WASHINGTON, D.C. — Comedian turned tax scofflaw Senate candidate Al Franken has a record of not playing by the rules. Including the rules he sets for others. So the latest example shouldn’t come as a surprise for voters.

Under the issues section of Franken’s Senate campaign web site, below the heading “accountability,” Franken’s campaign says: “If we are going to entrust government with our hard-earned tax dollars and the responsibility of providing security and opportunity for our families, we must demand accountability.” (Al Franken for Senate web site, http://www.alfranken.com/pages/accountability/, Accessed 5/5/08)

It couldn’t be a more fitting line if Al tried. If Minnesota voters are going to entrust Al Franken with their hard-earned tax dollars and the responsibility for providing security and opportunity for their families, they are going to demand accountability.

So on that count, it’s only appropriate that Franken come clean to Minnesota voters on his tax situation prior to 2003. Does Franken really expect voters to believe his accountant of 18 years only started making mistakes five years ago?

In fact, not coming clean on all the issues is already hurting Franken. In a new poll out today, 51 percent of those surveyed think Al Franken should drop out of the Senate race. (KSTP, http://kstp.com/article/stories/S433443.shtml?cat=89,5/5/08)

“Al Franken may have mixed up accountant and accountability,” NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. “If Franken is going to demand accountability from government officials, and he wants to be one of them, it’s only fair that he demand accountability from himself.

“Making jokes isn’t going to get Al Franken out from under the mound of questions stacking up,” Fisher added. “Al Franken needs to come completely clean.”