Thursday, June 05, 2008

Josh Kraushaar

Politico’s The Crypt Blog

The backlash from key Democratic leaders against comedian Al Franken’s Senate campaign is not subsiding, with the latest criticism coming from the abortion-rights group Planned Parenthood, a normally reliable supporter of Democratic candidates.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Planned Parenthood’s senior legislative director Connie Perpich sent an e-mail to state Democratic legislators raising concerns about a 10-year-old explicit article he wrote for Playboy magazine in 2000.

“We certainly support First Amendment rights of all Americans, but do believe these comments have gone beyond the bounds of what is appropriate for any candidate for elected office,” Perpich wrote. “If half of these allegations are true, it is very difficult for us to foresee the Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Action Fund Board endorsing the candidacy of anyone with such extreme perspectives.”

The article has already drawn sharp criticism from Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), who said that she is not planning on endorsing Franken in the general election.