Al Franken knocks down Dean Heckler

[Freddie Stubbs]

**WARNING: Please note that this article is from the New York Post**

January 27, 2004 -- EXETER, N.H. - Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean.

The tussle left Franken's trademark thick-rim glasses broken, but he said he was not injured.

Franken - who seemed in a state of shock and out of breath after the incident - was helped back to his feet by several people who watched the tussle. Police arrived soon after.

"I got down low and took his legs out," said Franken afterwards.

more: http://nypost.com/news/nationalnews/16692.htm

[leftyandproud]

1. naughty franken naughty!

call security next time...don't be a vigilante

[Monument]

4. Objective journalism...lol.

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. I think that it is a good spin

With the exception of brawny union members, liberals are usually portrayed as wimps.

[ithacan]

2. sounds like the real story is that Franken was attacked

reading between the lines, and given the source (the Post is a Murdoch publication, in the Fox universe of right wing propaganda), I'd say it's more likely that Franken was attacked by the right wing goon and was defending himself...

[damnyankee2601]

8. Agreed.

This sounds amazingly similar to the incident Franken describes in his book where he gets attacked at a Republican fundraiser and then Matt Drudge reported his shaving cut as a split lip. The "got in low" crack is typical Franken sarcasm.

[styersc]

17. Don't be silly- the real story is that

this was a publicity stunt. You have to know Franken's comedy to know that this is dead pan Franken. Franken as a man-handling brute is as accurate as Franken as Stuart Smalley, the self-analyzing neurotic.

[w13rd0]

3. I myself think it's high time...

...we start beating the asses of more Republicans. They've been playing brownshirt dirty pool tactics with us long enough. Intimidation, threats, outing CIA agents, trying to RUN OVER anti-war protesters.

So, if you have it in you, slug a right-wing freak show for Jesus...

[Monument]

6. Russert says:

Russert claims he was in the audience at the event. Here is his description:

Both Russert and Franken were in the press box and the scuffle broke out (Franken was not involved at this point). Dean security could not remove the people/person (?) causing the disturbance. Franken jumped out of the press box and tackled the person. Russert claimed it was "surreal".

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

11. Make Jesus Proud!

"slug a right-wing freak show for Jesus"!

You have turned our country into a den of thieves! Prepare to be beaten!

[damnyankee2601]

12. Let's stick with what we teach our kids.

Don't hit them until they hit you... then punch their lights out.

Frankly, re-thugs only respect strength. I have dared many a redneck to take a swing at me (I'm 6', 210#,) they always back down.

[HereSince1628]

5. I hope Al has a good attorney

This is America and the LaRouche guy is probably gonna sue for millions in damages.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Lyndon LaRouche has a lot of experience with the judicial system

Perhaps he can give his supporter some advice. ;)

[HereSince1628]

9. Bingo.

As much as LaRouche publishes about Nazi's in America it is not a little bit ironic that his supporters act like jack-booted thugs.

[RUexperienced]

10. How tolerant!

[damnyankee2601]

13. What's your point?

Any good Libertarian will tell you, your rights to be tolerated end when your exercise of them interferers with MY rights to be left alone.

[RUexperienced]

25. Al Franken seems to be more of an intolerant

bigot that many of the RWers we criticize.

Al did not need to be left alone. Russert says Franken was in the booth when this disrupter started in on Dean, not Franken.

[SOS]

26. Yeah, sure...

Can you find Al Franken in this photo?
(WTO, Miami, 11/03)

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RememberTheCoup]

14. As I said when this story was posted in LBN...

I'd like to wait until I see this story in some REAL newspapers. The NYPost is beyond worthless.

[spooky3]

15. I agree. Al was a high school wrestler.

If someone was causing harm to someone else, or to himself, he would have the courage to step in and the ability to help.

[mastein]

16. Both Howard and Al wrestled

and I see that same sort of intensity in everything they do. That is what I want out of any candidate or anyone in general for that matter, hard work and desire to do right!

[LizW]

18. I just love this mental image

Al flying out of the press box and flattening the disruptor/s! :7

I know Franken's a Kerry supporter, but it sounds like the Dean rally got him a little fired up! LOL!

(Yes, I know I shouldn't enjoy an account of physical violence so much, but it's just so damn funny.)

[spooky3]

19. and Al's book is still on the NYT Best Seller List

and above O'Liely's.

[TSElliott]

20. Nice to see that so many...

support assaulting hecklers. Gee, I can't wait till the Right Wingers start to beat the crap out of us for protesting or heckling their events.

The irony is Al says he was defending free speech by not letting the LaRouche guy have his free speech.

[jcgadfly]

24. Right wingers won't get their hands dirty

They'll just have the cops (or soldiers) do it for them and then tell them to shoot us when we defend ourselves.

[AngryAmish]

21. The LaRouchies are freaks

Very bizarre and cult-like. I see them on the street from time to time. I can understand why he got so mad.

[elcondor]

22. Something doesn't sound right

I agree with other posters that there is probably more to the story than this . . .

[arewethereyet]

23. I didn't think he had it in him

don't screw with Al !

[zanana]

29. Now I know he's sincere!

I'm such a skeptic, I think just about everyone's out for a quick buck. Way to go, Al! Now I'll buy your book!