Stewart...run from celeb endorsements, Franken takes credit for Kerry.

[madfloridian]

Did I hear Jon Stewart and Al Franken doing a bit of subtle bashing today? Stewart says candidates should run from celebrity endorsements, makes fun of Clark and Dean. He doesn't point out that Franken worked hard for Kerry.

Franken obviously feels and takes credit for Kerry's turnaround.
http://www.the-hamster.com/mtype/archives/000688.html
SNIP..."Franken Kerry's Secret Weapon
So speculates the gossipers Rush and Malloy in the NY Daily News:

Could Al Franken have been John Kerry's secret weapon in the Democratic primaries?

In December, the humorist convened a cadre of New York know-it-alls -including Time managing editor Jim Kelly, Eric Alterman from The Nation, the New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg and political historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. - to meet Kerry at a private gathering at his upper West Side apartment.

SNIP..."When the candidate and comedian met again seven weeks later, Kerry's nomination was looking secure.

"I told him I'm taking credit for the turnaround," Franken said. "He said, 'I knew you would.' "

Fair is fair, guys. Important reminder: Clark and Dean are not running anymore. Ok?

[mouse7]

1. Franken and "turnaround"... Franken is a comedian. It's a joke.

you know, like the Al Franken decade?

[blondeatlast]

3. So much for the rumor that Kerry has no sense of humor.

JK got the joke, someone else missed it. I won't say who...

[patricia92243]

2. i BELIEVE kENNEDY WAS HIS SECRET WEOPEN.

[JI7]

5. kerry had many "not so secret" weapons, including kennedy

also were his wife, children, the firefighters, and his vietnam vet buddies. and you saw some of his biggest consistent supporters on here like blm and petenyc. people who know him well or were long time supporters of him as a public figure stuck by him through it all and worked very hard. we know many of the dean supporters wrote personal letters to people in iowa on why they should support dean, but some of kerry supporters did the same also. especially veterans who wrote to other vets and families with service members on why they should support kerry. and of course kerry himself worked hard and even lost his voice on the day of the iowa caucuses.

[JI7]

4. Franken favored Kerry, but he never endorsed him, and this was a joke

just like on air america when franken asked if he wants have discuss the vp thing. and kerry responds by saying something like "you mean whether you will accept being my vp"?

[madfloridian]

6. The meeting was an endorsement in the mind of most.

Franken was of course joking when he said the words, just as I am sure Stewart was joking in poking fun at Clark and Dean for their celebrity endorsements.

The meeting was not a joke, and it was never considered a joke.

[JI7]

8. it was never an endorsement in the minds of most, franken had raised money

for dean also. but i know franken had always favored kerry as did james carville.

[madfloridian]

9. The meeting was not about money.

Carville definitely favored Kerry, as they see eye to eye on the Chavez situation. I do not agree with either of them.

This post was about poking fun at the endorsements of other candidates while not acknowledging one's own role.

[sangha]

7. Thief!!!

I'm the one who deserves credit for the turnaround! After all, I came up with the slogan "John Kerry - The Real Package" which, as everyone knows, led to his comeback.

[Bombtrack]

10. If Kerry has anyone to thank, it's Christie Vilsack

Which makes me fear Kerry will pick her husband as a reward, despite the fact that he's extremely unlikely to help in anywhere other than Iowa, in my opinion.

[jpgray]

11. Bullshit. Franken was also punching out disruptors at a Dean rally

He wasn't endorsing anyone during the primary, until after March 2nd.

[JI7]

12. yup

he never endorsed kerry until after he already had it.