Franken answers ‘Angry Al’ ad

Comedian Al Franken (D) released an ad Wednesday seeking to return fire on Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R) “Angry Al” ad, marking yet another salvo in Minnesota’s contentious Senate race.

In the ad, a seated Franken admits he has at times “gone too far” with his outrage, but seeks to turn the issue on Coleman.

{mosads}“With the price of gas and groceries and healthcare crushing Minnesota families, and Washington too busy taking care of the special interests to help,” Franken says in the ad, “why isn’t Norm Coleman outraged?”

The first part of the ad is reminiscent of an ad Franken previously ran saying he wasn’t proud of some of his past jokes, which have been criticized as vulgar and crude and not befitting a Senate candidate.

Coleman’s “Angry Al” ad included several clips of vulgarity-laden tirades by Franken over the years directed toward Republicans and argued that Franken is too “reckless.”

In a statement, Coleman said Franken is offering a false choice.

“Each and every day I fight for Minnesotans, respectfully, across party lines with my colleagues,” Coleman said. “Sometimes we disagree passionately with one another, but we don’t taunt, we don’t point fingers, we don’t scream and we don’t lose control. There is virtue in passion, but there’s also the need to be able to control yourself and to serve the people of Minnesota with dignity and respect.”