Franken: 'If Republicans Take Over Congress, They'll Implement A Truly Dangerous Agenda' [View All]

[NJmaverick]

Las Vegas -- Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) last night told progressive activists and bloggers that they have a responsibility to stay engaged during the crucial midterm elections -- lest they allow Republicans to not just roll back the Obama administration's real gains, but enact an agenda he called "dangerous." Franken then acknowledged that it's a tough election year but, especially in Sen. Harry Reid's home state, Reid (D-NV) shouldn't be underestimated.

Franken credited conservatives for being motivated to reverse the gains progressives have made over the past five years, pointing out that corporations have pledged $200 million during this election cycle and "one oilman, one guy, gave Karl Rove $1 million for attack ads." He warned participants that, in addition to all of that, the Citizens United decision -- the very mention of which earned boos from the crowd -- means that "corporations now spend unlimited amounts of money... can now spend unlimited sums of money directly attacking candidates who try to stand up to them." He pointed out that the Senate would be different without its current leadership and many of its progressive darlings -- and that the House would be different with Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) as speaker, a mention that also earned boos from the crowd.

Franken acknowledged the frustration and disappointment of the crowd with the pace of change in the Senate, pointing out that he supported the public option, immigration reform and public financing of elections, too. He then went on to cite the progressive successes of the Senate, from the expansion of health coverage to 32 million more people, to the cap on profits and administration costs for insurance companies, and from the Volcker rule to the open trading of derivatives. In an interview with TPM before the speech, Franken endorsed Elizabeth Warren for the new Consumer Protection agency created with the financial reform law. He also said many of the things within health care reform he discussed during his 2008 campaign against Sen. Norm Coleman (R).

Franken then added that, while there might be a majority of Democrats, there's hardly a majority of progressives -- and those that are there aren't satisfied with the pace. But he said that, no matter how frustrated the netroots are with Democrats, they shouldn't "check out now" -- because Republicans want to repeal everything that's been achieved even as progressives bemoan what hasn't been achieved yet.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/franken-republican-agenda-dangerous-video.php?ref=fpa