|
|
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
|
|
Franken wraps up busy day with stop in Baxter
Staff Writer BAXTER - Labor Day brought U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken to Baxter.
Franken was the keynote speaker to close the Brainerd Trades and Labor Union's annual Labor Day picnic at Oscar Kristofferson Park. Despite Monday's heat and wind, more than 150 people came to the park for the picnic and to hear Franken and other politicians speak.
Franken's arrival at the picnic was greeted with fanfare from those attending, especially when he jogged through the crowd giving high-fives and shaking hands. Though the picnic itself was nonpartisan, a majority of those attending wore shirts or stickers of support for Democratic candidates ranging from Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, to presidential candidate Barack Obama.
In a brief speech, Franken touched on several campaign issues: health care for all citizens, the need for renewable energy, the need for better funding for education, improving the economy and cutting taxes for the middle class.
"What really creates prosperity here in America is when the middle class is doing well," said Franken, who is challenging Sen. Norm Coleman in November's election.
|
|
|
|
Destanie Jarvela clapped while DFL Senate candidate Al Franken delivered his speech Monday at the Brainerd Trades and Labor Union Labor Day picnic at Oscar Kristofferson Park in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/ Steve Kohls
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
|
|
|
|
|
"We've dug ourselves a hole the last eight years, but you know what, there's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed with what's right with Americans. But first we've got to stop digging."
Franken, a former writer and performer on "Saturday Night Live", also included humor in his speech, relating a story of his parents telling him and his brother of the importance of getting an education to "save the western world." His brother attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, received a degree in physics and became a photographer. Franken attended Harvard and became a comedian, which was "a tragedy for them, but everything turned out OK. He also encouraged his supporters to put his bumper sticker on their cars, "and for the next 64 days not cut anyone off" in traffic.
Barb Anderson, husband Reggie Anderson and a friend, Carol Rose, were among those who attended. All three said they liked what they heard from Franken.
"I think for me, the best thing I heard from him was about taking back working class," Barb Anderson said. "I think that's been forgotten about the last few years."
"Looking at words he said, it's about the people. That's the biggest thing," added Rose, who celebrated her 60th birthday at the picnic.
Baxter was the last stop Monday for Franken, who earlier in the day participated in a parade in Cloquet and held a news conference in Duluth with Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., to unveil a stimulus proposal that he said would create 150,000 jobs. After that, he spoke at an AFL-CIO Labor Day picnic in Duluth.
The hectic schedule was important, Franken said, because he not only wanted to get his message across, but to listen to the concerns of as many Minnesotans as possible.
"It's absolutely crucial because we're a big state, and a diverse state in terms of economic underpinnings," Franken said. "But there are some things everyone has in common - they want affordable, quality health care, and education is a huge issue, especially in a community like Brainerd, where the school referendum failed."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
|
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
Loading...
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
