Who is Barney Frank?
in response to
by
Mosaic ImmunoEngineering is a nanotechnology-based immunotherapy company developing therapeutics and vaccines to positively impact the lives of patients and their families.
Message: Blame Bush Jr.
Subject: Who is Barney Frank?
By Vasko Kohlmayer
"As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank
sits at the center of power."
Thus wrote John Gallagher in The Advocate as our government officials
desperately struggled to limit the fallout from the unfolding financial
crisis.
Gallagher is right. As Chairman of the Financial Service Committee in the US
House of Representatives, Barney Frank plays a crucial role in determining
in what ways much of the bailout and stimulus money is spent. This is
because the committee over which he presides oversees the housing and
banking sectors, two industries that are at the center of the current
economic crisis. But Frank's power and influence extend beyond his
chairmanship of the important Financial Services Committee. Outspoken, smart
and forceful, Frank has emerged as one of the heavyweights in the
Democrat-led House and as such instrumental in shaping its course and
agenda. There are some who think that his behind-the-scenes influence
exceeds even that of Nancy Pelosi. Whether or not this is so, there can be
no doubt that Barney Frank is currently one of the most powerful politicians
in the country.
Given his present position of influence, taxpayers may want to learn more
about the background of the man who directs how hundreds of billions of
dollars of their money is spent.
Barnett "Barney" Frank was first elected to Congress in 1981 at the age of
forty-one from Massachusetts' 4th district. Six years later he made national
news when he publicly declared his homosexuality. By that admission he
became the first openly gay member of the House of Representatives.
In 1991, Barney Frank received an official reprimand for reflecting
"discredit upon the House." The reprimand came as a result of his
relationship with a man named Steve Gobi, a male prostitute whom Frank
initially paid $80 for sex. Frank later took Gobi to live with him in his
home, making him a personal aide. He paid him $20,000 in compensation
(unreported to the IRS) and let him use his car. Subsequent investigation
revealed that in the course of their relationship, Frank used his
congressional office and stationary to fix Gobi's 33 parking fines. Frank
also used his congressional letterhead to write a reference letter to Gobi's
probation officer -- Gobi was under court supervision as a convicted felon
with a prison record -- in which he gave false information. Most damningly,
the investigation found that Gobi ran a prostitution ring from Frank's home.
In his defense, Frank asserted he knew nothing of Gobi's illicit enterprise.
The Democrat -controlled House voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank after a
heated debate during which some Republicans demanded expulsion. They pointed
out that the claim that Frank did not know of Gobi's criminal activities was
incredible to say the least.
Jeff Jacoby of The Boston Globe summed up their sentiments when he wrote:
"Most pathetic of all was Frank's claim that he'd been 'victimized' -- that
he was a just a 'good liberal' who was 'trying to help' Gobie, but got
'suckered.'"
Frank's Democrat colleagues, however, insisted that this was precisely what
happened. During the debate, his friend Thomas Foglietta (D-PA) said,
"Barney Frank is accused of being stupid and, my friend, if being stupid
were grounds for expulsion, there'd be very few of us left here."
Although the latter part of Foglietta's statement may well be true, the
first part is decidedly not. Whatever else he may be, Barney Frank is
certainly not stupid. A former Harvard instructor, Barney Frank twice won
the title "brainiest", "funniest," and "most eloquent" member of the House
in a survey of Capitol Hill staffers. It truly strains the bounds of
credulity that Frank, an accomplished congressman and a former Ivy League
lecturer, could be deceived under his own roof by a street hustler.
After Gobi, Barney Frank become involved in another questionable -- and
possibly criminally tainted -- relationship with a man called Herb Moses.
Moses, whom Frank called his "spouse," was a high-level executive at Fannie
Mae from 1991 until 1998. Dubbed a "mortgage guru" by the National Mortgage
News, Moses boasted that he helped develop "many of Fannie Mae's affordable
housing and home improvement lending programs." It was, of course, these
kinds of programs that ultimately led to the collapse of the subprime
mortgage market that wiped out trillions dollars from the economy and
produced the economic turmoil that we now face. Even though there were those
warning against the precarious nature of the enterprise, Barney Frank --
whose committee oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- kept resisting
reforms and besmirching those voicing concerns.
When the Bush administration proposed that oversight of Fannie and Freddie
be transferred to the Treasury Department, Frank strongly opposed the plan,
claiming:
"These two entities... are not facing any kind of financial crisis... The
more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these
companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."
Frank continued to claim almost until the day of the collapse that the two
mortgage giants were financially sound. If we lived in a sane world, Barney
Frank would be compelled to testify about his culpability in the current
crisis and what role his romantic involvement with Herb Moses -- as well as
the campaign contributions he received from Fannie and Freddie -- played in
his shilling for these two moribund institutions.
Commenting on his shenanigans, Jeff Jacoby observed that under normal
circumstances Frank's questionable relationships could have well landed him
in prison. Voters in his very liberal congressional district, however, have
awarded him with a string of easy re-elections.
In his public life Barney Frank is known as a civil rights hawk. A feisty
progressive activist, Frank has poured much of his energies into the area of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. One of his great
achievements was the founding of the National Stonewall Democrats, a gay
activist arm of the Democrat Party that brought under one umbrella
previously unaffiliated LGBT clubs across America. Describing itself as "a
grassroots force for social change," the organization is headquartered in
Washington, D.C. and currently oversees more than 90 local chapters. The
organization's website states that its activities focus primarily on
"mobilizing the LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] community to
get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up
when Republicans attack our families..."
As could be expected from the founder of the National Stonewall Democrats,
Barney Frank voted 'no' on constitutionally defining marriage as
one-man-one-woman. During the debate he praised the progressive leaning of
his own state's body politic: "I believe the political community of
Massachusetts is prepared to say, if two men love each other and are
prepared to be committed to each other legally as well as emotionally, that
is rather a good thing and we will say it's okay." In 1999 Frank voted 'no'
on a bill which would ban gay adoptions in Washington, D.C. Needless to say,
Frank's voting record has earned him a 97% lifetime rating from the ACLU.
Throughout his career Frank has pushed for the decriminalization of medical
marijuana. He recently extended the scope of his efforts to the public at
large. Last year he introduced a bill called the Personal Use of Marijuana
by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, which would have removed federal
penalties for the possession of up to 100 grams (3.5 oz) of the drug.
Although Frank often talks about the "silliness" of jailing people for
possessing small quantities of the substance, 100 grams is actually a large
amount, which, by most accounts, makes for more than 200 doses. According to
a recent analysis by High Times magazine, 100 grams of most marijuana
strands goes for more than $1000 at street prices. Defending his bill, Frank
said that it was "time for the politicians to catch up with the public on
this." Frank words almost make it look like it is a common thing for
Americans to walk around with $1000 worth of cannabis in their pockets.
In 2006, Frank voted against the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, a
bill aimed at restricting protests and demonstrations at soldiers' funerals.
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate with Frank being one of only
three legislators in the House who voted against the Act.
In 2003 Barney Frank voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, a
brutal procedure during which a baby -- often viable -- is killed in the
birth canal by having its skull pierced and its brain sucked out. In
addition, Frank also voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and
against the criminalization of taking of minors across state lines by
non-family members to circumvent abortion laws. Not surprisingly, Frank's
voting record earned him a 100% rating from NARAL.
In the area of national defense, Barney Frank has for years advocated a 25
percent reduction in the overall military budget of the United States.
Earlier this month, he wrote in a piece that ran in the Nation,
"[I]f we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military
budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an
adequate level of domestic activity even with a repeal of Bush's tax cuts
for the very wealthy."
He then challenged those who call for fiscal responsibility to first look
"where our spending has been the most irresponsible and has produced the
least good for the dollars expended - our military budget."
All those who care about the future of this country should be greatly
concerned that Barney Frank, a leftist radical who publicly flaunts his
homosexuality, is presently one of the most powerful politicians in America.
His recent actions and statements make it amply clear that he will seek to
use his present influence to implement as much of his extreme agenda as he
possibly can. Given his party's hold on the White House and Congress his
efforts may meet with much success.
Page Printed from:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/... at
"As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank
sits at the center of power."
Thus wrote John Gallagher in The Advocate as our government officials
desperately struggled to limit the fallout from the unfolding financial
crisis.
Gallagher is right. As Chairman of the Financial Service Committee in the US
House of Representatives, Barney Frank plays a crucial role in determining
in what ways much of the bailout and stimulus money is spent. This is
because the committee over which he presides oversees the housing and
banking sectors, two industries that are at the center of the current
economic crisis. But Frank's power and influence extend beyond his
chairmanship of the important Financial Services Committee. Outspoken, smart
and forceful, Frank has emerged as one of the heavyweights in the
Democrat-led House and as such instrumental in shaping its course and
agenda. There are some who think that his behind-the-scenes influence
exceeds even that of Nancy Pelosi. Whether or not this is so, there can be
no doubt that Barney Frank is currently one of the most powerful politicians
in the country.
Given his present position of influence, taxpayers may want to learn more
about the background of the man who directs how hundreds of billions of
dollars of their money is spent.
Barnett "Barney" Frank was first elected to Congress in 1981 at the age of
forty-one from Massachusetts' 4th district. Six years later he made national
news when he publicly declared his homosexuality. By that admission he
became the first openly gay member of the House of Representatives.
In 1991, Barney Frank received an official reprimand for reflecting
"discredit upon the House." The reprimand came as a result of his
relationship with a man named Steve Gobi, a male prostitute whom Frank
initially paid $80 for sex. Frank later took Gobi to live with him in his
home, making him a personal aide. He paid him $20,000 in compensation
(unreported to the IRS) and let him use his car. Subsequent investigation
revealed that in the course of their relationship, Frank used his
congressional office and stationary to fix Gobi's 33 parking fines. Frank
also used his congressional letterhead to write a reference letter to Gobi's
probation officer -- Gobi was under court supervision as a convicted felon
with a prison record -- in which he gave false information. Most damningly,
the investigation found that Gobi ran a prostitution ring from Frank's home.
In his defense, Frank asserted he knew nothing of Gobi's illicit enterprise.
The Democrat -controlled House voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank after a
heated debate during which some Republicans demanded expulsion. They pointed
out that the claim that Frank did not know of Gobi's criminal activities was
incredible to say the least.
Jeff Jacoby of The Boston Globe summed up their sentiments when he wrote:
"Most pathetic of all was Frank's claim that he'd been 'victimized' -- that
he was a just a 'good liberal' who was 'trying to help' Gobie, but got
'suckered.'"
Frank's Democrat colleagues, however, insisted that this was precisely what
happened. During the debate, his friend Thomas Foglietta (D-PA) said,
"Barney Frank is accused of being stupid and, my friend, if being stupid
were grounds for expulsion, there'd be very few of us left here."
Although the latter part of Foglietta's statement may well be true, the
first part is decidedly not. Whatever else he may be, Barney Frank is
certainly not stupid. A former Harvard instructor, Barney Frank twice won
the title "brainiest", "funniest," and "most eloquent" member of the House
in a survey of Capitol Hill staffers. It truly strains the bounds of
credulity that Frank, an accomplished congressman and a former Ivy League
lecturer, could be deceived under his own roof by a street hustler.
After Gobi, Barney Frank become involved in another questionable -- and
possibly criminally tainted -- relationship with a man called Herb Moses.
Moses, whom Frank called his "spouse," was a high-level executive at Fannie
Mae from 1991 until 1998. Dubbed a "mortgage guru" by the National Mortgage
News, Moses boasted that he helped develop "many of Fannie Mae's affordable
housing and home improvement lending programs." It was, of course, these
kinds of programs that ultimately led to the collapse of the subprime
mortgage market that wiped out trillions dollars from the economy and
produced the economic turmoil that we now face. Even though there were those
warning against the precarious nature of the enterprise, Barney Frank --
whose committee oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- kept resisting
reforms and besmirching those voicing concerns.
When the Bush administration proposed that oversight of Fannie and Freddie
be transferred to the Treasury Department, Frank strongly opposed the plan,
claiming:
"These two entities... are not facing any kind of financial crisis... The
more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these
companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."
Frank continued to claim almost until the day of the collapse that the two
mortgage giants were financially sound. If we lived in a sane world, Barney
Frank would be compelled to testify about his culpability in the current
crisis and what role his romantic involvement with Herb Moses -- as well as
the campaign contributions he received from Fannie and Freddie -- played in
his shilling for these two moribund institutions.
Commenting on his shenanigans, Jeff Jacoby observed that under normal
circumstances Frank's questionable relationships could have well landed him
in prison. Voters in his very liberal congressional district, however, have
awarded him with a string of easy re-elections.
In his public life Barney Frank is known as a civil rights hawk. A feisty
progressive activist, Frank has poured much of his energies into the area of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues. One of his great
achievements was the founding of the National Stonewall Democrats, a gay
activist arm of the Democrat Party that brought under one umbrella
previously unaffiliated LGBT clubs across America. Describing itself as "a
grassroots force for social change," the organization is headquartered in
Washington, D.C. and currently oversees more than 90 local chapters. The
organization's website states that its activities focus primarily on
"mobilizing the LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] community to
get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up
when Republicans attack our families..."
As could be expected from the founder of the National Stonewall Democrats,
Barney Frank voted 'no' on constitutionally defining marriage as
one-man-one-woman. During the debate he praised the progressive leaning of
his own state's body politic: "I believe the political community of
Massachusetts is prepared to say, if two men love each other and are
prepared to be committed to each other legally as well as emotionally, that
is rather a good thing and we will say it's okay." In 1999 Frank voted 'no'
on a bill which would ban gay adoptions in Washington, D.C. Needless to say,
Frank's voting record has earned him a 97% lifetime rating from the ACLU.
Throughout his career Frank has pushed for the decriminalization of medical
marijuana. He recently extended the scope of his efforts to the public at
large. Last year he introduced a bill called the Personal Use of Marijuana
by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, which would have removed federal
penalties for the possession of up to 100 grams (3.5 oz) of the drug.
Although Frank often talks about the "silliness" of jailing people for
possessing small quantities of the substance, 100 grams is actually a large
amount, which, by most accounts, makes for more than 200 doses. According to
a recent analysis by High Times magazine, 100 grams of most marijuana
strands goes for more than $1000 at street prices. Defending his bill, Frank
said that it was "time for the politicians to catch up with the public on
this." Frank words almost make it look like it is a common thing for
Americans to walk around with $1000 worth of cannabis in their pockets.
In 2006, Frank voted against the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, a
bill aimed at restricting protests and demonstrations at soldiers' funerals.
The measure passed unanimously in the Senate with Frank being one of only
three legislators in the House who voted against the Act.
In 2003 Barney Frank voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, a
brutal procedure during which a baby -- often viable -- is killed in the
birth canal by having its skull pierced and its brain sucked out. In
addition, Frank also voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and
against the criminalization of taking of minors across state lines by
non-family members to circumvent abortion laws. Not surprisingly, Frank's
voting record earned him a 100% rating from NARAL.
In the area of national defense, Barney Frank has for years advocated a 25
percent reduction in the overall military budget of the United States.
Earlier this month, he wrote in a piece that ran in the Nation,
"[I]f we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military
budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an
adequate level of domestic activity even with a repeal of Bush's tax cuts
for the very wealthy."
He then challenged those who call for fiscal responsibility to first look
"where our spending has been the most irresponsible and has produced the
least good for the dollars expended - our military budget."
All those who care about the future of this country should be greatly
concerned that Barney Frank, a leftist radical who publicly flaunts his
homosexuality, is presently one of the most powerful politicians in America.
His recent actions and statements make it amply clear that he will seek to
use his present influence to implement as much of his extreme agenda as he
possibly can. Given his party's hold on the White House and Congress his
efforts may meet with much success.
Page Printed from:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/... at
March 05, 2009 - 08:46:03 AM EST
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