Norm Coleman attacks Al Franken II

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) has attacked potential opponent Al Franken with a web video. He points out Franken's switch from for to against the Iraq War. That Norm would attack an opponent is expected. That Norm would attack an opponent this far out for the second time is unexpected. Norm is rightfully scared enough to attack the man he expects to face twice in the year before the election.

It is also ironic that Norm would call out Al for flip-flopping on this issue when Norm has flip-flopped 12 times on important issues and 8 of them were just this year.

The Franken Campaign responded with a press release:

Norm Coleman's record is clear: blind support of the President's disastrous Iraq policy and absolutely no interest in defending his repeated votes against bringing our troops home. If I were him, I wouldn't want to talk about a record like that, either.

But fundamental dishonesty like we are seeing from Coleman's campaign today was a bad way to get us into this war, and it's certainly not going to get us out. It won't stop Al from speaking out against this war and holding Norm Coleman accountable, and it won't stop Minnesotans from voting for a new direction.

While Norm's statements are attempts to employ Norm-speak^TM to confuse Minnesota voters, he has voted on every occasion to give President Bush a blank check in Iraq. The point is to not listen to what Norm says, but observe how he votes. Comparing his 100% voting record in support of the war to his political gymnastics shows two entirely different Senators. One sounds like he's ready to compromise and would be amenable to a bipartisan solution to start getting our troops out of Iraq. The other is a steadfast Bush loyalist.

You can read my complete analysis of the last year's worth of Norm's ever-changing stances and pandering on Iraq here:

Norm Coleman adds weight to his concrete shoes