During Vietnam, I was in college, enjoying my student deferment. The government wisely felt that, in my case, military service was less important than completing my studies to prepare me for my chosen career: comedian.
Al Franken

There’s an appeal to the American sense of exceptionalism, that we’re morally superior, as way to not be self-critical. I think that’s a bit dangerous.
Al Franken

For 35 years, I was a writer. I wrote a lot of jokes. Some of them weren’t funny. Some of them weren’t appropriate. Some of them were downright offensive. I understand that.
Al Franken

When you win an election, what you really win is a chance to go to work for working families who need a voice in Minnesota.
Al Franken

There’s plenty of room for humor in politics, God knows, but it’s a serious business.
Al Franken

I am a Minnesotan, and not just because I root for the Vikings and the Twins. I like the Minnesota-nice sensibility. I like the liberal tradition; I like the Hubert Humphrey tradition fighting for civil rights.
Al Franken

If you look at terrorists, they really have no sense of humor.
Al Franken

My dad loved comedians, especially George Jessel, and he loved Henny Youngman and Buddy Hackett.
Al Franken

My dad didn’t graduate from high school, ended up being a printing salesman, probably never made more than $8,000 a year. My mom sold real estate and did it part time.
Al Franken

I hope you realize, in a democracy, laughter is assent.
Al Franken

I want to reclaim ‘liberal.’ I’m a liberal, and I think most Americans are liberals.
Al Franken

I’m the New York Jew who actually grew up in Minnesota.
Al Franken

I know I have an awful lot to learn from the people of Minnesota.
Al Franken

My daughter became a teacher right out of college.
Al Franken

Minnesotans lost their jobs because the credit rating agencies didn’t do the only job they’re supposed to have, the only job they had, which is to give accurate, objective ratings to financial products.
Al Franken

Humor and seriousness are not in opposition to each other.
Al Franken

If someone hacks your password, you can change it – as many times as you want.
Al Franken

You can’t change your fingerprints. You have only ten of them. And you leave them on everything you touch; they are definitely not a secret.
Al Franken

Let’s not let the government sell us out. Let’s fight for net neutrality.
Al Franken

If 98 out of 100 doctors tell me I’ve got a problem, I should take their advice. And if those two other doctors get paid by Big Snack Food, like certain climate deniers get paid by Big Coal, I shouldn’t take their advice.
Al Franken

We need to start by having a conversation about climate change. It would be irresponsible to avoid the issue just because it’s uncomfortable to talk about.
Al Franken

Why don’t we focus on what Afghan women can do? They can cook, bear children and pray. As I recall, that was fine for our grandmothers.
Al Franken

The Fourth Amendment doesn’t apply to corporations.
Al Franken

If you use Facebook – as I do – Facebook in all likelihood has a unique digital file of your face, one that can be as accurate as a fingerprint and that can be used to identify you in a photo of a large crowd.
Al Franken

You might not like that Facebook shares your political opinions with Politico, but are you really going to delete all the photos, all the posts, all the connections – the presence you’ve spent years establishing on the world’s dominant social network?
Al Franken

The way I see it, I’m not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator. I’m going to Washington to be the second senator from the state of Minnesota.
Al Franken
Going, Way, Washington