Should Sen. Franken get another term?

GOP candidates
Republican candidates campaigning for the U.S. Senate debate Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2014 at the Jewish Community Center / Barry Family Campus in St. Louis Park. From left to right are State Rep. Jim Abeler, David Carlson, Peter Swanson (standing in for candidate Chris Dahlberg), Mike McFadden, forum moderator Mark Miller, Monti Moreno, state Sen. Julianne Ortman and Phillip Parrish. Jennifer Simonson/MPR News

Several Minnesota Republicans vying to run against U.S. Sen. Al Franken this fall criticized the Democrat during a candidate forum in St. Louis Park this week.

"The candidates spent much of their time talking about national defense issues at the Republican Jewish Coalition-sponsored forum. All said they opposed Obama administration proposals to pare back the size of the military," writes MPR News reporter Mark Zdechlik.

"Global hot spots are increasing right? And the world is a more dangerous place. Why are we proposing to cut the military now? We're sending the wrong message to our allies and to our enemies," said state Sen. Julianne Ortman.

They also blamed the Democrat for not cracking down on U.S. government spying on Americans.

State Rep. Jim Abeler said the U.S. should look toward Israel's practice of "selective" intelligence screening.

"When you treat everybody as though they're the enemy, we all could be the enemy," Abeler said. "You could be detained because they might suspect you and that's ridiculous."

Iraq war veteran David Carlson, Naval Reserve Intelligence officer Phillip Parrish and businessman Monti Moreno also participated in the debate.

Today's Question: Should Sen. Franken get another term?

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