Published Nov. 10, 2003, in the Kansas State Collegian

Story by Matthew Webber

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Nobody picketed Al Franken on Friday evening.

Instead, his blend of stand-up comedy, political speech and book tour earned him a standing ovation from the capacity crowd in McCain Auditorium.

Franken, a former writer and performer for "Saturday Night Live," riffed on marriage, being Jewish and politics throughout his 90-minute performance.

Franken never masked his liberal views. A few audience members walked out of the auditorium early, but most laughed loudly at all of his jokes.

After the performance, the author of the current bestseller, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," signed books and posters for the dozens of audience members who waited in line, selling out his supply of books.

Franken began his performance by asking if Fred Phelps was in the audience. Franken said Phelps, the creator of the "God Hates Fags" Web site, and his group picketed him a few years ago when he performed at the University of Kansas.

When a KU student told Franken before his show about the protesters, he went outside to talk to them. Franken asked them if God really hates homosexuals. The confrontation amused Phelps, who said he thought Franken was funny, even though he disagreed with everything he represented.

This led to a series of jokes about members of the Christian Coalition, whom Franken said make his job as a comedian a lot easier.

"Thank God for Jerry Falwell," he said.

When the Jewish Franken heard Falwell say the anti-Christ was a living, Jewish male, Franken said he was curious who it was.

"I knew it wasn't me," he said.

He called White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer a "chimp" and said President Bush has proved "there's more to being president than simply being articulate, knowledgeable and intelligent." When he mentioned Attorney General John Ashcroft, the audience booed.

Although the "Stuart Smalley" actor mostly made fun of conservative politicians and pundits, he also poked fun at the Clinton family and Al Gore.

He said he liked several Republicans, including Sen. John McCain and former Sen. Bob Dole, whose "ironic detachment" he said he finds amusing.

Franken mostly stayed behind a podium for his speech, but he strutted to the front of the stage and grabbed his crotch to imitate Bush's infamous flight suit stunt.

His monologue about sending the elderly into space to save money for both the Medicare and NASA budgets inspired some of the evening's longest laughter.

In a more serious moment, he said he feels a tide is turning in America because people are angry at the president. He said after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the American people were more unified than he had ever seen them, but Bush squandered an opportunity to bring them together through "mutual purpose and mutual sacrifice."

He said Bush "hijacked 9/11 for his own purposes," which included tax cuts for the rich and repeated terror warnings.

The orange terror level is "the highest level at which you're encouraged to go to the mall," he said, while with red, "you're encouraged to buy online."

In addition to telling jokes, Franken advertised his book, which he said "makes a great gift."

Franken joked about the Fox News Channel lawsuit against him for infringing upon their "Fair and Balanced" trademark, which he said "was literally laughed out of court."

"The transcript reads like a play called 'The Lawyer's Nightmare,'" he said.

When he finished his speech, he asked the audience if they wanted an early start to the book-signing or a question-and-answer session. When an audience member yelled "Stuart!" Franken gave the audience a "Daily Affirmation."

Removing his glasses and walking to the front of the stage, he asked the audience to repeat after him.

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it..."

Franken paused to let the audience finish his famous catch phrase.

"People like me."

Then Franken continued.

"And doggone it, we're gonna take this state for the Democrats."

The audience stood to cheer.

Michael McCollum, senior in architecture, said he shared some of Franken's viewpoints and that the performance was "very entertaining."

"I thought it was very interesting and definitely politically minded," he said. "It was good to hear people speak up about lies and things that happen in the media."

He said his favorite moment was when Franken discussed the Fox lawsuit.

"He knew that he had the First Amendment and that basically this was a flawed case from the beginning."

Amber Schmitt, sophomore in family life and community services and natural resources and environmental sciences, was an usher for the performance. She said she thought Franken was funny.

"He picks on everybody," she said. "It's pretty even, and pretty funny."

She said none of Franken's content surprised her.

"When you come into this kind of show, nothing really surprises you very much. You kind of expect it all to be a little kooky."

Jennifer Luck, graduate student in theater at the University of Kansas, drove to Manhattan just to see Franken. She said she liked hearing Franken's liberal viewpoints.

"I thought it was hysterical," she said. "I thought it was great. I just got through reading (Michael Moore's) 'Dude, Where's My Country?' so it's very, very similar. I really enjoyed it.

"I think the Fred Phelps stuff was probably my favorite moment, just because we get that so much in Lawrence."