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{{Short description|American lobbyist, attorney, and politician (born 1949)}} | |||
{{dablink|See ] for the former secretary of Agriculture.}} | |||
{{For|the former Secretary of Agriculture|Norman Jay Coleman}} | |||
{{Infobox Senator | name=Norm Coleman | |||
{{redirect|Senator Coleman}} | |||
| nationality=american | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2012}} | |||
| image name=Norm Coleman official portrait.jpg | |||
{{Infobox officeholder | |||
| jr/sr and state=Junior Senator, ] | |||
| name = Norm Coleman | |||
| party=] | |||
| image = NormColemanCrop2.jpg | |||
| term=January ]–Present | |||
| alt = Coleman in 2005 | |||
| preceded=] (2 months) ] | |||
| caption = Official portrait, 2005 | |||
| succeeded=Incumbent (2009) | |||
| jr/sr = United States Senator | |||
| date of birth=], ] | |||
| state = ] | |||
| place of birth=], ] | |||
| term_start = January 3, 2003 | |||
| dead=alive | |||
| term_end = January 3, 2009 | |||
| date of death= | |||
| predecessor = ] | |||
| place of death= | |||
| successor = ] | |||
| spouse=] | |||
| office1 = 52nd ] | |||
| religion=] | |||
| term_start1 = January 1, 1994 | |||
| term_end1 = January 1, 2002 | |||
| predecessor1 = ] | |||
| successor1 = ] | |||
| birth_name = Norman Bertram Coleman Jr. | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|8|17}} | |||
| birth_place = New York City, U.S. | |||
| party = ] (1996–present) | |||
| otherparty = ] (before 1996) | |||
| spouse = {{marriage|Laurie Casserly|1981}} | |||
| children = 4 | |||
| education = ] (])<br />] (]) | |||
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Norm Coleman on the Threat of Iran.ogg|title=Norm Coleman's voice|type=speech|description=Norm Coleman speaks on the threat of ]<br />Recorded March 2, 2006}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Norman Bertram |
'''Norman Bertram Coleman Jr.''' (born August 17, 1949) is an American politician, attorney, and lobbyist. From 2003 to 2009, he served as a ] for ]. From 1994 to 2002, he was mayor of ]. First elected as a member of the ] (DFL), Coleman became a ] in 1996. Elected to the Senate in 2002, he was narrowly defeated in his 2008 reelection bid. {{as of|2024}}, he is the most recent Republican to have represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. | ||
Born in New York City, Coleman was elected mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota's capital and second-largest city, in 1993 as a member of the Democratic Party. A liberal Democrat in his youth, Coleman shifted to conservatism as an adult. After conflicts with the Democratic Party over his conservative views, Coleman joined the Republican Party. He was reelected mayor a year later as a Republican. While serving as mayor, he was the Republican nominee in the ], but lost to former professional wrestler and third-party candidate ]. As mayor of Saint Paul, he helped return the ] to ] through the ] after an almost decade-long absence. | |||
==Biography== | |||
Coleman was born to a ]ish family in ], ], Coleman received his ] from ] and ] with high honors from the ]. His wife, aspiring actress ], lives in ]. They have two children, Jacob and Sarah. Two other children died during infancy (Adam, 1983; Grace, 1992) from a rare ] known as ]. | |||
Coleman challenged incumbent Democratic Senator ] in the ]. After Wellstone died in a plane crash a few weeks before the election, he was replaced on the ballot by former Vice President ]. Coleman defeated Mondale by over two points. He sought reelection in ]. In one of the ] in the history of the Senate, he lost to former comedian ] by 312 votes out of over three million cast (a margin of just over 0.01%). Since his defeat, Coleman has been a lobbyist and chairs both the ] and the conservative ]. | |||
==2002 Senate election== | |||
==Early life and education== | |||
Coleman campaigned in 2002 for the ], after being persuaded by ] not to run again for ]. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in ], narrowly defeating former ] ], who entered the race within days of the election after Sen. ] died in a plane crash. Coleman succeeded ], who was appointed by Governor ] to serve the remaining two months of Wellstone's term. | |||
Coleman was born in ], the son of Norman Bertram Coleman Sr. and his wife, Beverly (Behrman).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EFD608545553BB0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |title=Coleman's continuum |date=February 23, 1997 |work=]}}</ref> His family is Jewish, his paternal grandfather having changed the surname from Goldman to Coleman.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5E22D83A5248E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |title=The showman//St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman knows how to put himself in the center of attention. Where some see a savvy politician, others see a self-serving opportunist whose ambition is to be governor |newspaper=] |date=October 26, 1997}}</ref> He was a graduate of ] in Brooklyn and ] on ]. | |||
In college, Coleman was an active member of the 1960s ] and a liberal ]. "Carting a bullhorn around campus, he'd regularly lecture students about the immorality of the ] and the ]."<ref name=War>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Demko |url=http://www.citypages.com/2007-09-05/news/war-torn/1 |title=Minneapolis News – War Torn September 7, 2007 |website=Citypages.com |date=September 5, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041237/http://www.citypages.com/2007-09-05/news/war-torn/1/ |archive-date=June 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He was elected president of the student senate during his junior year. Under Coleman, the senate refused to ratify the newspaper's editor and her co-editor and cut some funding to the newspaper. But after refusing to swear in the editor on four different occasions, the senate finally backed down.<ref name=War/> Coleman celebrated his 20th birthday at the ], and later admitted to smoking ] in his youth.<ref name="Politicalblogs.startribune.com">{{cite web |url=http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=762 |title=The Big Question » Blog Archive » Coleman's press secretary responds to marijuana open letter |work=] |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124110128/http://politicalblogs.startribune.com/bigquestionblog/?p=762 |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="startribune 2007">{{cite web |last=Kersten |first=Katherine |url=http://www.startribune.com/kersten/story/1521184.html |title=Unknown article title |work=] |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102084759/http://www.startribune.com/kersten/story/1521184.html |archive-date=November 2, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He worked as a roadie for ] and ], among others.<ref name="startribune 2007" /> | |||
==2008 Senate election== | |||
Coleman attended ] from 1972 until 1974 but received his ] from the ] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=20239 |title=Norm Coleman's Biography |website=Votesmart.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
Radio talk show personality and comedian ] has announced that he may run for Coleman's Senate seat in the 2008 election. | |||
== |
== Career == | ||
After graduating from law school, Coleman joined the office of the Minnesota Attorney General as a prosecutor, eventually rising to chief prosecutor and then solicitor general. | |||
Coleman is a member of four Senate committees including the ], the ], and the ]. He is also Chairman of the ]. In 2004 Coleman campaigned for the chairmanship of the ] (N.R.S.C.), but was narrowly defeated for the post by North Carolina Senator ] in a close 28-27 vote. Coleman's Northstar Leadership PAC made over $200,000 worth of contributions to other Republican senators that were up for reelection during his failed campaign for the NRSC chair. | |||
=== Mayor of Saint Paul (1994–2002) === | |||
==Coleman's politics== | |||
Coleman left the attorney general's office upon being elected ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/mn_coleman.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021221212345/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/mn_coleman.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 21, 2002 |title=MN Coleman |website=PBS.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> One of his first acts as mayor was the elimination of underfunded retirement health benefits for city workers.<ref name="startribune.com">{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Duchschere |url=http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=30872369 |title=Norm Coleman: Pragmatist – or opportunist? |work=]|date=October 13, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
] | |||
One of Coleman's accomplishments as mayor was to bring professional ] back to Minnesota. In 1993 the ] moved to ], Texas. On June 7, 1997, the NHL awarded St. Paul an expansion franchise, later named the ], that would play in a new arena downtown at the site of Civic Center Arena. The arena, later named the ], was built through a public-private partnership, with $65 million from state taxpayers and $30 million from the city.<ref>Council approves hockey plan, Associated Press, June 7, 1997.</ref><ref>MN: Carlson Makes Deal With Legislature, Bulletin Broadfaxing Network, April 10, 1998.</ref> | |||
Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, Coleman was a liberal ] and was actively involved in the ] of the early 1970s. He ran for student senate and opined in the school newspaper that his fellow students should vote for him because he knew that "these conservative kids don't fuck or get high like we do (purity, you know)... Already the cries of motherhood, apple pie, and ] reverberate thorough the halls of the Student Center. Everyone watch out, the 1950s bobby-sox generation is about to take over." | |||
Coleman also successfully fought property tax increases, freezing property tax rates<ref name="startribune.com"/> for the eight years he served as mayor. During his mayoralty, St. Paul's job rate grew by 7.1% and 18,000 jobs were added.<ref name="startribune.com" /> | |||
He was once suspended from Hofstra University for participating in a ] protest against the 1970 ]. When first elected mayor of the ] in 1993, Coleman was a DFLer and considered left-of-center politically, but gradually shifted to much more conservative positions on many issues during his tenure. | |||
While many praised Coleman for his "pragmatic"<ref name="startribune.com" /> leadership style and successes in revitalizing St. Paul, critics labeled him an "opportunist", and he was often at odds with the Democratic Party's more liberal members. In 1996 he was sometimes booed at DFL party events or excluded from them altogether.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Shea |first=Jennifer L. |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2009/01/07/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-norm-coleman |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Norm Coleman |work=] |date=January 7, 2009 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
While running for Mayor of Saint Paul in 1993, Coleman wrote in a letter to the City Convention Delegates: "I have never sought any other political office. I have no other ambition other then to be mayor." He goes on in the same letter to say: | |||
Coleman joined the Republican Party in 1996 and was reelected mayor of St. Paul in 1997, defeating Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nominee State Senator ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Berke|first=Richard L.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E6D91130F936A35752C1A961958260|title=The 1997 Elections: Mayoral Races; For Incumbents in Cities, Celebrations Came Easily |work=]|date=November 5, 1997|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> He is, as of 2024, the last Republican mayor of St. Paul. | |||
<blockquote>'''I am a lifelong Democrat'''. Some accuse me of being the fiscal conservative in this race -- I plead guilty! I'm not afraid to be tight with your tax dollars.</blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>Yet, my fiscal conservatism does not mean I am any less progressive in my Democratic ideals. From Bobby Kennedy to George McGovern to Warren Spannaus to Hubert Humphrey to Walter Mondale -- my commitment to the great values of our party has remained solid.</blockquote> | |||
===1998 gubernatorial campaign=== | |||
In December 1996, Coleman announced he was leaving the DFL party to join the ]. Coleman cited his views on ] and ] as factors in the switch. Some of Coleman's critics in Minnesota speculated that his switch was motivated by his known aspirations for statewide office -- something that would have been difficult considering distrust of him by DFL party leaders. Coleman was re-elected in 1997 despite being a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Coleman's current political positions generally range from centrist to conservative. | |||
{{See also|1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election}} | |||
While announcing his party switch, Coleman said that he "didn't intend" to run for governor in 1998.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=12ZKAAAAIBAJ&dq=Norm+Coleman+Democrat+Republican&pg=PA2&article_id=3639,864907 |title=The Vindicator |date=December 19, 1996 |publisher=The Vindicator |year=1996 |language=en}}</ref> But his role in ] to Minnesota and his popularity in St. Paul did help fuel a run for governor that year. He easily won the Republican nomination, facing just token opposition in the primary. In the general election, he faced DFL nominee ] and ] nominee ]. Polls had Coleman and Humphrey tied for first,<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 1998 |title=NEW POLL: HUMPHREY, COLEMAN IN DEAD HEAT |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5E348CDCDBD3E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020022307/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5E348CDCDBD3E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |website=St. Paul Pioneer Press}}</ref> but Ventura won the election in an upset, with 37% of the vote to Coleman's 34.3% and Humphrey's 28.1%. | |||
Ironically, prior to becoming a Republican and running against him in 2002, Coleman chaired Paul Wellstone's Senate re-election campaign in 1996. While making the Wellstone nomination speech at the 1996 state DFL convention, Coleman stated: "Paul Wellstone is a Democrat, and I am a Democrat." At this point in time, tensions were so high between Coleman and the DFL party that a number of delegates at the convention were loudly booing Coleman's speech. | |||
===U.S. Senate (2003–2009)=== | |||
{{main|2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota}} | |||
] in 2005]] | |||
] in 2005]] | |||
Coleman made plans for a second run for governor in 2002, but ] and ] persuaded him to challenge incumbent Senator ] in ] instead. Coleman had served as Wellstone's campaign chair in ], shortly before his decision to switch to the Republican Party.<ref name=":0" /> Coleman easily won the Republican nomination. | |||
Coleman and Wellstone were neck-and-neck in most polls for most of the campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zdechlik|first=Mark|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200209/18_zdechlikm_senpoll/index.shtml|title=Wellstone, Coleman race remains tight, poll says|work=]|date=September 18, 2002|access-date=April 4, 2007}}</ref> On October 25, Wellstone died in a plane crash. The Democrats chose former Vice President ] to replace Wellstone on the ballot. Mondale had held the same Senate seat from 1964 to 1977. Coleman defeated Mondale by just over 61,000 votes out of over 2 million cast. He succeeded ], whom Ventura had appointed to serve the remaining two months of Wellstone's term. | |||
Coleman is a member of the ]. | |||
In April 2003, Coleman told a Capitol Hill reporter that he was a "99% improvement" over Wellstone because he had a better working relationship with the ]. Many Wellstone supporters found this offensive and insulting, and at least one member of Congress urged Coleman to apologize. Coleman issued an apology, explaining that he was referring specifically to the reporter's question about the differences between his and Wellstone's relationship with the White House, and saying in part, "I would never want to diminish the legacy or memory of Senator Paul Wellstone, and I will accept full responsibility for not having been more accurate in my comments."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0408-07.htm|title=Coleman Should Apologize for Wellstone Remark, Congresswoman Says|website=Commondreams.org|date=April 8, 2003|access-date=June 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524204059/http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0408-07.htm|archive-date=May 24, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2004 Coleman campaigned for the chairmanship of the ] (NRSC), but was defeated for the post by Senator ] in a 28–27 vote.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} | |||
===Positions on abortion and stem-cell research=== | |||
Sen. Coleman currently identifies himself as being ] – he universally opposes ]. At one time he was ], but he has campaigned as pro-life since at least 1993.{{fn|1}} Coleman attributes his position on abortion to the death of two of his four children in infancy from a rare genetic disease. He supports stem cell research, but only using adult stem cells and stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. | |||
===2008 reelection campaign=== | |||
===Position on gay rights issues=== | |||
{{main|2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota}} | |||
Coleman opposes the legal recognition of ]s or ]s by either the federal or state governments. | |||
*As mayor of St. Paul, Coleman voted against an effort to repeal a city law which prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. | |||
*Coleman later refused to sign a city proclamation celebrating the annual ] festival. | |||
*While running for Governor of Minnesota in 1998, Coleman's campaign ran radio ads that attacked his DFL opponent ] for his support of same-sex marriage. | |||
*In his 2002 Senate campaign, Coleman pledged support for a proposed amendment to the ] that would ban any state from recognizing either same-sex marriage or similar civil unions. | |||
*In 2004, Coleman voted to end a bipartisan filibuster on that proposed amendment to the Constitution (Senate vote 155, July 14, 2004). The vote failed 48-50. He voted again with proponents of a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in June 2006. | |||
In 2008, Coleman's opponents for reelection were ] and the ] nominee, former ] host and comedian ]. On the day after the election, Coleman led in the counted votes and claimed victory in the race. Minnesota law requires an automatic recount when the margin between the leading candidates is less than 0.5% of the vote,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/33829369.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr |title=Title unknown |work=] |date=November 5, 2008 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713082909/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/33829369.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O%3ADW3ckUiD3aPc%3A_Yyc%3AaULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr |archive-date=July 13, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and the margin between Coleman and Franken was about 0.01%. Barkley came in third with 15%. | |||
===Ties to the George W. Bush administration=== | |||
The initial results of the recount put Franken ahead by 225 votes out of almost 2.9 million votes cast.<ref name=MNSOS>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races=%27%27|title=General Election Results|publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State|date=November 18, 2008|access-date=November 19, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120032829/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&R=all&P=A&Races=%27%27|archive-date=November 20, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On December 24, 2008, Coleman's lawyers said it was a "virtual certainty" that he would contest the results of the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/coleman-camp-lawsuit-a-virtual-certainty-2008-12-24.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225081233/http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/coleman-camp-lawsuit-a-virtual-certainty-2008-12-24.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 25, 2008 |title=Coleman: Lawsuit a 'virtual certainty' |website=] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
Critics of Coleman in Minnesota argue that he campaigned on using bipartisan efforts to "get things done" in the Senate, but in his first year in office he voted with President Bush's position on bills 98 percent of the time (according to ] statistics). | |||
Coleman's term expired on January 3, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090102/pl_politico/17005;_ylt=AkIc.JyLX7H8IPB6WAprup6yFz4D |title=Coleman may lose office until election is decided |website=] |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> On January 5, Franken was certified as the winner of the recount by 225 votes. Coleman filed a legal challenge of the results<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37093114.html |title=Board certifies recount results with Franken on top |work=]|date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304201817/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37093114.html |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> on January 6,<ref name="contest">{{cite web|url=http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=3409|title=Minnesota Senate Seat Election Contest|publisher=Minnesota Courts|date=January 6, 2009|access-date=January 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226082736/http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=3409|archive-date=December 26, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mncourts.gov/Documents/0/Public/Other/2008%20Elections/Notice_of_Contest.pdf |title=Notice of Contest |publisher=Minnesota Courts |date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2009}}</ref> and a three-judge panel was seated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/whepolitics/national/senate/37445384.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUxWoW_oD:EaDUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyU |title=As judges named, Minn. Senate legal fight grows |work=] |date=January 12, 2009 |access-date=January 15, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> | |||
Coleman became the lead Senate Republican defender of White House Deputy Chief of Staff ] amid allegations of him illegally leaking the name of a covert ] operative. Rove reportedly convinced Coleman on behalf of the Bush Administration to seek a Senate seat in 2002 instead of running again for governor of Minnesota. {{citeneeded}} In December 2005, Coleman voted for a budget bill that cut funding from a number of programs, but kept funding for sugar beet farmers in Minnesota after Rove advocated the change. Coleman told '']'' that he wouldn't vote for a bill that cut sugarbeet funding but "Karl Rove called me and asked what I wanted. A few hours later it was out of the bill." | |||
On February 3, the panel allowed Coleman to introduce evidence that as many as 4,800 ] were wrongly rejected and should be counted. The Franken campaign had tried to limit Coleman to bringing evidence on only the 650 absentee ballots cited in the initial court filing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/38890229.html |title=Senate recount trial judges put 4,800 more ballots in play |work=] |date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207142143/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/38890229.html |archive-date=February 7, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
On ], ] Sen. Coleman called on President Bush to replace or reorganize his staff, stating that they didn't sufficiently have their "ears to the ground" on matters like ], ]' failed ] nomination, and the ] and accusing the administration of having a "tin ear." . He stated that they showed inadequate "political sensitivity" in their handling of the issues. | |||
On April 1, the panel ordered that an additional 400 absentee ballots be examined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/03/31/trial_ruling/ |title=Court ruling makes Coleman win unlikely | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ |publisher=Minnesota.publicradio.org |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> After examining the 400 ballots on April 6, the panel ordered that an additional 351 ballots be opened and counted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/06/countingballots/ |title=Number of Minn. Senate ballots that may count drops | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ |publisher=Minnesota.publicradio.org |date=April 6, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> On April 7, the additional 351 ballots were opened and counted before the panel and a packed courtroom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/07/recounttrial/ |title=Coleman's odds of winning shrink with new ballot tally | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ |publisher=Minnesota.publicradio.org |date=April 7, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Franken got an additional 198 votes, Coleman gained 111, and other candidates received 42, increasing Franken's lead to 312 votes. | |||
===Position on CAFTA free trade agreement=== | |||
Senator Coleman expressed reservations about supporting CAFTA (]) unless the interests of the domestic U.S. ] industry (including Minnesota's ] industry) were accommodated. He voted in favor of CAFTA after obtaining quotas imposed on foreign sugar until 2008. He stood behind President Bush on ] ], as the trade agreement was signed into law. "This is a 3 year insurance policy that I have purchased for my sugar farmers..." he said. | |||
On April 13, the three-judge panel issued its final ruling, sweeping aside all of Coleman's legal claims and declaring Franken the winner of the race by 312 votes. In its unanimous decision, the panel said, "The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately", and that Franken should be issued a Certificate of Election.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424060250/http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/60825/COLEMANvFRANKENfinalfindingsoffact.pdf?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c%3A%3AD3aDhUxWoW_oD%3AEaDUiacyKUUr |date=April 24, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Pat |last=Doyle |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html |title=Judges rule Franken winner; Coleman to appeal |publisher=] |date=April 15, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418213143/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html |archive-date=April 18, 2009 }}</ref> The panel ruled that Coleman had failed to prove that mistakes or irregularities in the treatment of absentee ballots had changed the election's outcome.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/14/coleman_appeal/ |title=Coleman attorney: Appeal won't come this week | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ |publisher=Minnesota.publicradio.org |date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
===Position on drilling in ANWR=== | |||
On ] ], Senator Coleman voted to end debate on a defense appropriations bill that included oil exploitation in the ] (ANWR) after having pledged in 2002 to oppose such drilling. He stated that he did so because although he planned to vote against the bill, he didn't believe that a filibuster was warranted. In spite of this, many environmental advocacy groups (most notably the Sierra Club) viewed his vote as a betrayal of his promise. His vote notwithstanding, the filibuster held, and Coleman voted to strip the ANWR provision from the bill in a subsequent vote. | |||
Coleman ], which heard oral arguments on June 1.<ref name="MNSC-ruling-Apr24">{{cite web|url=http://www.mncourts.gov/Documents/0/Public/Other/2008%20Elections/Order4.24.09.pdf|title=ORDER for briefing schedule|publisher = Minnesota Supreme Court|date=April 24, 2009|access-date=April 26, 2009}}</ref> On June 30, the court unanimously ruled in Franken's favor, declaring him the winner of the election, whereupon Coleman conceded.<ref name="Fox-ruling-Jun30">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/minnesota-high-court-rules-franken-senate-battle/ |title=Minnesota High Court Rules for Franken in Senate Battle |date=June 20, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2009 |work=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703000705/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/minnesota-high-court-rules-franken-senate-battle/ |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> | |||
==Investigations Subcommittee and Galloway Testimony== | |||
In December 2004, in connection with his position of Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Coleman called for ] ] ] to resign because of the "UN's utter failure to detect or stop Saddam's abuses" in the UN's ] program and because of fraud allegations against Annan's son relating to the same program. In May 2005 Coleman's subcommittee held hearings on their investigation of abuses of the UN Oil-for-Food program, including oil smuggling, illegal kickbacks and use of surcharges, and ]'s use of oil vouchers for the purpose of buying influence abroad. These hearings covered certain corporations, several well-known political figures, but are much remembered for the appearance of British ] ] in which the MP responded forcefully to the allegations. | |||
====Deep Marine Technology and corruption allegations==== | |||
"We have your name on Iraqi documents, some prepared before the fall of Saddam, some after, that identify you as one of the allocation holders," Coleman accused. "I am not now nor have I ever been an oil trader" retorted Galloway, stating that the charges were false and part of a diversionary "smoke screen" by pro-Iraq war U.S. politicians to deflect attention from the "theft of billions of dollars of Iraq's wealth... on your watch" that had occurred not during the Oil-for-Food program but under the post-invasion ] by "Haliburton and other American corporations... with the connivance of your own government." Galloway claimed that the subcommittee's dossier was full of distortions and rudimentary mistakes, citing, for example, the charge that he had met with ] "many times" when the number was two. This unusual appearance of a British MP before a US Senate committee drew much media attention in both America and Britain. | |||
While running for reelection in 2008, Coleman was mentioned in a Texas lawsuit by Paul McKim, CEO of Deep Marine Technology (DMT), against Nasser Kazeminy. Kazeminy was a longtime Coleman supporter who owned a controlling share of DMT.<ref name=autogenerated6>*</ref> The petition alleged that Kazeminy had used DMT to funnel $75,000 or more to Laurie Coleman through her employer, Hays Companies, in order to enrich Senator Coleman. McKim's petition covered several issues, of which the Coleman matter was only one. Coleman's 2009 Senate financial disclosure form disclosed that Laurie Coleman received a salary from Hays Companies, but Senate rules do not require the salary amount to be revealed.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/41952432.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DUs?xid=rss-page |title=''Star Tribune'' – Exec says Coleman donor ordered $100K payments – March 26, 2009 |publisher=] |date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330054539/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/41952432.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O%3ADW3ckUiD3aPc%3A_Yyc%3AaUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DUs%3Fxid%3Drss-page |archive-date=March 30, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Neither Coleman nor his wife was named as a defendant in the suit.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> On October 31, minority shareholders in DMT filed a related suit in Delaware Chancery Court. The Delaware suit also alleged that Kazeminy had used DMT to funnel unearned funds to Laurie Coleman through Hays Companies. As in the Texas case, the Colemans were not named as defendants.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://harpers.org/archive/2008/11/hbc-90003792 |title=Second Lawsuit Filed Against Senator Coleman's Friend |first=Ken |last=Silverstein |author-link=Ken Silverstein |date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=November 10, 2018 |magazine=]}}</ref> | |||
Coleman was not charged with any crime regarding allegations of corruption in receiving gifts of $100,000 from Kazeminy. Doug Grow, a '']'' columnist, expressed skepticism about Coleman's attorneys' claim that the lack of charges meant that Coleman and Kazeminy were not guilty of any wrongdoing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_11180391?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com|title = FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says|date = December 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name=MinnPost>{{cite news |last=Grow |first=Doug |date=2011-06-14 |title=Investigations clear Norm Coleman, businessman Nasser Kazeminy of wrongdoing, attorneys say |url=http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2011/06/investigations-clear-norm-coleman-businessman-nasser-kazeminy-wrongdoing-att |newspaper=] |access-date=2015-02-03}}</ref> Coleman responded with a campaign ad in which he denied the allegations and blamed them on Franken.<ref>* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224205057/http://www.mnblue.com/norms+new+ad+lies+to+distract |date=December 24, 2008 }}</ref> | |||
The Majority Staff of the subcomittee prepared a subsequent report pertaining to Galloway which was released in October, 2005. It elaborates on the allegations and evidence of the committee and includes disputed testimony from former Iraqi foreign minister ]. It also alleges that another officer of ], Galloway's then-wife, received $150,000 in oil kickbacks, which she denies. Sen. Coleman pushed these reports to the US ], the ], the Washington DC and New York ], the UK ], and the ]. As of ], ] none had seen fit to pursue charges. | |||
In June 2011, the ] decided not to file charges against Coleman or Kazeminy.<ref>{{cite news|last=von Sternberg|first=Bob|title=Coleman, Kazeminy vindicated|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/123834654.html|access-date=July 26, 2011|newspaper=]|date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> ], an attorney for Kazeminy and a former ] in the Clinton Administration, said he learned the Justice Department had ended the investigation in a February 24 meeting with Andrew Levchuk of the department's Public Integrity Section in Washington.<ref>{{cite news|last=Albert|first=Mark|title=Coleman, friend, claim "vindication"|url=http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2156010.shtml?cat=1|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=KSTP, Minnesota|date=June 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Kessler">{{cite news|last=Kessler|first=Pat|title=No charges in case that roiled '08 campaign|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/06/14/no-charges-in-case-that-roiled-08-senate-race/|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=]|date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> | |||
On ], ], Sen. Coleman responded to criticism that he had insufficiently investigated the ] for sanctions busting, saying that there were legal and cost hurdles. | |||
Kazeminy hired Freeh to conduct an independent investigation of all charges. He concluded that there was no wrongdoing or impropriety by the Colemans or Kazeminy.<ref name="Kessler"/> Freeh said that both his investigation and a separate Deep Marine board investigation concluded McKim had made false claims in an attempt to force a larger ] out of Deep Marine.<ref name="Kessler"/> '']'', questioning Freeh's impartiality, reported that nine days after Freeh's investigation cleared Kazeminy of wrongdoing, Kazeminy gave Freeh's wife a one-half ownership stake in a Palm Beach property valued at $3 million.<ref name=Intercept>{{cite web |url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/12/31/winner-war-terror-financed-dream-home-2014-giveaway/ |title=And the Winner of the 'War On Terror' Financed Dream Home 2014 Giveaway Is… |last1=Silverstein |first1=Ken |author-link=Ken Silverstein |date=2014-12-31 |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=2015-02-03}}</ref> McKim's allegations were repeated hundreds of times in local and national media reports during the waning days of the 2008 election in what Coleman called "multi-million-dollar attacks against my family and Nasser Kazeminy".<ref>{{cite news|last=Grow|first=Doug|title=Investigations clear Norm Coleman, businessman Nasser Kazeminy of wrongdoing, attorneys say|url=http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2011/06/14/29156/investigations_clear_norm_coleman_businessman_nasser_kazeminy_of_wrongdoing_attorneys_say|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=]|date=June 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719064456/http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2011/06/14/29156/investigations_clear_norm_coleman_businessman_nasser_kazeminy_of_wrongdoing_attorneys_say|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
==Coleman in the media== | |||
On ], ] Sen. Coleman said that he would introduce a bill that would ban foreign companies from operating ports in the United States. His political opponents have criticized him for inconsistency, because of his votes against some increases in port security funding before the ]. | |||
Freeh says McKim later prepared an affidavit that would have recanted his allegations against the Colemans and Kazeminy in exchange for a financial settlement. He concluded that McKim had a clear motive to use false allegations as leverage to enrich himself.<ref name="McCormack">{{cite news|last=McCormack|first=John|title=DOJ closes investigation of former senator Norm Coleman and Nasser Kazeminy|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/fbi-closes-investigation-former-senator-norm-coleman-and-nasser-kazeminy_574641.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617044949/http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/fbi-closes-investigation-former-senator-norm-coleman-and-nasser-kazeminy_574641.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 2011|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=]|date=June 14, 2011}}</ref> McKim still questioned the legitimacy of insurance payments and said he had done nothing wrong, but another of Kazeminy's attorneys said his client had not ruled out future litigation against McKim.<ref>{{cite news|last=Albert|first=Mark|title=Coleman Accuser: 'I have done nothing wrong'|url=http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2158026.shtml?cat=1|access-date=July 27, 2011|newspaper=KTSP, Minnesota|date=June 15, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320062758/http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2158026.shtml?cat=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
On ], ], in a meeting of the ] of which Coleman is a member, during testimony of former ] director ], Coleman attacked Brown for poor leadership during ] disaster relief efforts, "you didn't provide the leadership, even with structural infirmities." Coleman went on, "you're not prepared to kind of put a mirror in front of your face and recognize your own inadequacies" and "the record reflects that you didn't get it or you didn't in writing or in some way make commands that would move people to do what has to be done until way after it should have been done." Brown responded combatively, "well, Senator, that's very easy for you to say sitting behind that dais and not being there in the middle of that disaster, watching that human suffering and watching those people dying and trying to deal with those structural dysfunctionalities" and implored Coleman to stick to questions. He later likened Coleman's charges to a "drive-by shooting." Brown had recently stated that he notified ] and the White House of the tremendous scale of Katrina flooding earlier than had been previously reported. | |||
A columnist at '']'' wrote, "it is possible that the allegations against Coleman may have handed victory to Al Franken."<ref name="McCormack"/> | |||
== Post-political career == | |||
] | |||
In January 2009, Coleman became an adviser to and board member of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thealexandriaindependent.com/politics/?id=171 |title=As Recount Drags On, Coleman Takes a New Job |last=Fecke |first=Jeff |date=January 22, 2009 |publisher=The Alexandria Independent |access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220536/http://thealexandriaindependent.com/politics/?id=171 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Republican Jewish Coalition Biographies| url=http://www.rjchq.org/About/bioslisting.aspx| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816005459/http://www.rjchq.org/About/bioslisting.aspx| archive-date=August 16, 2011| df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
After Minnesota Governor ] announced he would not seek reelection in 2010, it was widely anticipated that Coleman would run for governor in the ]. Polling conducted in late 2009 showed him as the favorite among Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|first=Rachel E. |last=Stassen-Berger |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/70292657.html |title=Poll: Coleman is GOP favorite for governor |work=] |date=November 17, 2009 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Eric |last=Kleefeld|date=November 16, 2009|url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/poll-norm-coleman-is-frontrunner-for-gop-nomination-for-governor-of-minnesota.php |title=Poll: Norm Coleman Is Frontrunner For GOP Nomination For Governor Of Minnesota|publisher=Tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com}}</ref> But on January 17, 2010, Coleman announced that he would not run, saying, "The timing on this race is both a bit too soon and a bit too late. It is too soon after my last race and too late to do a proper job of seeking the support of delegates who will decide in which direction our party should go. The commitments I have to my family and the work I am currently engaged in do not allow me to now go forward."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1369366.shtml?cat=1 |title=Coleman Not Running for Governor |publisher=Kstp.com |date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523095215/http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1369366.shtml?cat=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
==Electoral history== | |||
*'''2002 Race for U.S. Senate''' | |||
**Norm Coleman (R), 49.53% | |||
**] (DFL), 47.34% | |||
In 2010, Coleman became chairman and CEO of the ], which he co-founded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/10/15/walz-coleman/ |title=Walz wants Coleman to disclose funders behind new ads | Minnesota Public Radio News |publisher=Minnesota.publicradio.org |date=October 15, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> He was considered a front-runner for the position of ] in 2010 in the event that incumbent ] did not seek reelection. Coleman said he would not run for the chairmanship if Steele ran for reelection, and did not after Steele announced his candidacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wallbank |first1=Derek |last2=Brucato |first2=Cyndy |date=2010-12-14 |title=With Steele in, Norm Coleman says he will not run for RNC chairman |url=https://www.minnpost.com/dc-dispatches/2010/12/steele-norm-coleman-says-he-will-not-run-rnc-chairman/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
*'''1998 Race for Governor''' | |||
**] (Ref.), 37% | |||
**Norm Coleman (R), 34% | |||
**] (DFL), 28% | |||
In 2013, Coleman confirmed he would not challenge Franken in the ]. He also declined to run against Governor ] in the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2013-03-07 |title=Former U.S. Sen. Coleman passes on any 2014 run |url=https://www.startribune.com/former-u-s-sen-norm-coleman-won-t-run-for-any-office-in-2014/196241141/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> | |||
*'''1997 Race for Mayor (St. Paul, MN)''' | |||
**Norm Coleman (R) (inc.), 59% | |||
**] (DFL), 41% | |||
=== Lobbying career === | |||
*'''1993 Race for Mayor (St. Paul, MN)''' | |||
In April 2011, Coleman joined ], an international legal practice, as senior government advisor in its Washington D.C. office.<ref name="Amlawdaily.typepad.com">{{cite web|url=http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2011/04/colemanhoganlovells.html |title=Ex-Senator Norm Coleman Joins Hogan Lovells |publisher=Amlawdaily.typepad.com |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> He stepped down as leader of the Government Relations and Public Affairs practice at Hogan Lovells in January 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/477592-ex-sen-norm-coleman-to-step-away-from-leadership-role-at-lobbying-firm/|title=Ex-Sen. Norm Coleman leaving leadership role at lobbying firm|last=Gangitano|first=Alex|date=2020-01-10|website=]|language=en|access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref> but remains a senior counsel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norm Coleman|url=http://www.hoganlovells.com/en/norm-coleman|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.hoganlovells.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
**Norm Coleman (DFL), 55% | |||
**] (DFL), 44% | |||
Coleman is on the National Advisory Council for the ], a bipartisan committee that promotes international engagement and includes every living former U.S. secretary of state.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} He also works as a lobbyist on behalf of the government of ].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/181674/saudi-lobbying-complex-adds-new-member-gop-super-pac-chair-norm-coleman |title=The Saudi Lobbying Complex Adds a New Member: GOP Super PAC Chair Norm Coleman |magazine=] |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=September 24, 2014}}</ref> In 2024, he was among the Hogan Lovells lobbyists ] hired to navigate legal scrutiny of ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oprysko |first=Caitlin |date=2024-01-11 |title=Norm Coleman lobbying on US Steel sale |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/01/11/norm-coleman-lobbying-on-us-steel-sale-00135163 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
*{{fnb|1}} '']'', ], ], "Mayoral hopeful pits self against the city's DFL establishment" | |||
* 1993 Letter from Norm Coleman to the Saint Paul City Convention Delegates - addressed: "Dear DFL Ward Convention Attendee." | |||
== |
==Political positions== | ||
Coleman's politics have changed dramatically during his political career. | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
*Information from ] | |||
** | |||
** | |||
** | |||
** | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
=== College === | |||
{{start box}} | |||
In college Coleman was a liberal ] and actively involved in the ] of the early 1970s;<ref>{{cite web |last=Kersten |first=Katherine |url=http://www.startribune.com/local/11592331.html |title=Katherine Kersten: Who'd believe Coleman celebrated 20th birthday at Woodstock? |publisher=] |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607061456/http://www.startribune.com/local/11592331.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web |last=Perron |first=Jake |url=http://www.mndaily.com/2007/10/29/republicans-chameleons-or-elephants |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613190243/http://www.mndaily.com/2007/10/29/republicans-chameleons-or-elephants |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |title=Republicans: Chameleons or elephants? | mndaily.com – Serving the University of Minnesota Since 1900 |publisher=mndaily.com |date=October 29, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref> he was once suspended for leading a ] protest.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2002-11-06-coleman_x.htm | work=] | title=Ex-roadie traveled political spectrum | first1=Tom | last1=Kenworthy | date=November 6, 2002 | access-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> He ran for student senate and opined in the school newspaper that his fellow students should vote for him because "These conservative kids don't fuck or get high like we do (purity, you know) ... Already the cries of motherhood, apple pie, and ] reverberate through the halls of the Student Center. Everyone watch out, the 1950s bobby-sox generation is about to take over."<ref name=autogenerated4 /><ref name="Norm's Conquest"/> | |||
{{succession box | title=] | before=] | after=] | years=]–]}} | |||
{{succession box | title=] | before=] | after=Incumbent | years=]–<br><small>Served alongside: ]}} | |||
{{end box}} | |||
=== Becoming a Republican === | |||
{{MN-FedRep}} | |||
While running for mayor in 1993, Coleman wrote in a letter to the City Convention Delegates: "I have never sought any other political office. I have no other ambition other than to be mayor." In the letter he wrote: | |||
<blockquote>I am a lifelong Democrat. Some accuse me of being the fiscal conservative in this race—I plead guilty! I'm not afraid to be tight with your tax dollars. Yet, my fiscal conservatism does not mean I am any less progressive in my Democratic ideals. From Bobby Kennedy to George McGovern to Warren Spannaus to Hubert Humphrey to Walter Mondale—my commitment to the great values of our party has remained solid.</blockquote> | |||
In 1996, Coleman chaired ]'s Senate reelection campaign. In his nomination speech at the 1996 state DFL convention, Coleman said, "Paul Wellstone is a Democrat, and I am a Democrat." Tensions were so high between Coleman and the DFL party at the time that a number of convention delegates loudly booed Coleman's speech.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/12_zdechlikm_coleman|title=''Coleman could get boost from Bush in Senate bid''|publisher=News.minnesota.publicradio.org|date=February 11, 2002|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
In December 1996, Coleman announced he was leaving the DFL to join the Republican Party. He cited his frustrations with the Democratic Party and his belief that the Republican Party offered the best chance to continue his efforts to hold the line on taxes and grow jobs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asktheussenators.com/-senator~75/Norm+Coleman.html?op=profile&id=75&st=0 |title=Norm Coleman - Minnesota Senator |access-date=2007-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011102244/http://www.asktheussenators.com/-senator~75/Norm+Coleman.html?op=profile&id=75&st=0 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>'']'', December 19, 1996, "Republicans welcome Coleman; Kemp, Carlson hail mayor's defection"</ref> | |||
Coleman's critics, mostly DFL party leaders, speculated that his switch was motivated by aspiration to statewide office.<ref>{{cite news|work=] |date=December 18, 1996 |title=Norm Coleman Leaving DFL; Gleeful Republicans Prepare a Welcome}}</ref> As an abortion opponent and a frequent adversary of public employee unions, Coleman was at odds with the DFL leadership. In a letter to supporters announcing the switch, he wrote, "while the political party I belong to changes, nothing about how I govern or what I believe changes at all."<ref name="pro">'']'', December 18, 1996, "Coleman to leave DFL: Kemp, Carlson to welcome St. Paul mayor"</ref> He was reelected mayor of St. Paul in 1997 with nearly 60% of the vote. | |||
=== As senator === | |||
Coleman was a member of the ]. In March 2007 '']'' ranked him the fourth most liberal Republican in the Senate. ], an independent tracking website, also called Coleman a "moderate Republican".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300024|title=GovTrack: Norm Coleman|publisher=Govtrack.us|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
In September 2008, Coleman joined the bipartisan ], which was seeking a solution to the American energy crisis. The group pushed for a bill that would encourage state-by-state decisions on offshore drilling and authorize billions of dollars for conservation and alternative energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/28297749.html|title=Klobuchar joins bipartisan energy group|publisher=]|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
Coleman received a 14% progressive rating from ]<ref name=lib>{{cite web|title =Leading with the Left|publisher=Progressive Punch|url=http://www.progressivepunch.org|access-date=November 2, 2006}}</ref> and a 73% conservative rating from the conservative SBE Council.<ref name=con>{{cite web|title=Congressional Voting Scorecard 2005|work=SBE Council's Congressional Voting Scorecard 2005|publisher=Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council|date=June 2006|url=http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/Ratings2005Scorecard.pdf|access-date=November 2, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929121518/http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/Ratings2005Scorecard.pdf|archive-date=September 29, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Minnesota's other senator at the time, ], received ratings of 90% progressive and 9% conservative from the same groups.<ref name=lib/><ref name=con/> | |||
=== Specific issues === | |||
{{main|Political positions of Norm Coleman}} | |||
====Energy independence==== | |||
Coleman was a strong supporter of bipartisan efforts to create American independence from foreign sources of energy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2008/10/live_blog_norm_coleman_on_ener.php |title=Live Blog: Norm Coleman on Energy Independence – Smart Politics |publisher=Blog.lib.umn.edu |date=January 7, 2009 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-date=December 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225185601/http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2008/10/live_blog_norm_coleman_on_ener.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> This included development of alternative sources of energy such as wind, ethanol, and biofuels. | |||
In 2005, Coleman led a bipartisan coalition of 34 senators in securing a renewable fuels package as part of the ], which included new standards for renewable fuels and an extension of tax credits for biodiesel, small ethanol producers and wind and livestock waste. | |||
Coleman supported additional ] in the outer continental shelf, but maintained a campaign promise to oppose drilling in the ] (ANWR).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/2003/03/27/coleman-keeps-his-promise-anwr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421055948/http://www.mndaily.com/2003/03/27/coleman-keeps-his-promise-anwr |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2014 |title=Coleman keeps his promise on ANWR | mndaily.com – The Minnesota Daily |publisher=mndaily.com |date=March 27, 2003 |access-date=July 25, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
On December 11, 2005, Coleman voted to invoke ] on, thus advancing, a defense appropriations bill that included oil exploration in ANWR. Critics viewed this as a violation of his pledge to oppose such drilling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://northstar.sierraclub.org/about/news/20051221.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215174548/http://northstar.sierraclub.org/about/news/20051221.html |archive-date=February 15, 2006 |title=''Senator Coleman breaks promise on oil drilling'' – Minnesota Sierra Club 12/21/05 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Coleman said he did so because although he planned to vote against the bill, he did not believe that a filibuster was warranted. His vote notwithstanding, the filibuster held, and Coleman voted to strip the ANWR provision from the bill in a subsequent vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=114220 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080918160856/http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid%3D114220|archive-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=dead|title=''Coleman votes in favor of debating ANWR provision in defense bill'' – KARE News 12/21/05 |publisher=Kare11.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00365 |title=''On the Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 74 )'' senate roll call |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=835&Month=12&Year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103163141/http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=835&Month=12&Year=2005 |archive-date=January 3, 2006 |title=''STATEMENT BY SEN. NORM COLEMAN: SENATE CLOTURE VOTE ON DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL'' – Norm Coleman website 12/21/05 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=838&Month=12&Year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103163324/http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=838&Month=12&Year=2005 |archive-date=January 3, 2006 |title=''ANWR STRIPPED FROM DEFENSE BILL BY 48–45 VOTE'' – Norm Coleman website 12/21/05 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_355205902.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004410/http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_355205902.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |title=''Coleman Votes Against Filibuster Of ANWR'' – cco.com 12/21/05 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
Coleman received a score of 33% for 2007 from the League of Conservation Voters,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://capwiz.com/lcv_stage/bio/keyvotes/?id=130476&congress=1102&lvl=C |title=503 Service Unavailable |access-date=2008-06-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080922194538/http://capwiz.com/lcv_stage/bio/keyvotes/?id=130476&congress=1102&lvl=C |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Voter Center Applauds Minnesota's Congressional Conservation Leaders as National Scorecard Released |url=http://mnvotercenter.org/news.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827213753/http://mnvotercenter.org/news.cfm |archive-date=2008-08-27 |access-date= |website=mnvotercenter.org}}</ref> in their view taking the pro-environment position in just five of 14 cases. | |||
====Agriculture==== | |||
As a member of the Senate's Agriculture Committee, Coleman played an important role in agriculture policy. In 2008 he helped author the Farm Bill. He was praised for his efforts to improve the bill's provisions with regard to sugar, a mainstay of northwestern Minnesota's economy, as well as the bill's dairy program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/202061/publisher_ID/1/ |title=Forum editorial: Coleman's farm bill work vital |publisher=Agweek.com |date=May 23, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130306102421/http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/202061/publisher_ID/1/ |archive-date=March 6, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Coleman also worked for the inclusion of a permanent agriculture disaster assistance program<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.farmpolicyfacts.org/index.php/2008/04/administration-must-compromise-on-farm-bill/ |title=Administration Must Compromise on Farm Bill | Farm Policy Facts – News About Farm Policy |publisher=Farm Policy Facts |date=April 15, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721233417/http://www.farmpolicyfacts.org/index.php/2008/04/administration-must-compromise-on-farm-bill/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and hailed the bill's investments in conservation, nutrition, and renewable energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluestemprairie.com/a_bluestem_prairie/2008/05/farm-bill-snafu.html |title=A Bluestem Prairie: Farm Bill snafu: one more time until veto override |publisher=Bluestemprairie.com |date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> He broke with his fellow Republicans in several instances over agriculture policy, notably by voting for the bill to move forward,<ref>{{cite web|last=Laws |first=Forrest |url=http://m.southeastfarmpress.com/senate-fails-break-farm-bill-impasse |title=Senate fails to break farm bill impasse | content from Southeast Farm Press |publisher=M.southeastfarmpress.com |date=November 20, 2007 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> and ultimately played a critical role in breaking the stalemate that had delayed Senate consideration of the bill.<ref>{{cite news|first=Forrest|last=Laws|url=http://deltafarmpress.com/senate-begins-debate-farm-bill|title=Senate begins debate on farm bill|publisher=Delta Farm Press |date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> | |||
Coleman twice voted to override President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/19189349.html?page=1&c=y |title=Congress overrides Bush veto to enact farm bill |newspaper=]|date=May 22, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
], and others at DR-CAFTA signing]] | |||
Coleman expressed reservations about supporting DR-CAFTA (]) unless the interests of the domestic U.S. sugar industry (including Minnesota's ] industry) were accommodated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/coleman-feeling-heat-on-cafta-2005-04-27.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070630203240/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/coleman-feeling-heat-on-cafta-2005-04-27.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2007 |title=''COLEMAN FEELING HEAT ON CAFTA'' – The Hill 4/27/05|work=]|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Em|last=Murphy|url=http://www.citypages.com/2005-07-27/news/sugar-daddy-no-more|title=''SUGAR DADDY NO MORE''|publisher=Citypages.com|date=July 27, 2005|access-date=June 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610184445/http://www.citypages.com/2005-07-27/news/sugar-daddy-no-more/|archive-date=June 10, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=96678|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080918160739/http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid%3D96678|archive-date=September 18, 2008|url-status=dead|title=CAFTA has little support among Minnesota lawmakers|publisher=Kare11.com|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> He voted in favor of DR-CAFTA after obtaining quotas imposed on foreign sugar until 2008. He stood behind Bush on August 2, 2005, as the trade agreement was signed into law. "This is a three-year insurance policy that I have purchased for my sugar farmers," he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=681&Month=6&Year=2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614191538/http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=681&Month=6&Year=2005|archive-date=June 14, 2006|title=Coleman Joins Bipartisan Majority in Passing CAFTA After Brokering Agreement to Fully Protect U.S. Sugar Industry (press release) |website=Norm Coleman Senate website |date=June 30, 2005 |via=Web.archive.org|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
====Fiscal issues==== | |||
Coleman was generally regarded as a fiscal centrist who supported increasing the minimum wage and safeguarding pensions while at the same time supporting broad tax relief and the line-item veto. | |||
Coleman played an important role in the passage of the ]. In addition to safeguarding the pensions of all Americans, the legislation is credited with saving the pensions of over 24,000 Northwest Airlines employees and retirees in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1042&dat=20040414&id=mvAkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihAGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2072,2471625|title = Lake Region Times - Google News Archive Search}}</ref> | |||
Coleman consistently voted to increase the minimum wage as senator.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/norm-coleman/gIQAravo9O_topic.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421061736/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/norm-coleman/gIQAravo9O_topic.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 21, 2014 | newspaper=] | title=Norm Coleman | date=December 21, 2011}}</ref> | |||
Coleman had a consistent record of voting for broad tax reform. He supported reductions to the capital gains tax and the marriage penalty, and supported doubling the child tax credit. Coleman also supported elimination of the AMT and death tax. He supported efforts to make permanent the tax cuts enacted by the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Minnesota/Norm_Coleman/Views/Taxes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051637/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/Minnesota/Norm_Coleman/Views/Taxes/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 21, 2014 |title=Norm Coleman on Taxes |publisher=Thepoliticalguide.com |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
As a member of the Small Business Committee, Coleman opposed eliminating the Microloan program, supported funding for Small Business Development Centers and the HUBZone program, successfully extended tax relief for Section 179 expensing, and cosponsored an amendment to increase funding for the SBA by $130 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naw.org/nawnews/news_article.php?articleid=545 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414122337/http://www.naw.org/nawnews/news_article.php?articleid=545 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |title=Interview with Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman – NAW News |publisher=Naw.org |access-date=July 25, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
Coleman is a longtime supporter of the line-item veto, calling it a "no-brainer, the right thing to do."<ref>https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/omb/pubpress/2006/wts_senate.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> | |||
====Iraq, Iran, and Israel==== | |||
Coleman was a strong supporter of the ] from the start. In 2008, he still supported the war, generally tending to agree with the Bush administration. He was in favor of the eventual removal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but did not support any kind of timetable for their removal until the situation stabilized. An August 2008 ''MinnPost'' article summarized his position as: "He believes the prospects are good for a drawdown of U.S. troops, but it must be done based on conditions on the ground as reported by commanders in the field, not according to an 'arbitrary' timetable set for 'political' reasons in Washington."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2008/08/07/2862/coleman_and_franken_on_iraq_everything_you_need_to_know |title=Coleman and Franken on Iraq: Everything you need to know |publisher=Minneapolis Post |access-date=June 13, 2010 |first=Eric |last=Black |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616115850/http://www.minnpost.com/ericblack/2008/08/07/2862/coleman_and_franken_on_iraq_everything_you_need_to_know |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
Coleman was also outspoken about the threat Iran poses to Western democracies. He sponsored numerous Congressional Resolutions aimed at Iran, including measures condemning its violations of the ] and other international obligations. Coleman led an effort to bring worldwide pressure on Iran to stop its attempts to enrich uranium, which many believed was the final step in an effort to gain offensive nuclear weapons capabilities.<ref></ref> | |||
Coleman co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to increase ], including divestment of American pension funds in companies that do business with Iran and sanctions against countries that provide it with nuclear technology. In 2007, he said, "For the sake of our national security, the U.S. must ensure that the sensitive nuclear technology that we share with partner countries does not fall into the hands of the Iranians."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/world/americas/01iht-sanctions.2989796.html | work=] | title=U.S. legalizes sanctions for Iran atom aid – Americas – International Herald Tribune | date=December 31, 1969}}</ref> | |||
Coleman is an outspoken defender of Israel. He cosponsored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006<ref>{{cite web|author=Sen. Mitch McConnell |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/s2370 |title=Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (2006; 109th Congress S. 2370) |publisher=GovTrack.us |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> and sent then Secretary of State ] a letter urging her to investigate Egypt's smuggling of arms to Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article-print/2007/06/22/102614/senateegypt?TB_iframe=true&width=750&height=500 |title=Jewish & Israel News |publisher=JTA |date=June 22, 2007 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415074355/http://www.jta.org/news/article-print/2007/06/22/102614/senateegypt?TB_iframe=true&width=750&height=500 |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
====Immigration reform==== | |||
Coleman was a strong supporter of Bush's 2006 and 2007 attempts to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, one of the few Republicans to do so, as many called it "] for ]". | |||
====Drug control==== | |||
Coleman admitted to using marijuana as a youth, and he advocated its legalization while in college. He has said that maturity led him to understand that his drug use was dangerous and has repeatedly stated his opposition to legalized drugs, including marijuana.<ref name="Politicalblogs.startribune.com"/> He has said,{{When|date=January 2012}} "I oppose the legalization of marijuana because, as noted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana can have serious adverse health effects on individuals. The health problems that may occur from this highly addictive drug include short-term memory loss, anxiety, respiratory illness and a risk of lung cancer that far exceeds that of tobacco products. It would also make our transportation, schools and workplaces, just as examples, more dangerous."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebstoner.com/content/view/243/34/ |title=NORML's open letter to Sen. Norm Coleman – celebstoner |publisher=Celebstoner.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908045147/http://www.celebstoner.com/content/view/243/34/ |archive-date=September 8, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
====Social issues==== | |||
] Coleman has campaigned as an ] candidate since at least 1993.<ref name=autogenerated2>'']'', March 8, 1993, "Mayoral hopeful pits self against the city's DFL establishment"</ref> He attributes this position to the death of two of his four children in infancy from a rare genetic disease. He supports limiting ] to adult stem cells and stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, and in July 2006 voted against lifting ] for new ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00206 |title=Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 vote record 7/18/06 |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_193180833.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095843/http://wcco.com/politics/local_story_193180833.html|archive-date= September 29, 2007|title= Coleman To Vote Against Stem Cell Bill|date= July 12, 2006|agency=]}}</ref> Coleman is a member of the ], which supports embryonic stem cell research.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/index.php/ElectedMembers |title=Republican Main Street Partnership |access-date=2011-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515115628/http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/index.php/ElectedMembers |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} Republicanmainstreet.org</ref> He voted in favor of legislative intervention to prolong the life of severely brain-damaged Floridian ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4358877.stm |title=''Timeline: Terri Schiavo case'' — BBC News updated Thursday, 31 March 2005 |work=] |date=March 31, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=581&Month=3&Year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428060029/http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=581&Month=3&Year=2005 |archive-date=April 28, 2005 |title=''COLEMAN COMMENDS BIPARTISAN SENATE EFFORT TO SAVE TERRI SCHIAVO'' – Norm Coleman official website 3/20/05 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51402-2005Mar20.html |title=''Congress passes Schiavo measure'' – Washington Post 21 March 2005 |newspaper=]|date=March 21, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010 | first1=Charles | last1=Babington | first2=Mike | last2=Allen}}</ref> | |||
Coleman opposed recognition of ]s by either the federal or state governments.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-07-12-colman_x.htm | work=] | title=Coleman will vote for gay marriage amendment | date=July 12, 2004 | access-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> In his 2002 Senate campaign he pledged support for an amendment to the ] that would ban any state from legalizing same-sex marriage.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} In 2004 and 2006 he voted in favor of such an amendment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00163 |title=''On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. J. Res. 1 )'' vote record 6/7/06 |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
As mayor Coleman refused to sign a city proclamation celebrating the annual ] festival, explaining his opposition: "What we have had in St. Paul and Minneapolis for many years is signing a joint proclamation making it gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender month. I will say that I support human rights ... And of course that includes sexual orientation. On the other hand, I've felt very strongly that it wasn't government's responsibility to give proclamations for people's sexuality. I don't think government has a responsibility to issue awards for one's sexuality."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225215733/http://www.citypages.com/databank/19/897/article4350.asp |date=February 25, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/minnesota/no.bi.rights.in.st.paul |title=''All the people should be equal under the law'' – Star Tribune, 5/4/94 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Coleman hired Susan Kimberly, a ], as deputy mayor in 1998. Kimberly also worked as state legislative director in Coleman's Minnesota Senate office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legistorm.com/person/Susan_E_Kimberly/38215.html |title=''Legistorm Congressional Staffer Salary Data'' |publisher=Legistorm.com |date=October 1, 2006 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
====Social Security==== | |||
Coleman supported allowing workers to divert a portion of their ] contributions to the creation of individual accounts to be invested in the stock market, a variation of a general plan supporters call "personal accounts," historically known as privatization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.issues2000.org/Economic/Norm_Coleman_Social_Security.htm |title=''Norm Coleman on Social Security'' – On The Issues 2003 |publisher=Issues2000.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A3492-2002May10 |title=''Wary Words On Social Security'' – Washington Post 5/10/02 |newspaper=]|date= May 11, 2002|access-date=June 13, 2010 | first1=Mike | last1=Allen | first2=Juliet | last2=Eilperin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cato.org/research/ss_prjct.html |title=''Project On Social Security Privatization'' – Cato Institute |publisher=Cato.org |date=August 14, 1995 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730212357/http://www.cato.org/research/ss_prjct.html |archive-date=July 30, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He agreed with Bush's statements that the contribution changes would apply to those younger than 55.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=FloorStatements.Detail&floorstatement_id=12&Month=2&Year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310100525/http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=FloorStatements.Detail&floorstatement_id=12&Month=2&Year=2005 |archive-date=March 10, 2005 |title=''SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM'' – Norm Coleman website Feb 2005 |date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> "The Social Security system for those folks 55 and over will not change in any way, shape or form—no ifs, ands, or buts," he said. | |||
====Relationship with the Bush administration==== | |||
In 2002, the Bush administration persuaded Coleman to run against Wellstone rather than for governor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/campaign2002/senate/coleman.shtml |title=''Campaign 2002'' – Minnesota Public Radio |publisher=News.minnesota.publicradio.org |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Manitou Messenger Online |url=http://fusion.stolaf.edu/messenger/index.cfm?section=article&article_number=624&issue_volume=116&issue_number=7&issue_date=11/1/2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030521054720/http://fusion.stolaf.edu/messenger/index.cfm?section=article&article_number=624&issue_volume=116&issue_number=7&issue_date=11%2F1%2F2002 |archive-date=May 21, 2003 |title=''Penny, Coleman, Bly eye finish line'' – Manitou Messenger Online, 11/1/02 |date=May 21, 2003 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
In December 2005, Coleman voted for a budget bill that cut funding from a number of programs but kept funding for sugar beet farmers in Minnesota after Rove asked him to support the administration's position on the issue. Coleman told '']'' that he would not vote for a bill that cut sugar beet funding but "Karl Rove called me and asked what I wanted. A few hours later it was out of the bill."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600532.html|title=''When the Cutting Is Corrupted''|newspaper=]|date=December 27, 2005|access-date=June 13, 2010|first=E.J.|last=Dionne}}</ref> | |||
On March 14, 2006, Coleman called on Bush to replace or reorganize his staff, saying that they did not sufficiently have their "ears to the ground" on matters like ], ]'s failed ] nomination, and the ], and accusing the administration of having a "tin ear."<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103150433/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/03/14/minn_rep_calls_for_new_white_house_team/ |date=January 3, 2009 }}</ref> He said they showed inadequate "political sensitivity" in their handling of the issues. | |||
On January 22, 2007, Coleman and fellow Republican Senators ] and ] joined Democrats in opposing Bush's ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/iraq.congress|title=''Key GOP senator opposes Bush's Iraq plan''|publisher=]|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
====United Nations reform==== | |||
{{main|Oil-for-Food Programme}} | |||
Coleman worked to root out corruption at the United Nations, targeting the so-called "oil-for-food" program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://staging.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/592wscfb.asp?page=1 |title=Kofi Annan's Nemesis |publisher=] |date=May 16, 2005 |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017135030/http://staging.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/592wscfb.asp?page=1 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
In May 2005, the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Coleman, held hearings on abuses of the UN Oil-for-Food program, including oil smuggling, illegal kickbacks and use of surcharges, and ]'s use of oil vouchers to buy influence abroad. These ] covered corporations (including Bayoil) and several well-known political figures of various nations (including ]), but are best remembered for the confrontational appearance of British politician ], then a ] (MP) for the ] (Respect). Coleman accused Galloway of abuses that Galloway provably denied.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlinejournal.org/Special_Reports/052105Madsen/052105madsen.html |title=''Galloway tongue-lashes Coleman; committee documents show Bush political friends and family paid Oil-for-Food kickbacks to Saddam Hussein'' – Online Journal 5/21/05 |publisher=Onlinejournal.org |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120035653/http://www.onlinejournal.org/Special_Reports/052105Madsen/052105madsen.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4557369.stm |title=''Media react to blistering hearing'' – BBC News 5/17/05 |work=] |date=May 17, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
The previous year, Coleman had called on UN ] ] to resign for other alleged program abuses. On June 2, 2006, Coleman responded to criticism that he had insufficiently investigated the ] (AWB) for sanctions busting, saying that there were legal and cost hurdles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schons.net/archives/001862.php |title=st thomas villas university study at |publisher=Schons.net |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720163957/http://www.schons.net/archives/001862.php |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Then Prime Minister of Australia ] supported the invasion of Iraq. The Australian ambassador to the U.S., ], met with Coleman in late 2004 to lobby against any investigation of AWB. <!-- BROKEN LINK --><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/UNOilForFoodInquiry.nsf |title=''Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme'' – Australian Attorney General's Department 11/10/05 |publisher=Ag.gov.au |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602222931/http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/UNOilForFoodInquiry.nsf |archive-date=June 2, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/attempt-to-kill-awb-probe/2006/01/31/1138590504798.html |title=Revealed: ambassador tried to kill US hunt for AWB bribes. Sydney Morning Herald. 1 February 2006 |newspaper=Smh.com.au |date= February 1, 2006|access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
Coleman was selected to be a delegate to the ] in New York, where he pressed for reform and action on Darfur and Iran.<ref>{{cite web|work=NewsHour with Jim Lehrer |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/july-dec06/un_09-18.html |title=Online NewsHour: Debate | U.N. Session Opens in New York | September 18, 2006 |publisher=]|access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref> | |||
====Government infrastructure==== | |||
On February 10, 2006, in a meeting of the ] of which Coleman was a member, during testimony of former ] (FEMA) director ], Coleman attacked Brown for poor leadership during ] efforts, saying, "you didn't provide the leadership, even with structural infirmities", "you're not prepared to kind of put a mirror in front of your face and recognize your own inadequacies", and "the record reflects that you didn't get it or you didn't in writing or in some way make commands that would move people to do what has to be done until way after it should have been done."<ref></ref> Brown responded combatively, "well, senator, that's very easy for you to say sitting behind that dais and not being there in the middle of that disaster, watching that human suffering and watching those people dying and trying to deal with those structural dysfunctionalities".<ref>{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and implored Coleman to stick to questions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/02/following_the_b.html |title=''Following the Brown testimony on Katrina'' = USA Today Online Feb 2006 |publisher=Blogs.usatoday.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016225008/http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/02/following_the_b.html |archive-date=October 16, 2008 }}</ref> He later likened Coleman's charges to a "drive-by shooting."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/02/michael_brown_s.html |title=''Self-righteous scapegoat'' – Chicago Tribune 2/10/06 |publisher=Newsblogs.chicagotribune.com |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> Brown had recently said that he notified the ] and the White House of the tremendous scale of Katrina flooding earlier than had been previously reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060211/NEWS/602110439/1039 |title=''Ex-FEMA Head Blames Bosses for Shortfalls'' – The Ledger 2/11/06 |publisher=Theledger.com |date=February 11, 2006 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
On March 14, 2006, Coleman introduced a bill that would ban foreign companies from operating ports in the United States.<ref>S.2410, March 14, 2006: A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to limit foreign control of investments in certain United States critical infrastructure</ref> | |||
In March 2007, Coleman introduced legislation (S. 754)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.00754: |title=''Senate Bill 754 – The Defense Travel Simplification Act of 2007'' |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |date=February 3, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017135029/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.00754: |url-status=dead }}</ref> to kill the Defense Travel System,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensetravel.osd.mil/dts/site/index.jsp |title=''Defense Travel System'' |publisher=Defensetravel.osd.mil |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> a program intended to automate the purchasing of travel services by the U.S. Department of Defense, which accounts for more than half of the federal government's total outlays of around $11 billion annually for travel, including transportation, lodging, and rental cars. Shortly after he filed the legislation, Coleman received a generous contribution from the CEO of ], which owns Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a business travel management firm whose CW Government Travel unit provides travel management services for some federal agencies. The Carlson Companies are based in Minnesota. Over the years, Coleman has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from people connected with Carlson Companies.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill |last=Hobbs |url=http://www.elephantbiz.com/2007/07/a_5_billion_earmark.html |title=''A $5 Billion Earmark?'' – ElephantBiz.com 7/12/07 |publisher=Elephantbiz.com |date=July 12, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2010}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
] | |||
Coleman married actress Laurie Casserly<ref></ref> in 1981. The couple have two children, Jacob and Sarah. Two other children died during infancy (Adam, 1983; Grace, 1992) from a rare ] known as ].<ref name="Norm's Conquest">{{cite web|first=David|last=Schimke|url=http://www.citypages.com/1998-02-11/news/norm-s-conquest|title=''Norm's Conquest''|publisher=Citypages.com|date=February 11, 1998|access-date=June 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609145025/http://www.citypages.com/1998-02-11/news/norm-s-conquest|archive-date=June 9, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2016, Jacob Coleman announced his candidacy for an open Minnesota Senate seat held by ], but did not win the Republican endorsement. Coleman's daughter-in-law, ], won election to the state senate seat in 2021. | |||
Coleman is a member of the ] fraternity, having been made a Mason at sight in 2003 by then Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota ].<ref>{{cite news|title=MMC Gala hailed as successful event|url=http://www.mn-masons.org/sites/mn-masons.org/files/2422.pdf|access-date=July 4, 2013|newspaper=The Minnesota Mason|date=January–February 2006|archive-date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018011954/http://www.mn-masons.org/sites/mn-masons.org/files/2422.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Coleman was on the America Abroad Media advisory board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://americaabroadmedia.org/user/221/Norm_Coleman |title=Norm Coleman | AMERICA ABROAD MEDIA |access-date=2014-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716181040/http://americaabroadmedia.org/user/221/Norm_Coleman |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
On September 11, 2009, Coleman announced he had been diagnosed with ]. Doctors told him that he should fully recover from it.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |title=Norm Coleman diagnosed with Bell's palsy|date=September 11, 2009 |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/11/coleman-bellspalsy/ }}</ref> On August 14, 2018, Coleman announced that cancer he had been battling in his neck and throat had spread to his lungs.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=] |first=Rochelle |last=Olson |title=Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman says cancer has returned to his lungs, 'shaken my soul'|date=August 15, 2018 |url=http://www.startribune.com/former-u-s-senator-norm-coleman-says-cancer-has-returned-to-his-lungs-shaken-my-soul/490861241/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-28|title=On 10th anniversary of recount, Coleman still convinced he won|url=https://kstp.com/politics/norm-coleman-al-franken-10th-anniversary-recount-2008/5160509/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=]|language=en|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104174047/https://kstp.com/politics/norm-coleman-al-franken-10th-anniversary-recount-2008/5160509/|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
==Electoral history== | |||
{{hatnote|Due to tabulation rounding, percentages may not equal 100%}} | |||
{{Election box begin | title=2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election<ref name="MNSOS"/><ref name=MNSOS2>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/recount_summary_with_ab.pdf|title=General Election Results|publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State|date=January 5, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121144412/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/recount_summary_with_ab.pdf|archive-date=January 21, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=canvcert>{{cite web|url=http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1573/|title=Signing Off On A 225 Vote Franken Lead (webcast of Canvassing Board Meeting)|publisher=The Uptake|date=January 5, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2009|archive-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203095837/http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1573|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} | |||
{{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 1,212,629 | |||
|percentage = 42.0 | |||
|change = -5.4 | |||
}}{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Republican Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = Norm Coleman | |||
|votes = 1,212,317 | |||
|percentage = 42.0 | |||
|change = -7.6 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Independence Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 437,505 | |||
|percentage = 15.2 | |||
|change = +13.2 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Libertarian Party (United States) | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 13,923 | |||
|percentage = 0.5 | |||
|change = ''n/a'' | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Constitution Party (United States) | |||
|candidate = James Niemackl | |||
|votes = 8,907 | |||
|percentage = 0.3 | |||
|change = +0.2 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate | |||
|party = Write-ins | |||
|candidate = | |||
|votes = 2,365 | |||
|percentage = 0.1 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box margin of victory | |||
|votes = 312 | |||
|percentage = nil | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box turnout | |||
|votes = 2,887,337 | |||
|percentage = 100 | |||
|change = +28 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box end}} | |||
{{Election box begin | title=2002 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0103 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |title=2002 election Results |date=May 23, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129060323/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0103 |archive-date=November 29, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}} | |||
{{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
|party = Republican Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = Norm Coleman | |||
|votes = 1,116,697 | |||
|percentage = 49.5 | |||
|change = +8.3 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 1,067,246 | |||
|percentage = 47.3 | |||
|change = -3.0 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Independence Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = Jim Moore | |||
|votes = 45,139 | |||
|percentage = 2.0 | |||
|change = -5.0 | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 11,381 | |||
|percentage = 0.5 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Green Party (United States) | |||
|candidate = Ray Tricomo | |||
|votes = 10,119 | |||
|percentage = 0.5 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box end}} | |||
{{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Gubernatorial Election 1998<ref name=govresults>{{cite web | |||
|author = Elections Division | |||
| title = Constitutional Offices and Constitutional Amendments Official Results November 3, 1998 | |||
| publisher = Minnesota Secretary of State's Office | |||
| date = November 3, 1998 | |||
| url = http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/genstate1998.pdf | |||
| access-date =April 27, 2007 | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214042007/http://www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/genstate1998.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 14, 2006}}</ref>}} | |||
{{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
|party = Reform Party of the United States of America | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 768,356 | |||
|percentage = 37 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Republican Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = Norm Coleman | |||
|votes = 713,410 | |||
|percentage = 34 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = 581,497 | |||
|percentage = 28 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box end}} | |||
{{Election box begin | title=St. Paul Mayoral Election 1997}} | |||
{{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
|party = Republican Party of Minnesota | |||
|candidate = Norm Coleman (incumbent) | |||
|votes = | |||
|percentage = 58.7 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = | |||
|percentage = 40.8 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box end}} | |||
{{Election box begin | title=St. Paul Mayoral Election 1993}} | |||
{{Election box winning candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = Norm Coleman | |||
|votes = | |||
|percentage = 54.7 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box candidate with party link | |||
|party = Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party | |||
|candidate = ] | |||
|votes = | |||
|percentage = 44.3 | |||
|change = | |||
}} | |||
{{Election box end}} | |||
==See also== | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{sister project links}} | |||
* , campaign site | |||
* {{CongLinks | congbio=C001057 | votesmart=20239 | fec=S2MN00126 | congress= }}<!-- | |||
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template: | |||
* at ] | |||
* at ] | |||
* at LegiStorm.com | |||
* at ] | |||
* --> | |||
* {{C-SPAN|36370}} | |||
* from '']'' | |||
* from ] | |||
{{s-start}} | |||
{{Current U.S. Senators}} | |||
{{s-off}} | |||
{{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
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{{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
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{{s-ttl|title=]|years=2003–2009|alongside=], ]}} | |||
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{{s-bef|before=]|as=Former US Senator}} | |||
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{{USSenMN}} | |||
] | |||
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 108th–110th ]es |state=]}} | |||
] | |||
{{USCongRep/MN/108}} | |||
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{{USCongRep/MN/109}} | |||
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{{USCongRep/MN/110}} | |||
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{{USCongRep-end}} | |||
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{{St.PaulMayors}} | |||
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{{Al Franken}} | |||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Norm}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 04:35, 31 December 2024
American lobbyist, attorney, and politician (born 1949) For the former Secretary of Agriculture, see Norman Jay Coleman. "Senator Coleman" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Coleman (disambiguation).
Norm Coleman | |
---|---|
Official portrait, 2005 | |
United States Senator from Minnesota | |
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Dean Barkley |
Succeeded by | Al Franken |
52nd Mayor of Saint Paul | |
In office January 1, 1994 – January 1, 2002 | |
Preceded by | James Scheibel |
Succeeded by | Randy Kelly |
Personal details | |
Born | Norman Bertram Coleman Jr. (1949-08-17) August 17, 1949 (age 75) New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Republican (1996–present) |
Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1996) |
Spouse |
Laurie Casserly (m. 1981) |
Children | 4 |
Education | Hofstra University (BA) University of Iowa (JD) |
Norm Coleman's voice
Norm Coleman speaks on the threat of Iran Recorded March 2, 2006 | |
Norman Bertram Coleman Jr. (born August 17, 1949) is an American politician, attorney, and lobbyist. From 2003 to 2009, he served as a United States Senator for Minnesota. From 1994 to 2002, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota. First elected as a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Coleman became a Republican in 1996. Elected to the Senate in 2002, he was narrowly defeated in his 2008 reelection bid. As of 2024, he is the most recent Republican to have represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate.
Born in New York City, Coleman was elected mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota's capital and second-largest city, in 1993 as a member of the Democratic Party. A liberal Democrat in his youth, Coleman shifted to conservatism as an adult. After conflicts with the Democratic Party over his conservative views, Coleman joined the Republican Party. He was reelected mayor a year later as a Republican. While serving as mayor, he was the Republican nominee in the 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election, but lost to former professional wrestler and third-party candidate Jesse Ventura. As mayor of Saint Paul, he helped return the National Hockey League to Minnesota through the Minnesota Wild after an almost decade-long absence.
Coleman challenged incumbent Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone in the 2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota. After Wellstone died in a plane crash a few weeks before the election, he was replaced on the ballot by former Vice President Walter Mondale. Coleman defeated Mondale by over two points. He sought reelection in 2008. In one of the closest elections in the history of the Senate, he lost to former comedian Al Franken by 312 votes out of over three million cast (a margin of just over 0.01%). Since his defeat, Coleman has been a lobbyist and chairs both the Republican Jewish Coalition and the conservative American Action Network.
Early life and education
Coleman was born in Brooklyn, the son of Norman Bertram Coleman Sr. and his wife, Beverly (Behrman). His family is Jewish, his paternal grandfather having changed the surname from Goldman to Coleman. He was a graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn and Hofstra University on Long Island.
In college, Coleman was an active member of the 1960s counterculture and a liberal Democrat. "Carting a bullhorn around campus, he'd regularly lecture students about the immorality of the Nixon administration and the Vietnam War." He was elected president of the student senate during his junior year. Under Coleman, the senate refused to ratify the newspaper's editor and her co-editor and cut some funding to the newspaper. But after refusing to swear in the editor on four different occasions, the senate finally backed down. Coleman celebrated his 20th birthday at the Woodstock Festival, and later admitted to smoking marijuana in his youth. He worked as a roadie for Jethro Tull and Ten Years After, among others.
Coleman attended Brooklyn Law School from 1972 until 1974 but received his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1976.
Career
After graduating from law school, Coleman joined the office of the Minnesota Attorney General as a prosecutor, eventually rising to chief prosecutor and then solicitor general.
Mayor of Saint Paul (1994–2002)
Coleman left the attorney general's office upon being elected mayor of St. Paul. One of his first acts as mayor was the elimination of underfunded retirement health benefits for city workers.
One of Coleman's accomplishments as mayor was to bring professional ice hockey back to Minnesota. In 1993 the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas, Texas. On June 7, 1997, the NHL awarded St. Paul an expansion franchise, later named the Minnesota Wild, that would play in a new arena downtown at the site of Civic Center Arena. The arena, later named the Xcel Energy Center, was built through a public-private partnership, with $65 million from state taxpayers and $30 million from the city.
Coleman also successfully fought property tax increases, freezing property tax rates for the eight years he served as mayor. During his mayoralty, St. Paul's job rate grew by 7.1% and 18,000 jobs were added.
While many praised Coleman for his "pragmatic" leadership style and successes in revitalizing St. Paul, critics labeled him an "opportunist", and he was often at odds with the Democratic Party's more liberal members. In 1996 he was sometimes booed at DFL party events or excluded from them altogether.
Coleman joined the Republican Party in 1996 and was reelected mayor of St. Paul in 1997, defeating Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nominee State Senator Sandy Pappas. He is, as of 2024, the last Republican mayor of St. Paul.
1998 gubernatorial campaign
See also: 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial electionWhile announcing his party switch, Coleman said that he "didn't intend" to run for governor in 1998. But his role in bringing professional hockey back to Minnesota and his popularity in St. Paul did help fuel a run for governor that year. He easily won the Republican nomination, facing just token opposition in the primary. In the general election, he faced DFL nominee Hubert H. "Skip" Humphrey III and Reform Party nominee Jesse Ventura. Polls had Coleman and Humphrey tied for first, but Ventura won the election in an upset, with 37% of the vote to Coleman's 34.3% and Humphrey's 28.1%.
U.S. Senate (2003–2009)
Main article: 2002 United States Senate election in MinnesotaColeman made plans for a second run for governor in 2002, but Karl Rove and George W. Bush persuaded him to challenge incumbent Senator Paul Wellstone in that year's election instead. Coleman had served as Wellstone's campaign chair in 1996, shortly before his decision to switch to the Republican Party. Coleman easily won the Republican nomination.
Coleman and Wellstone were neck-and-neck in most polls for most of the campaign. On October 25, Wellstone died in a plane crash. The Democrats chose former Vice President Walter Mondale to replace Wellstone on the ballot. Mondale had held the same Senate seat from 1964 to 1977. Coleman defeated Mondale by just over 61,000 votes out of over 2 million cast. He succeeded Dean Barkley, whom Ventura had appointed to serve the remaining two months of Wellstone's term.
In April 2003, Coleman told a Capitol Hill reporter that he was a "99% improvement" over Wellstone because he had a better working relationship with the White House. Many Wellstone supporters found this offensive and insulting, and at least one member of Congress urged Coleman to apologize. Coleman issued an apology, explaining that he was referring specifically to the reporter's question about the differences between his and Wellstone's relationship with the White House, and saying in part, "I would never want to diminish the legacy or memory of Senator Paul Wellstone, and I will accept full responsibility for not having been more accurate in my comments." In 2004 Coleman campaigned for the chairmanship of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), but was defeated for the post by Senator Elizabeth Dole in a 28–27 vote.
2008 reelection campaign
Main article: 2008 United States Senate election in MinnesotaIn 2008, Coleman's opponents for reelection were Dean Barkley and the DFL nominee, former Air America host and comedian Al Franken. On the day after the election, Coleman led in the counted votes and claimed victory in the race. Minnesota law requires an automatic recount when the margin between the leading candidates is less than 0.5% of the vote, and the margin between Coleman and Franken was about 0.01%. Barkley came in third with 15%.
The initial results of the recount put Franken ahead by 225 votes out of almost 2.9 million votes cast. On December 24, 2008, Coleman's lawyers said it was a "virtual certainty" that he would contest the results of the election.
Coleman's term expired on January 3, 2009. On January 5, Franken was certified as the winner of the recount by 225 votes. Coleman filed a legal challenge of the results on January 6, and a three-judge panel was seated.
On February 3, the panel allowed Coleman to introduce evidence that as many as 4,800 absentee ballots were wrongly rejected and should be counted. The Franken campaign had tried to limit Coleman to bringing evidence on only the 650 absentee ballots cited in the initial court filing.
On April 1, the panel ordered that an additional 400 absentee ballots be examined. After examining the 400 ballots on April 6, the panel ordered that an additional 351 ballots be opened and counted. On April 7, the additional 351 ballots were opened and counted before the panel and a packed courtroom. Franken got an additional 198 votes, Coleman gained 111, and other candidates received 42, increasing Franken's lead to 312 votes.
On April 13, the three-judge panel issued its final ruling, sweeping aside all of Coleman's legal claims and declaring Franken the winner of the race by 312 votes. In its unanimous decision, the panel said, "The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately", and that Franken should be issued a Certificate of Election. The panel ruled that Coleman had failed to prove that mistakes or irregularities in the treatment of absentee ballots had changed the election's outcome.
Coleman appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on June 1. On June 30, the court unanimously ruled in Franken's favor, declaring him the winner of the election, whereupon Coleman conceded.
Deep Marine Technology and corruption allegations
While running for reelection in 2008, Coleman was mentioned in a Texas lawsuit by Paul McKim, CEO of Deep Marine Technology (DMT), against Nasser Kazeminy. Kazeminy was a longtime Coleman supporter who owned a controlling share of DMT. The petition alleged that Kazeminy had used DMT to funnel $75,000 or more to Laurie Coleman through her employer, Hays Companies, in order to enrich Senator Coleman. McKim's petition covered several issues, of which the Coleman matter was only one. Coleman's 2009 Senate financial disclosure form disclosed that Laurie Coleman received a salary from Hays Companies, but Senate rules do not require the salary amount to be revealed. Neither Coleman nor his wife was named as a defendant in the suit. On October 31, minority shareholders in DMT filed a related suit in Delaware Chancery Court. The Delaware suit also alleged that Kazeminy had used DMT to funnel unearned funds to Laurie Coleman through Hays Companies. As in the Texas case, the Colemans were not named as defendants.
Coleman was not charged with any crime regarding allegations of corruption in receiving gifts of $100,000 from Kazeminy. Doug Grow, a MinnPost columnist, expressed skepticism about Coleman's attorneys' claim that the lack of charges meant that Coleman and Kazeminy were not guilty of any wrongdoing. Coleman responded with a campaign ad in which he denied the allegations and blamed them on Franken.
In June 2011, the U.S. Justice Department decided not to file charges against Coleman or Kazeminy. Louis Freeh, an attorney for Kazeminy and a former FBI Director in the Clinton Administration, said he learned the Justice Department had ended the investigation in a February 24 meeting with Andrew Levchuk of the department's Public Integrity Section in Washington.
Kazeminy hired Freeh to conduct an independent investigation of all charges. He concluded that there was no wrongdoing or impropriety by the Colemans or Kazeminy. Freeh said that both his investigation and a separate Deep Marine board investigation concluded McKim had made false claims in an attempt to force a larger severance package out of Deep Marine. The Intercept, questioning Freeh's impartiality, reported that nine days after Freeh's investigation cleared Kazeminy of wrongdoing, Kazeminy gave Freeh's wife a one-half ownership stake in a Palm Beach property valued at $3 million. McKim's allegations were repeated hundreds of times in local and national media reports during the waning days of the 2008 election in what Coleman called "multi-million-dollar attacks against my family and Nasser Kazeminy".
Freeh says McKim later prepared an affidavit that would have recanted his allegations against the Colemans and Kazeminy in exchange for a financial settlement. He concluded that McKim had a clear motive to use false allegations as leverage to enrich himself. McKim still questioned the legitimacy of insurance payments and said he had done nothing wrong, but another of Kazeminy's attorneys said his client had not ruled out future litigation against McKim.
A columnist at The Weekly Standard wrote, "it is possible that the allegations against Coleman may have handed victory to Al Franken."
Post-political career
In January 2009, Coleman became an adviser to and board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
After Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced he would not seek reelection in 2010, it was widely anticipated that Coleman would run for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election. Polling conducted in late 2009 showed him as the favorite among Republicans. But on January 17, 2010, Coleman announced that he would not run, saying, "The timing on this race is both a bit too soon and a bit too late. It is too soon after my last race and too late to do a proper job of seeking the support of delegates who will decide in which direction our party should go. The commitments I have to my family and the work I am currently engaged in do not allow me to now go forward."
In 2010, Coleman became chairman and CEO of the American Action Network, which he co-founded. He was considered a front-runner for the position of chair of the Republican National Committee in 2010 in the event that incumbent Michael Steele did not seek reelection. Coleman said he would not run for the chairmanship if Steele ran for reelection, and did not after Steele announced his candidacy.
In 2013, Coleman confirmed he would not challenge Franken in the 2014 Senate election. He also declined to run against Governor Mark Dayton in the 2014 gubernatorial election.
Lobbying career
In April 2011, Coleman joined Hogan Lovells, an international legal practice, as senior government advisor in its Washington D.C. office. He stepped down as leader of the Government Relations and Public Affairs practice at Hogan Lovells in January 2020, but remains a senior counsel.
Coleman is on the National Advisory Council for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a bipartisan committee that promotes international engagement and includes every living former U.S. secretary of state. He also works as a lobbyist on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia. In 2024, he was among the Hogan Lovells lobbyists U.S. Steel hired to navigate legal scrutiny of proposed acquisition of the company by Nippon Steel.
Political positions
Coleman's politics have changed dramatically during his political career.
College
In college Coleman was a liberal Democrat and actively involved in the antiwar movement of the early 1970s; he was once suspended for leading a sit-in protest. He ran for student senate and opined in the school newspaper that his fellow students should vote for him because "These conservative kids don't fuck or get high like we do (purity, you know) ... Already the cries of motherhood, apple pie, and Jim Buckley reverberate through the halls of the Student Center. Everyone watch out, the 1950s bobby-sox generation is about to take over."
Becoming a Republican
While running for mayor in 1993, Coleman wrote in a letter to the City Convention Delegates: "I have never sought any other political office. I have no other ambition other than to be mayor." In the letter he wrote:
I am a lifelong Democrat. Some accuse me of being the fiscal conservative in this race—I plead guilty! I'm not afraid to be tight with your tax dollars. Yet, my fiscal conservatism does not mean I am any less progressive in my Democratic ideals. From Bobby Kennedy to George McGovern to Warren Spannaus to Hubert Humphrey to Walter Mondale—my commitment to the great values of our party has remained solid.
In 1996, Coleman chaired Paul Wellstone's Senate reelection campaign. In his nomination speech at the 1996 state DFL convention, Coleman said, "Paul Wellstone is a Democrat, and I am a Democrat." Tensions were so high between Coleman and the DFL party at the time that a number of convention delegates loudly booed Coleman's speech.
In December 1996, Coleman announced he was leaving the DFL to join the Republican Party. He cited his frustrations with the Democratic Party and his belief that the Republican Party offered the best chance to continue his efforts to hold the line on taxes and grow jobs.
Coleman's critics, mostly DFL party leaders, speculated that his switch was motivated by aspiration to statewide office. As an abortion opponent and a frequent adversary of public employee unions, Coleman was at odds with the DFL leadership. In a letter to supporters announcing the switch, he wrote, "while the political party I belong to changes, nothing about how I govern or what I believe changes at all." He was reelected mayor of St. Paul in 1997 with nearly 60% of the vote.
As senator
Coleman was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. In March 2007 National Journal ranked him the fourth most liberal Republican in the Senate. GovTrack, an independent tracking website, also called Coleman a "moderate Republican".
In September 2008, Coleman joined the bipartisan Gang of 20, which was seeking a solution to the American energy crisis. The group pushed for a bill that would encourage state-by-state decisions on offshore drilling and authorize billions of dollars for conservation and alternative energy.
Coleman received a 14% progressive rating from Progressive Punch and a 73% conservative rating from the conservative SBE Council. Minnesota's other senator at the time, Mark Dayton, received ratings of 90% progressive and 9% conservative from the same groups.
Specific issues
Main article: Political positions of Norm ColemanEnergy independence
Coleman was a strong supporter of bipartisan efforts to create American independence from foreign sources of energy. This included development of alternative sources of energy such as wind, ethanol, and biofuels.
In 2005, Coleman led a bipartisan coalition of 34 senators in securing a renewable fuels package as part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which included new standards for renewable fuels and an extension of tax credits for biodiesel, small ethanol producers and wind and livestock waste.
Coleman supported additional oil exploration in the outer continental shelf, but maintained a campaign promise to oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
On December 11, 2005, Coleman voted to invoke cloture on, thus advancing, a defense appropriations bill that included oil exploration in ANWR. Critics viewed this as a violation of his pledge to oppose such drilling. Coleman said he did so because although he planned to vote against the bill, he did not believe that a filibuster was warranted. His vote notwithstanding, the filibuster held, and Coleman voted to strip the ANWR provision from the bill in a subsequent vote.
Coleman received a score of 33% for 2007 from the League of Conservation Voters, in their view taking the pro-environment position in just five of 14 cases.
Agriculture
As a member of the Senate's Agriculture Committee, Coleman played an important role in agriculture policy. In 2008 he helped author the Farm Bill. He was praised for his efforts to improve the bill's provisions with regard to sugar, a mainstay of northwestern Minnesota's economy, as well as the bill's dairy program. Coleman also worked for the inclusion of a permanent agriculture disaster assistance program and hailed the bill's investments in conservation, nutrition, and renewable energy. He broke with his fellow Republicans in several instances over agriculture policy, notably by voting for the bill to move forward, and ultimately played a critical role in breaking the stalemate that had delayed Senate consideration of the bill.
Coleman twice voted to override President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill.
Coleman expressed reservations about supporting DR-CAFTA (Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement) unless the interests of the domestic U.S. sugar industry (including Minnesota's sugar beet industry) were accommodated. He voted in favor of DR-CAFTA after obtaining quotas imposed on foreign sugar until 2008. He stood behind Bush on August 2, 2005, as the trade agreement was signed into law. "This is a three-year insurance policy that I have purchased for my sugar farmers," he said.
Fiscal issues
Coleman was generally regarded as a fiscal centrist who supported increasing the minimum wage and safeguarding pensions while at the same time supporting broad tax relief and the line-item veto.
Coleman played an important role in the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. In addition to safeguarding the pensions of all Americans, the legislation is credited with saving the pensions of over 24,000 Northwest Airlines employees and retirees in Minnesota.
Coleman consistently voted to increase the minimum wage as senator.
Coleman had a consistent record of voting for broad tax reform. He supported reductions to the capital gains tax and the marriage penalty, and supported doubling the child tax credit. Coleman also supported elimination of the AMT and death tax. He supported efforts to make permanent the tax cuts enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
As a member of the Small Business Committee, Coleman opposed eliminating the Microloan program, supported funding for Small Business Development Centers and the HUBZone program, successfully extended tax relief for Section 179 expensing, and cosponsored an amendment to increase funding for the SBA by $130 million.
Coleman is a longtime supporter of the line-item veto, calling it a "no-brainer, the right thing to do."
Iraq, Iran, and Israel
Coleman was a strong supporter of the Iraq War from the start. In 2008, he still supported the war, generally tending to agree with the Bush administration. He was in favor of the eventual removal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but did not support any kind of timetable for their removal until the situation stabilized. An August 2008 MinnPost article summarized his position as: "He believes the prospects are good for a drawdown of U.S. troops, but it must be done based on conditions on the ground as reported by commanders in the field, not according to an 'arbitrary' timetable set for 'political' reasons in Washington."
Coleman was also outspoken about the threat Iran poses to Western democracies. He sponsored numerous Congressional Resolutions aimed at Iran, including measures condemning its violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and other international obligations. Coleman led an effort to bring worldwide pressure on Iran to stop its attempts to enrich uranium, which many believed was the final step in an effort to gain offensive nuclear weapons capabilities.
Coleman co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to increase sanctions on Iran, including divestment of American pension funds in companies that do business with Iran and sanctions against countries that provide it with nuclear technology. In 2007, he said, "For the sake of our national security, the U.S. must ensure that the sensitive nuclear technology that we share with partner countries does not fall into the hands of the Iranians."
Coleman is an outspoken defender of Israel. He cosponsored the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 and sent then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a letter urging her to investigate Egypt's smuggling of arms to Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Immigration reform
Coleman was a strong supporter of Bush's 2006 and 2007 attempts to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, one of the few Republicans to do so, as many called it "amnesty for illegal aliens".
Drug control
Coleman admitted to using marijuana as a youth, and he advocated its legalization while in college. He has said that maturity led him to understand that his drug use was dangerous and has repeatedly stated his opposition to legalized drugs, including marijuana. He has said, "I oppose the legalization of marijuana because, as noted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana can have serious adverse health effects on individuals. The health problems that may occur from this highly addictive drug include short-term memory loss, anxiety, respiratory illness and a risk of lung cancer that far exceeds that of tobacco products. It would also make our transportation, schools and workplaces, just as examples, more dangerous."
Social issues
Coleman has campaigned as an anti-abortion candidate since at least 1993. He attributes this position to the death of two of his four children in infancy from a rare genetic disease. He supports limiting stem cell research to adult stem cells and stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, and in July 2006 voted against lifting restrictions on federal research dollars for new embryonic stem cell lines. Coleman is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which supports embryonic stem cell research. He voted in favor of legislative intervention to prolong the life of severely brain-damaged Floridian Terri Schiavo.
Coleman opposed recognition of same-sex marriages by either the federal or state governments. In his 2002 Senate campaign he pledged support for an amendment to the United States Constitution that would ban any state from legalizing same-sex marriage. In 2004 and 2006 he voted in favor of such an amendment.
As mayor Coleman refused to sign a city proclamation celebrating the annual gay pride festival, explaining his opposition: "What we have had in St. Paul and Minneapolis for many years is signing a joint proclamation making it gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender month. I will say that I support human rights ... And of course that includes sexual orientation. On the other hand, I've felt very strongly that it wasn't government's responsibility to give proclamations for people's sexuality. I don't think government has a responsibility to issue awards for one's sexuality." Coleman hired Susan Kimberly, a trans woman, as deputy mayor in 1998. Kimberly also worked as state legislative director in Coleman's Minnesota Senate office.
Social Security
Coleman supported allowing workers to divert a portion of their Social Security contributions to the creation of individual accounts to be invested in the stock market, a variation of a general plan supporters call "personal accounts," historically known as privatization. He agreed with Bush's statements that the contribution changes would apply to those younger than 55. "The Social Security system for those folks 55 and over will not change in any way, shape or form—no ifs, ands, or buts," he said.
Relationship with the Bush administration
In 2002, the Bush administration persuaded Coleman to run against Wellstone rather than for governor.
In December 2005, Coleman voted for a budget bill that cut funding from a number of programs but kept funding for sugar beet farmers in Minnesota after Rove asked him to support the administration's position on the issue. Coleman told Congress Daily that he would not vote for a bill that cut sugar beet funding but "Karl Rove called me and asked what I wanted. A few hours later it was out of the bill."
On March 14, 2006, Coleman called on Bush to replace or reorganize his staff, saying that they did not sufficiently have their "ears to the ground" on matters like Hurricane Katrina, Harriet Miers's failed Supreme Court nomination, and the Dubai Ports World controversy, and accusing the administration of having a "tin ear." He said they showed inadequate "political sensitivity" in their handling of the issues.
On January 22, 2007, Coleman and fellow Republican Senators John Warner and Susan Collins joined Democrats in opposing Bush's planned troop increase in Iraq.
United Nations reform
Main article: Oil-for-Food ProgrammeColeman worked to root out corruption at the United Nations, targeting the so-called "oil-for-food" program.
In May 2005, the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Coleman, held hearings on abuses of the UN Oil-for-Food program, including oil smuggling, illegal kickbacks and use of surcharges, and Saddam Hussein's use of oil vouchers to buy influence abroad. These Oil-for-Food Program Hearings covered corporations (including Bayoil) and several well-known political figures of various nations (including Vladimir Zhironovsky), but are best remembered for the confrontational appearance of British politician George Galloway, then a Member of Parliament (MP) for the RESPECT The Unity Coalition (Respect). Coleman accused Galloway of abuses that Galloway provably denied.
The previous year, Coleman had called on UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan to resign for other alleged program abuses. On June 2, 2006, Coleman responded to criticism that he had insufficiently investigated the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) for sanctions busting, saying that there were legal and cost hurdles. Then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard supported the invasion of Iraq. The Australian ambassador to the U.S., Michael Thawley, met with Coleman in late 2004 to lobby against any investigation of AWB.
Coleman was selected to be a delegate to the U.N. 61st General Assembly in New York, where he pressed for reform and action on Darfur and Iran.
Government infrastructure
On February 10, 2006, in a meeting of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of which Coleman was a member, during testimony of former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director Michael D. Brown, Coleman attacked Brown for poor leadership during Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts, saying, "you didn't provide the leadership, even with structural infirmities", "you're not prepared to kind of put a mirror in front of your face and recognize your own inadequacies", and "the record reflects that you didn't get it or you didn't in writing or in some way make commands that would move people to do what has to be done until way after it should have been done." Brown responded combatively, "well, senator, that's very easy for you to say sitting behind that dais and not being there in the middle of that disaster, watching that human suffering and watching those people dying and trying to deal with those structural dysfunctionalities". and implored Coleman to stick to questions. He later likened Coleman's charges to a "drive-by shooting." Brown had recently said that he notified the Department of Homeland Security and the White House of the tremendous scale of Katrina flooding earlier than had been previously reported.
On March 14, 2006, Coleman introduced a bill that would ban foreign companies from operating ports in the United States.
In March 2007, Coleman introduced legislation (S. 754) to kill the Defense Travel System, a program intended to automate the purchasing of travel services by the U.S. Department of Defense, which accounts for more than half of the federal government's total outlays of around $11 billion annually for travel, including transportation, lodging, and rental cars. Shortly after he filed the legislation, Coleman received a generous contribution from the CEO of Carlson Companies, which owns Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a business travel management firm whose CW Government Travel unit provides travel management services for some federal agencies. The Carlson Companies are based in Minnesota. Over the years, Coleman has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from people connected with Carlson Companies.
Personal life
Coleman married actress Laurie Casserly in 1981. The couple have two children, Jacob and Sarah. Two other children died during infancy (Adam, 1983; Grace, 1992) from a rare genetic disorder known as Zellweger syndrome. In 2016, Jacob Coleman announced his candidacy for an open Minnesota Senate seat held by Julianne Ortman, but did not win the Republican endorsement. Coleman's daughter-in-law, Julia Coleman, won election to the state senate seat in 2021.
Coleman is a member of the Freemason fraternity, having been made a Mason at sight in 2003 by then Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota Neil Neddermeyer.
Coleman was on the America Abroad Media advisory board.
On September 11, 2009, Coleman announced he had been diagnosed with Bell's palsy. Doctors told him that he should fully recover from it. On August 14, 2018, Coleman announced that cancer he had been battling in his neck and throat had spread to his lungs.
Electoral history
Due to tabulation rounding, percentages may not equal 100%Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Al Franken | 1,212,629 | 42.0 | −5.4 | |
Republican | Norm Coleman | 1,212,317 | 42.0 | −7.6 | |
Independence | Dean Barkley | 437,505 | 15.2 | +13.2 | |
Libertarian | Charles Aldrich | 13,923 | 0.5 | n/a | |
Constitution | James Niemackl | 8,907 | 0.3 | +0.2 | |
Write-ins | 2,365 | 0.1 | |||
Margin of victory | 312 | nil | |||
Turnout | 2,887,337 | 100 | +28 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Norm Coleman | 1,116,697 | 49.5 | +8.3 | |
Democratic (DFL) | Walter Mondale | 1,067,246 | 47.3 | −3.0 | |
Independence | Jim Moore | 45,139 | 2.0 | −5.0 | |
Democratic (DFL) | Paul Wellstone | 11,381 | 0.5 | ||
Green | Ray Tricomo | 10,119 | 0.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reform | Jesse Ventura | 768,356 | 37 | ||
Republican | Norm Coleman | 713,410 | 34 | ||
Democratic (DFL) | Hubert Humphrey III | 581,497 | 28 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Norm Coleman (incumbent) | 58.7 | |||
Democratic (DFL) | Sandy Pappas | 40.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (DFL) | Norm Coleman | 54.7 | |||
Democratic (DFL) | Andy Dawkins | 44.3 |
See also
- List of American politicians who switched parties in office
- USA Congressional staff edits to Misplaced Pages
- Politics of Minnesota
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- Jeff Larson
References
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{{cite news}}
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External links
- Coleman for Senate, campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Collected news and commentary from The New York Times
- Profile from SourceWatch
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded byJames Scheibel | Mayor of Saint Paul 1994–2002 |
Succeeded byRandy Kelly |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded byArne Carlson | Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota 1998 |
Succeeded byTim Pawlenty |
Preceded byRudy Boschwitz | Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Minnesota (Class 2) 2002, 2008 |
Succeeded byMike McFadden |
U.S. Senate | ||
Preceded byDean Barkley | U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Minnesota 2003–2009 Served alongside: Mark Dayton, Amy Klobuchar |
Succeeded byAl Franken |
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded byMark Daytonas Former US Senator | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byTim Wirthas Former US Senator |
United States senators from Minnesota | ||
---|---|---|
Class 1 | ||
Class 2 |
Minnesota's delegation(s) to the 108th–110th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority) | ||||||||||
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|
Al Franken | |
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Bibliography |
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Political career | |
See also |
|
People | |
- 1949 births
- 20th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 21st-century American Jews
- 20th-century mayors of places in Minnesota
- 21st-century mayors of places in Minnesota
- American Zionists
- American lobbyists
- Brooklyn Law School alumni
- Candidates in the 1998 United States elections
- Hofstra University alumni
- James Madison High School (Brooklyn) alumni
- Jewish American people in Minnesota politics
- Jewish United States senators
- Jewish American mayors
- Living people
- Mayors of Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Members of Congress who became lobbyists
- Minnesota Democrats
- Minnesota Republicans
- Minnesota lawyers
- People associated with Hogan Lovells
- Politicians from Brooklyn
- Republican Party United States senators from Minnesota
- United Nations Oil-for-Food scandal
- University of Iowa College of Law alumni
- 21st-century United States senators