Franken's racy commentary GOP fodder

WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Minnesota Republicans circulated a 2000 Playboy commentary by Democratic Senate hopeful Al Franken, asking Franken to apologize -- and Franken says he won't.

The article, which includes graphic sexual descriptions, was circulated in a letter written by GOP women at the same time Republicans criticized Playboy chief executive Christie Hefner for sponsoring a Franken fundraiser, The Hill, a Washington publication, reported Friday.

In the "Porn-O-Rama!" commentary, the comedian and former writer for NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and best-selling author describes a visit to a fictional sex institute where he engages in sex with machines and humans.

Franken, bidding to unseat incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., has said he wouldn't respond when Republicans bring up material from his past because "that's all I'd do," The Hill said.

"Al had a long career as a satirist," campaign spokeswoman Jess McIntosh said Thursday. "But he understands the difference between what you say as a satirist and what you do as a senator."

Coleman's campaign declined to comment to The Hill.

Franken is favored to win the party nomination during Minnesota's Democratic endorsing convention in June.