Al Franken : The Rakish Interview

Gore Vidal said people always wanted him to be a candidate for office, and he said he wouldn’t because he couldn’t be both a novelist and a politician; one is supposed to tell the truth as he sees it, and the other one has to make sure not to give away the show. Is that why you don’t run?

Not really. It’s just that I don’t know if I’d be very good at being a public official.

What are your plans? Will you be on TV, “punditing” about the upcoming elections?

I think I may be on radio.

There’s talk about a new liberal talk-radio station or syndicate being launched by AnShell Media, and that you’ll be involved. Will we know for sure in the next year?

Yes, definitely. Probably in the next couple of months.

Who else might be involved?

There are a lot of names they’ve been throwing around. Possibly Joe Lockhart—President Clinton’s former press secretary.

In your book you had help from “TeamFranken,” a group of Harvard students you worked with at the Kennedy School. Will you all be hanging out together for the upcoming election and helping out the Democrats?

People have dispersed a little bit because some graduated either from the Kennedy School or the college and there’s some in Washington now. TeamFranken, as an entity, is still talking on the Internet. I mean, we’re emailing each other, but this was a one-time project. But I think there will be members of TeamFranken who will be working with me on the radio show.

I understand Stuart Smalley is joining us now. Stuart, you’re a spiritual guy—in a twelve-step program—what did you think
when you read Lies and saw that it was actually God that commissioned Al to write the book?

Stuart Smalley: Well, I think Al accessed his Higher Power by meditating, and I think that’s a great thing. I think that’s what, you know, meditation is for. It’s one of the most successful meditations I’ve ever heard of.

Any reaction from God on the success of the book?

No, He hasn’t talked to me about it.

According to the book, everybody seems to think there’s something wrong with Ann Coulter—even God! Do you have any twelve-step wisdom to offer her at what must be a difficult time?

Well, I have just seen her a couple times on TV and I’ve read Al’s book. I don’t know what it is—if she’s a rage-aholic. I don’t know why she’s the way she is. You know, I don’t want to take her inventory.

Do you have any affirmations that you could give to George W. Bush?

Well, let me see. For W, it would be, “Hello, me. I am fun to be with. The majority of the people didn’t vote for me, but that’s OK. Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, I overcame my drinking problem.” I think that would be a good one for him.