Franken: Clinton should ‘move on’ from election loss
Sen. Al Franken told Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric Thursday that Hillary Clinton should “move on” from her failed presidential bid.
The Minnesota senator’s remarks come a day after Clinton told a tech conference she was unfairly targeted during the 2016 campaign, arguing the media paid more attention to her own personal scandals than reports of Russian interference in the election.
“I love Hillary. I think she is very prepared to be president of the United States … and I think she has a right to analyze what happened, but we do have to move on,” Franken said. “We have to move on by proving we are the party that cares about a lot of the people who voted for Donald Trump.”
Franken used Trump’s health care proposal as an example, noting that more Americans “say they have seen a ghost” than approve of the American Health Care Act.
“We are the ones fighting for average, working people,” Franken said.
He also criticized Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, calling the move to leave the landmark climate deal “sad” and “stupid.”
“Every other country in the world, except Syria and Nicaragua, has signed on. … This is an existential threat to us, to the rest of the world,” Franken said. “This is an enormous threat to the national security.”
Countering the argument Trump made when explaining his decision to pull out of the accord, Franken argued that the deal would boost the American economy.
“Renewable energy is cheaper than coal,” he said. “Coal jobs ain’t coming back.”
Franken’s interview comes as part of a tour promoting his new book, “Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.” The former “Saturday Night Live” comedian also reflected on the role of humor in the current political landscape and praised the show for its most recent season.
“I think it was great,” Franken said, adding that he most enjoyed actor Melissa McCarthy’s portrayal of Sean Spicer.
“I just went ‘holy mackerel,’” he said. “This is a classic and it was hilarious.”
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