What's So Funny About Being A Senator?

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Al Franken took his oath of office on Tuesday to officially become a United States Senator from Minnesota. And he did it with a straight face.

Now, I know it must come as a huge disappointment to those of you who expected Franken to play the fool once he entered the Senate, just because he used to be a satirist and comedian. Of course, there are also some of you who believe Congress has enough fools, and that Franken is simply the latest.

What Franken will be dealing with in the Senate does not lend itself to humor: Being part of the Judiciary Committee in confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, approving a second stimulus package because the current one doesn't seem to be working, and debates over health care and energy policy.

This is not to say Senator Franken can't still be himself at times. He'll just save his brand of humor for private parties, off-the-record briefings, and anywhere else the public and media are not invited.

One thing Senator Franken can do to improve his image is to not make himself the butt of jokes. All he has to do is to take a look at the recent travails of outgoing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, and Nevada Senator John Ensign. Or, for that matter, anyone who happens to be in the Republican Party at the moment.

Senator Franken isn't the first person trained in the art of comedy to play it straight, whether it's in entertainment or real life. Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Foxx, among others, have won awards and critical praise for their work in dramatic roles. Standup comics such as Bill Cosby, Janeane Garofalo and Dick Gregory have dabbled in political activism. And there are comedians who have been known to make serious points in their humor.

The people of Minnesota elected Franken their Senator because they liked his positions on the things that mattered to them, not because they thought it might be cool to elect a funny politician. Franken has six years to prove the voters right, and for everyone else to see him as more than just a funny face.