With comedian Al Franken set to run for the U.S. Senate from Minnesota, Blogcritics takes a bipartisan look at other Hollywood celebs - along with sports stars - who have served in Congress. It's a rather bipartisan and eclectic group of pols.
So maybe having a political humorist won't be such a bad thing after all. At least Franken's material had to be researched based on the issues, which is more than we can say many others did with their pre-Congressional careers.
The one exception to that objection is former Republican Senator Fred Thompson, who served as co-chief counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee prior to becoming an actor. That experience may be why Senator Thompson once quipped, "After two years in Washington, I often long for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
If he wins, Franken wouldn't be the first political humorist to win elective office. He wouldn't even be the best-educated and most experienced political humorist to win a seat in DC. <strike>That would be Ben Stein.</strike> (Editor's update: Phhhtttt! Wrong! Ben Stein never served in Congress. I checked. Though Stein would make a great congressman. Not sure why BlogCritics said he served three terms. The writer of the piece is a liberal, so I don't think it was wishful thinking!)
As for the aforementioned Fred Thompson, he isn't running president, though he's the dream choice for many a conservative Republican.
Photos: AL Franken, credit NGPSoftware.com. Ben Stein official photo.
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