free air time to Franken?
I feel bad for the people of Minnesota.
I cannot understand why Franken is even on the air. This is the guy that snookered several hundred thousand away from some children's charity to pay his bloated salary at Air America, right?
FYI, this guy is not a satirist. You have to be funny to be a satirist and you have to be able to look honestly at the issues from which you derive your satire. He is a socialist and like all socialists, he is devoid of humor and the truth.
Oh I saw/heard all of this
March 15, 2008 - 16:49 ET by bigtimerOh I saw/heard all of this yesterday and I am still LMAO!
Caught in a lie...and still deny...
That's a leftist for ya'!
Lord I hope Minnesota defeats this lying critter...big time.
bt...reminds me of my son
March 15, 2008 - 17:05 ET by motherbeltbt...reminds me of my son when he was about 3, cut out a chunk of his hair right in front. I said did you cut your hair? No. Are you sure? Yes. Whose hair is that in the wastebasket? I don't know. Look at your hair in the mirror; what happened to it? I don't know.
Magical thinking, bay-bee!
mb... You have me
March 15, 2008 - 17:20 ET by bigtimermb...
You have me laughing out loud...brings back memories of my son too.
You said it all.
Not Franken's Fortes
March 15, 2008 - 18:46 ET by ratkinThe two video chunks linked above show decisively why the title to his book "The Truth (With Jokes)" was so perfect. Think of Johnny Carson doing a Karnak joke with that title for the answer. The question would be "What are two topics with which Al Franken has no experience?"