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If you've been waiting to see how Republican TV ads will hit Al Franken on his tax troubles, an Iowa-based political action committee is happy to give you a web preview of the U.S. Senate campaign's fall attractions.
To the sound of a laugh track and rollicking music — could it be klezmer? — the American Future Fund ad begins "Al Franken thinks he's funny."
As wacky/angry/pissy Franken cutouts pop up, the ad hits him on "amnesty for illegal immigrants," "refusing to pay worker's comp" (italics mine) and not paying California income taxes for five years.
"But he wants you to pay higher gas taxes," the ad zings as the laughs turn to groans. "If Franken gets his hands on your money, the joke is on you. ... urge him to pay his own taxes before asking you to pay more."
It's a pretty effective piece of stagecraft, especially if you hate amnesty and infrastructure. Earlier this season, the same group ran an ad urging folks to thank Norm Coleman for getting I-35W bridge money from the feds.
Wait — didn't federal gas taxes help fund that largess? Anyway, here's the laff riot. — David Brauer