WATCH: Al Franken Dishes On Which Senators Are Funny
Image by Getty Images
Al Franken is touching base with his old days as a comedian with the publication of his new book “Giant of the Senate.” And the Minnesota Senate Democrat isn’t holding back when it comes to assessing the humor of his colleagues.
Franken recalled how he once told South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham that he would vote for him if he were a Republican. “Without hesitation he said, ‘That’s my problem,’ Franken recounted to Stephen Colbert on Monday’s “Late Show,” describing Graham as “very funny.”
But some didn’t get his jokes, like ex-Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn. “[Coburn] will admit that he doesn’t have a very good sense of humor so the first three or four interactions we had, we just kind of missed,” Franken said.
Franken also defended previous books that mocked right-wing pundits, including ex-Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly and talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. “I made fun of the people who deserved it, so Newt Gingrich, I made fun of Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O’Reilly at Fox,” he said.
Franken, a “Saturday Night Live” alum turned politician, has been busy promoting his new book. He was profiled in the Forward’s July magazine.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
