Comedian Al Franken announced his candidacy for the United States Senate yesterday (like all new candidates) via a YouTube video. Whatever you may think about the Air America host and x-Saturday Night Live writer, you can't argue with his language. Franken's announcement is an embodiment of the power of the Opportunity Frame over the conservative frame of individual responsibility.
This comes through most vividly when Franken is describing his wife's family's climb out of poverty, and how government programs such as Social Security Survivor Benefits and Pell Grants gave them the tools they needed to lift themselves up.
Best quote:
Conservatives say that people need to lift themselves up by their bootstraps, and I agree. That's a great idea. But first you've got to have the boots. And the government gave my wife's family the boots. That's what progressives like me believe the government is there for.
It's very reminiscent of the messages we produced during the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Government is there to help provide the basic tools that we need to secure opportunity for ourselves and our families. To provide the resources to start over when misfortune befalls us. It's a great message, grounded in our notion of America as a land of opportunity, where everyone has a fair chance to succeed, and its a great speech by Franken. You can watch the whole speech below.
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