Franken swarmed by teabaggers, calms them with civil conversation (VIDEO)

[jefferson_dem]

Franken swarmed by teabaggers, calms them with civil conversation
By Emily Kaiser in Al Franken, Health CareFriday, Sep. 4 2009 @ 8:40AM
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When riled up tea baggers swarmed Sen. Al Franken at the Minnesota State Fair, the situation seemed to be a guaranteed disaster. After watching countless interactions from around the country where anti-health care reformers have chanted, screamed, and made absurd accusations toward liberal members of Congress, this didn't look like it would end well.

But leave it to Franken to be the Congressional superhero of the day. As the crowd starts throwing tough questions about health care his way, he is somehow able to use a calm and rational tone to actually explain the reform and why he supports it. And the tea baggers seem to be OK with that.

Maybe other tea baggers around the country can take some debate pointers from these Minnesotans.

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/09/franken_swarmed.php

[tridim]

1. Wow! He's REALLY good.

I knew he would be.

[flpoljunkie]

26. Ezra Klein called Franken the 'Mob Whisperer'

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/al_franken_mob_whisperer.html

[Richardo]

2. That's a fantastic clip.

Guy has a way with people. A lot to be learned there for other Dems.

[Clio the Leo]

3. lol, @ "see, people have different opinions....."

.... I wish he'd join us here.

[Clio the Leo]

4. I also like how he's not looking the original questioner in the eye...

..... because he knows it would be a waste of time to try and convince her of anything. He's talking to the OTHERS ..... sometimes you have to know when to cut bait.

[fadedrose]

5. He does real good here, nice attitude especially

and he doesn't mind listening to people who disagree..

Maybe he was worth waiting for.

[Common Sense Party]

6. Is he backing away from a public option?

All that Switzerland talk sounds like he is in favor of just regulating insurance companies.

That video title is disingenuous, "Franken Talks Down Angry Mob." What angry mob?

[drm604]

8. Yea, it's not exactly an angry mob,

but perhaps the way he handled it prevented an angry mob.

[Common Sense Party]

9. Well, "Minnesota Nice" is the norm in Minnesota.

It's hard to get Minnesotans whipped up into a frenzied mob. Must be the lutefisk.

[Jennicut]

11. Ugg....even Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods couldn't stomach lutefisk

and he eats a lot of weird stuff. Minnesotans must have strong stomachs and the will of bulls. LOL.

[Common Sense Party]

13. I couldn't do it when I lived there. Yuk! n/t

[Jennicut]

14. It sure looked nasty on tv....

[iceman66]

20. Hey,

I would take a Swiss-style system over what passes for health care in this country now!

[Blasphemer]

21. Me too

The reason why a public option has become so important here is because a highly regulated insurance industry requires us to have some trust in the regulators and I have no trust in the government to regulate the industry to the degree that they would need to be regulated. They just wouldn't do it.

[flpoljunkie]

22. Insurance companies are heavily regulated in Switzerland and they can sell supplemental policies.

The question is would Congress agree to heavy regulate insurance company profits when lobbyists for health care industry lobbyists line their campaign coffers and even serve as fundraising chairmen--for both parties, of course.

Special interests 'frankly own the place.' - Dick Durbin speaking about the banking industry.

[jillan]

7. I love how the first thing he did was to tell them he appreciated their passion.

And that people should show passion.

What an excellent way to calm them down.

[WillyT]

10. Comics Are Used To Dealing With Hecklers... K & R !!!

Who knew his former occupation would come in so handy???

GO SENATOR FRANKEN!!!

:woohoo:

:kick:

[Raine]

33. Yup and stupid on their part

not to realize that! :evilgrin: :thumbsup:

[Politicub]

12. Had a fantasy once of being swarmed by teabaggers

And then the GOP variety came along and ruined it.

B-)

[jefferson_dem]

15. Dude!

:spray:

You ain't right. :hi:

[Politicub]

18. LOL :-) I know... too much information

O8)

[asdjrocky]

25. I'm so stupid.

I had to read it twice before I understood. That's just sick. And funny.

[RidinMyDonkey]

16. That's my Senator!

He's been amazing so far. I hope this video goes viral :woohoo:

[Doremus]

17. He got some facts wrong and I wasn't thrilled with the way he portrayed Medicare

He made it sound like Medicare is crooked and inefficient.

He's trying to win over a group of tea bagging repukes who, after all his groveling, probably walked away mumbling epithets at him.

[flpoljunkie]

19. Medicare patients are over treated for profits--to their detriment and ours.

Franken was great.

[Doremus]

30. But there is no similar waste with private insurance?

Of course there is.

His repeated emphasis that "this was caused by MEDICARE!!!" gave those repukes yet one more thing to hammer on "socialized medicine" about. Did you see their eyes pop out when he said that?

The point he was (lamely) trying to make is that outcome-based care is less costly and more efficient regardless of who is administering it. It would have been nice if he could have expressed that thought without dragging Medicare into it.

Medicare has quite a bit LESS waste than private insurance but those people and god knows how many others who've watched the video think it's just the opposite now. :mad:

Franken should watch a few Anthony Weiner interviews before taking on rabid teabaggers again.

[Richardo]

24. Yeah, he should have just told them all to fuck off.

That's the DU way :patriot:

Oh, wait, he's out in the real world being an effective representative, not sitting at a keyboard spewing anonymous invective and inane labels like 'Repukes'.

There IS some fraud and inefficency with Medicare. How could he credibly argue that?

[Doremus]

31. How could he credibly argue that Medicare has less waste than private insurance?

Just say so. It's the truth.

[Phx_Dem]

23. I guess it takes a former comedian to show the politicians how to

deal with constituents.

Nice job, Al!

[MarjorieG]

32. Enough gigs with hecklers taught him well.

[phleshdef]

27. After seeing that, Franken needs to be put out front and center in the healthcare debate.

[LittleClarkie]

28. "Teabagging" has more than one meaning

Just sayin'

I'm fending off an unsavory image even as we speak. And losing I might add.

[RollWithIt]

29. They don't seem like an "Angry Mob" or "Teabaggers"

That group seemed to have valid concerns. They were respectful. He was respectful. It went well. Wish there was more of that.

[Arkana]

34. Wow, he's fantastic at that.

I think being a very controversial liberal figure has given Franken experience dealing with angry, stupid mobs.