born american comedian actor politician writer currently junior united_states senator minnesota known 1970s 1980s writer performer television comedy saturday night live decades comedic actor writer prominent liberal political activist elected united_states senate narrowly defeating incumbent republican senator member minnesota democratic affiliate democratic_party born new_york_city moved minnesota later went east_coast attended writing partner developed interest theatre high school hired writer inception worked writer performer returned leaving wrote acted movies television shows hosted nationally syndicated political radio talk wrote books political critical conservative politics ran minnesota close race trailed incumbent votes statewide manual required election declared winner margin votes election contest subsequent lawsuit unanimously upheld victory june sworn july elected second term office early life education born new_york_city printing salesman real estate agent paternal grandparents emigrated germany maternal grandfather came maternal grandmother parents russian_empire family moved minnesota years old father hopes opening factory years factory failed family moved minnesota suburb minneapolis graduated member wrestling team attended government graduating cum bachelor_of_arts older brother owen cousin bob journalist began performing high school friend long time writing partner known humor performed stage minneapolis brave new workshop theater specializing political satire soon found described life near total failure fringes business los_angeles saturday night live davis recruited original writers occasional performers saturday night live season apprentice writers shared salary week received seven emmy nominations awards television writing producing creating characters self help guru routine proclaimed 1980s decade davis wrote script comedy film saturday night appearing rock singers band called bad mouth appeared minor roles need cash film trading places near end season delivered commentary called lame mocked controversial nbc president total failure displayed chart showing poor ratings nbc programs result sketch refused request succeed producer prompting leave michaels end season later returned writer occasional performer acknowledged cocaine working television business left protest losing role anchor second stint memorable recurring roles hosted daily wrote original screenplay starred film critical commercial failure depressed following movie failure aggregate rating rotten_tomatoes stuart saves family receive number favorable reviews including washington_post author books new_york_times best seller list books published book lies lying tell fair balanced look right satirical book american politics book title incorporated slogan fair balanced included cover photo commentator august year sued claiming infringement registered trademark phrase federal judge found lawsuit wholly merit incident fox focused media attention book according greatly increased sales effect publicity resulting lawsuit propelled released book signed year contract early host talk flagship program host remained october network launched march originally named factor renamed july aired hours day days week years stated goal provide public progressive views counter perceived dominance conservative syndicated commentary radio want use energies bush told new_york_times reporter radio february end announced candidacy united states senate wrote film man loves woman created starred nbc sitcom appeared remake served fellow harvard contributor huffington_post toured iraq times march presented metro merit award years involvement organization political activism prior election according article published time way running office late 70s hinted possibly ironic role relentless self promoter proclaiming 1980s decade saying vote glad released parody book detailing hypothetical campaign president strong supporter minnesota senator deeply affected senator death plane crash shortly election mentor political personal role model stating hopes following late senator footsteps said learned americans received news talk radio exclusively conservative medium didn want sit believed difference november talked moving home state minnesota run senate time seat held occupied republican announced minnesota tell honestly don know going run stuff need order late started political action committee called midwest values early raised million subject documentary film god spoke according new_york_times investigation phenomenon ideological celebrity initially supported iraq war opposed troop surge interview said believed presentation united_nations convinced war necessary come believe war urged controlled congress refuse pass bills fund war don include leaving iraq interview said democrats think got president cutting funding won agree favors transitioning universal health care system provision child america receive health care coverage immediately objects efforts cut benefits favors raising cap wages taxes apply campaign website voiced support cutting subsidies oil companies increasing money available college students cutting interest rates student loans election new_york state officials asserted failed carry required workers compensation insurance employees assisted comedy public speaking paid fine state new_york advised corporation compliance state workers compensation laws time reported corporation owed taxes fines associated penalties state california corporation file tax returns state years representative said followed advice believed corporation stopped business california filing required subsequently paid income taxes states dating speeches paid appearances said paid income tax state residence seek credit paying taxes wrong states elections january announced departure day final february formally announced candidacy united states senate minnesota challenging democratic farmer labor party endorsement professor author activist candidates trial lawyer attorney human rights activist dropped race earlier won nomination vote july campaign stated expected announce raised money republican opponent second quarter year taking million million early july million cash hand exceeded million late released letter article written playboy entitled porn letter signed prominent women including state senator state representative called apologize referred article campaign spokesman responded long career understands difference senator senator people minnesota putting ahead working families funny june endorsed convention july interview cnn endorsed noted entertainer lawyer author known conservative views generally supports republican candidates said pal capable smart guy don agree positions impressive guy think senate campaign senate criticized advising creator political sketch senator john_mccain ads attacking barack_obama presidential election campaign reacted saying proves interested entertainment service preliminary reports election night november ahead votes official results certified november leading votes candidates separated percent secretary state minnesota authorized automatic stipulated minnesota election law ballots materials examined hand candidates file challenges legality ballots materials inclusion exclusion regard january certified recounted vote totals ahead votes january campaign filed election contest led trial judge panel trial ended april panel ruled disputed ballots incorrectly rejected ordered counted counting ballots raised lead votes appealed april april agreed hear case oral arguments conducted june june unanimously rejected appeal said entitled certified winner shortly court decision conceded governor signed election certificate evening elected second term faced primary challenger winning nomination august won election republican vote tenure sworn senate july days election sworn bible late minnesota senator old seat set aside senate leaders august presided confirmation vote year later august presided confirmation vote piece legislation wrote jointly republican passed senate unanimous consent established program pair disabled veterans service dogs video began circulating internet september engaging discussion group protesters health care reform soon went viral discussion noted contrast explosive character discussions members constituents occurred summer debate health care reform strongest supporters single system authored amendment called medical loss ratio affordable care act required insurance companies spend actual health care costs rising large group plans june reported amendment saved consumers billion resulted nationwide billion million september voted remove provision repeal medical device tax government funding bill says favor provision disagreed condition preventing federal government citing case offered amendment bill defense contracts companies restrict employees taking workplace sexual assault battery discrimination cases court passed november roll vote proposed financial reform legislation amendment create board select credit rating agency evaluate given security currently companies issuing security select company security amendment passed financial industry lobbied amendment removed final bill negotiations senate house version financial reform include provision resulted amendment require series studies issue years studies implemented solution conflict interest problem solution effect august faces hand gestures rolled eyes senate minority leader delivered speech opposition confirmation actions prompted remark isn saturday night live following confirmation delivered apology issued public statement saying right speech presiding officer listening reported supports data mining programs believing saved lives assure american people declared intention seek election seat thought target republicans slim margin victory previous election reported high approval rating large war chest republicans struggle find tier candidate meant heavy favorite win election view subsequently confirmed election won comfortably associated_press noted contrary expectations sought media spotlight rarely talks washington press corps shed comedic persona focused policy working taken seriously interviews expressed desire known focusing constituency work keeping head working hard committee assignments forests mining water power committee health education labor competition policy consumer rights constitution civil rights human rights privacy technology law ranking member books cds non fiction good smart people like daily isbn rush big fat idiot observations press isbn inside story making presidency isbn things know guide success isbn lies lying tell fair balanced look right isbn truth jokes isbn cds compilations best democracy money buy high finance factor factor best factor album filmography electoral history personal life met wife year college moved minneapolis minnesota children daughter degrees harvard director extended learning prep organization washington manages charter schools son joseph works finance industry second cousin late actor known appearances television series loves received award work fight
Al Franken