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Franken: Let’s take back America
Published 03:58 p.m., June 11, 2008
MaryJane Westra stood on a chair inside Barringer’s Coffee House in downtown Fergus Falls waving a check in the air.
The check, she said, represented the first Otter Tail County donation to U.S. Senate hopeful Al Franken’s campaign since the DFL candidate won the party nomination Saturday, June 7 in Rochester.
Moments later Franken himself took to the chair. Standing above the 100 or so DFL supporters that filled the small downtown restaurant, Franken took the check from Westra and proclaimed, “This is the best introduction I have ever received.”
Franken stopped in Fergus Falls Tuesday on his four-day "Standing up for Minnesota" tour.
Franken told Otter Tail County supporters that it is clear that there is a re-emerging majority ready to take America back. That fact is no more clear than in Minnesota where 250,000 Minnesotans showed up in cramped quarters earlier this year to cast their votes in the Minnesota caucuses.
“We have a new, progressive majority and know what we want,” Franken said.
The answer came from the crowd gathered to listen to Franken.
“Universal healthcare,” were the words shouted by many in the audience.
Franken also committed to helping rebuild the middle class labor force if elected and playing a role in creating a “green economy.”
“Addressing global warming, preserving the environment and decreasing our dependency on foreign oil — that’s what a green economy is about,” Franken said.
Also important to Franken is a world class education for everyone in Minnesota.
“This is important to all of our kids so they can go out and compete in the 21st century economy,” Franken said to the roar of supporters.
Franken also said the United States must restore its standing in the world by getting out of Iraq and bringing our troops home.
“We are a great nation when we are nice,” Franken said.
Invading other nations and engaging in war is not nice, he said.
Before leaving Fergus Falls, Franken asked for supporters’ help in electing him to Washington.
“We have to get up early and stay up late,” Franken said.
“We have to knock on doors until our feet are tired, and then phone bank when we’re done.”
“We have to do this not just for ourselves, but for the other 5 million Minnesotans. “
“(Senator) Norm Coleman has sold people out to get ahead. It’s time someone in the Senate from Minnesota takes this job seriously.”
Franken vowed to be that person.
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