Franken rakes Pickens on Swift Boat ads

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., confronted T. Boone Pickens over the oil billionaire's financing of Swift Boat ads in the 2004 campaign, witnesses said.

Pickens was invited to address the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Thursday on his proposals for wind energy. Citing a source, Politico reported Friday that as Pickens introduced himself to Franken, the newly seated junior senator from Minnesota remained in his chair and began to berate Pickens for funding an ad campaign that depicted Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as not deserving of the military honors he received during the Vietnam War.

Kerry was the Democratic nominee for president and the ads are credited with helping sink his campaign for the White House.

Politico said its source described the conversation between Franken and Pickens as heated.

"It was a lively conversation," said Franken spokeswoman Jess McIntosh.

"If they have a problem, that's their problem," Pickens spokesman Jay Rosser told Politico.

Other Senate Democrats gave Pickens a warm welcome, Politico said. Kerry did not attend, his staff saying he "had a long scheduled lunch with interns and pages."