CNN Eulogizes 'Titan' Barney Frank
By Matt Hadro | November 28, 2011 | 13:42
Reporting on Monday morning that Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was not seeking re-election, CNN's political team whitewashed his controversial tenure in office with some fond words like "titan," "larger-than-life," and "teacher at heart."
CNN's Joe Johns lauded Frank's skills as a teacher -- especially as the first openly-gay congressman. "He's taught this country so much about the gay community in the United States and what it means to be an openly gay member of Congress. A leader, in fact, on Capitol Hill," Johns gushed.
Political editor Mark Preston praised Frank as a "titan" of financial sector matters in Congress while saying nothing of the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under his oversight. While noting that Frank was tough to deal with, Preston added that he was "one of the best debaters in Congress" and "always the smartest person in the room." [Video below the break. Click here for audio.]
During the 11 a.m. hour, anchor Suzanne Malveaux termed the congressman as a "larger-than-life political figure." Correspondent Joe Johns touted Frank's intelligence, saying he was "known by many many people as just about one of the smartest members of Congress on Capitol Hill."
At the end of the 12 p.m. hour, Johns continued his acclaimation of Frank as a "teacher at heart" who influenced people of both parties on Capitol Hill. "And the fact is that whenever you talk to Barney Frank, when you walk away, he may insult you, he may anger – he may make you feel proud depending on your political inclination, but he will leave you with the sense that you learned something from what he said," Johns hyped.
At the end of the 10 a.m. hour, Mark Preston did acknowledge that Frank was reprimanded by the House in 1990, but added some silver lining by framing the liberal Dodd-Frank regulations as a possible comeback of sorts for the congressman.
"You know, back in 1990 he was reprimanded by the House over allegations over his association with a male prostitute," Preston vaguely described Frank's charges. The congressman's real scandal was allegations of his knowledge of a prostitution service being run out of his Capitol Hill apartment.
"But just in the past couple of years, Barney Frank might have made the comeback, some would say, to push all those bad things aside, when he was the co-author of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill," Preston claimed.
The liberal bill also received commendation from Joe Johns, who called it "the kind of bill that people have talked about again and again and again, even the presidential candidates they've talked about."
CNN also made sure to report the influence Frank had in the progress of gay rights. Preston noted that the openly-gay Frank used his orientation as a "badge of honor," and "did a lot, actually, for the gay community."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on November 28 at 10:07 a.m. EST, is as follows:
MARK PRESTON, CNN senior political editor: But the fact of the matter is, he has been a titan when it comes to financial service issues on Capitol Hill. He was the chairman of the Financial Services Committee when Democrats held the majority, and he still has been a very strong voice for Democratic ideals and what have you on Capitol Hill. But he did have controversy as well. He was considered to be one of the best debaters in Congress. You did not want to get on the floor with him, Kyra, and get into an argument with him.
(...)
PRESTON: But I have to tell you, Barney Frank was one of these people who was always the smartest person in the room. And that was one of his strengths on Capitol Hill....Now what's interesting about Barney Frank is that back in 1987 he came out and he acknowledged that he was gay, which was a big deal at the time. And he went on to wear this as a badge of honor on his sleeve, and probably helped many other folks who were in the closet and didn't want to talk about their sexuality to come out. So Barney Frank has done a lot to promote Democratic ideals, but he also did a lot, actually, for the gay community, Kyra.
Comments
#1 We will have the last laugh
Submitted by jkwtrading on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 1:48pm.
We will have the last laugh when Barnye goes to jail.
#2 Guess he never was in the same room with Obama
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 1:53pm.
"always the smartest person in the room"? I thought that was Obama.
#3 Maybe not the smartest
Submitted by TheHistorian on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:05pm.
I think he got bested more than once by the "dining room table".
Dennis Prager
#4 BA-da-BOOM!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:52pm.
LOL!
#5 This corrupt POS libturd
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 1:54pm.
This corrupt POS libturd should be rotting in jail along with his cohorts Dodd, Pelosi, Reid, Waters and Rangel.
#6 Scoob,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:41pm.
My thoughts exactly.
Problem is, they all have the all-important "D" after their name, which is as good as a get-out-of-jail-free card.
And even if the repubs take over next year, I doubt they would have the guts to go after any of them, anyway.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
#7 Dave, We definitely need
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:00pm.
Dave,
We definitely need congress critters and Senators with a spine to start flushing out and imprisoning these corrupt bastards.
Another thing I would love to see happen. ALL federal pensions and perks (like their health plan) are REVOKED!! And that means everyone's. From the congress crooks like Franks to the congress critter who only served 1 term.
It should be a privilege to serve your country in this capacity and not a golden parachute when you leave or are booted out.
#8 You left out....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:56pm.
the one adjective/pronoun that I always think of when ever his name is mentioned (Sorry, Lord. I don't have control over the first thought that comes into my brain.) that describes....how to say this.....someone of his sexual aberration's most common method of satisfying his partner.
#9 While Barney sold prostitutes...
Submitted by GeneralAl on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 1:57pm.
While Barney was selling male prostitutes under the Capitol, Herman Cain was busting his butt to succeed. Meanwhile, Cain gets destroyed by the media and Ms. Fwank gets beatified!
"Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away"!
#10 General
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:57pm.
I think you got it backwards. Bawney was busting his butt with the male prostitutes while Cain was selling to succeed.
Bawney is very loyal. He's always said he'd never leave his friend's behind.
#11 Just in!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 1:58pm.
Barney Frank offered the head coaching position at Penn State.
(Read it again. You'll get it soon.)
#12 Or an assistant coaching job
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:10pm.
Or an assistant coaching job for the prison football team - if not the towel boy!!!
And I read that the wet cocker spaniel - Dudley Whatsername-Schlitz - said that she will miss him 'terribly'.............which I thought was an unusual choice of words.
#13 That hair win't wet, Killa.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:42pm.
She uses mayonnaise in it every day!
Maybe they'll put Baaney in charge of knee pads.
#14 Is "Eulogize" the right word?
Submitted by TheHistorian on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:03pm.
Did he retire, or did he die?
(Please do not respond with wishes)
Dennis Prager
#15 Another guilty rat...
Submitted by VT Con Man on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:03pm.
scurrying from the sinking ship. Don't let the door hit you in the rear on your way out.
Issa needs to take a long look at Bawny's "accomplishments".
#16 Possible reasons Frank threw
Submitted by celator on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:09pm.
Possible reasons Frank threw in the towel:
1. He won by a narrow margin in his last election (true)
2. His district was redrawn, narrowing his margin even more (true)
3. He needs to lawyer up and build his defense for upcoming criminal charges (maybe)
4. MSNBC made him an offer he can't refuse (possible)
5.His insider trading made him wealthy enough to retire (who knows?)
#17 Surprised they mentioned ANY negativity at all....
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:10pm.
Being from Mass I apologize for this POS, even though I don't live in his district of a-hole libs that voted him in, I feel an apology is in order.
Being from Mass, I also make note that HE may have lost anyway and that is why he is not running again.
The district is changing FOR THE BETTER as is some areas of Mass.
The smartest man in the room didn't know a brothel was being run out of his house, didn't know his latest boyfriend was growing pot plants etc, etc, etc and REMEMBER this gem - "going forward Fannie and Freddie are good bets".......
The smarmiest a-hole in the room, but smartest, NOPE.
#18 Our grandchildren will pay for Frank's "leadership"
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:20pm.
MARK PRESTON, CNN senior political editor: ". . . But the fact of the matter is, he has been a titan when it comes to financial service issues on Capitol Hill. He was the chairman of the Financial Services Committee when Democrats held the majority, and he still has been a very strong voice for Democratic ideals and what have you on Capitol Hill. . .
This is akin to praising the captain of the Titanic while ignoring the fact that he drove the ship into an iceberg.
Frank is to the American financial industry what Robert Shrum is to Democratic political campaigns.
PRESTON: ". . . But he did have controversy as well."
Like being reprimanded by the House of Representatives for allowing his gay lover to run a prostitution business out of Frank's taxpayer-funded residence.
And of course, there's his steering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into fiscal disaster by encouraging them to buy up the non-performing sub-prime mortgages he had urged the lending industry to take up.
#19 It will only be a matter of time before.....
Submitted by Wiiliam1972 on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 2:50pm.
...the prevailing media content will end up being "right-wing homophobic crusaders forced Barney Frank from office. He fought valiantly, but could not overcome the culture of hate inherent in the Tea Party."
Watch.
#20 Barney Frank. How it progressed - in his words and actions.
Submitted by Gary Hall on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:07pm.
How it progressed - in his words.
2005 - Barney Frank: What Housing Bubble? This is not dangerous like Clinton’s Dot.Com bubble. Summary:
Next - Excerpt from an interview given by Barney Frank on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS on April 20, 2009, where Rep. Frank astonishingly claims that conservatives are to blame for the housing collapse, and that he has been in favor of rental housing for low-income earners all along. .. but Tavis Smiley is caught completely off guard.. “.. you can’t tell me you want to sell these folks short on the American Dream.” Looks like Barney forgot to let Tavis in on the change in game plan.
Next - w/ Larry King, same as with Tavis Smiley.. Watch again as the shifty eyed Frank, blames it all on Bush (more than Clinton or Cuomo??). Once again, Rep Frank is blaming the push into homes on Bush and conservatives. Larry King is blindsided and is confused on Barney's change of heart (blame) . . his shift from pushing poor minorities into buying homes.. into renting.. King: “but Barney, didn’t you support Fannie Mae and the like ..?” Barney interrupts him and says, ‘ rental housing.. I was very critical.. I was pushing them to do more rental housing, and that’s a big distinction.
Barney Frank should have been forced out. If our national media had simply reported the basic facts, the public would have demanded it
Good riddance Barney.
(;~/ gary
#21 Gary I got the music, lol, (opens in new widow)h/t Rush
Submitted by upcountrywater on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 5:00pm.
Millie Small
And
Dave Cortez
BTW; Great post!
You Didn't Build That.
#22 He belongs in jail.
Submitted by mattm on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:22pm.
He belongs in jail.
#23 Barney and the military
Submitted by ThisnThat on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:55pm.
I heard some of his "not running for re-election" speech. His main point was: "I think I can be more successful in reducing our military outside of Congress than I can inside of congress".
He said this at least twice. And that has been his goal his entire career -- to kill the military. He and the entire dim Congress has always hated the military. I wonder if CNN is going to mention that?
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
#24 Is "titan" the new code word for
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:05pm.
flamer? Look, he's quitting because the legislation that bears his name will surely be exposed after the 2012 election; just like everything else the dems have done since Obama took office. Two reasons it hasn't yet: Most people are still finding out what is buried in Obamacare, and Bank of America backed off the $5 monthly check card fee. Don't be surprised when we learn that a significant portion of Dodd-Frank has been set up to benefit wealthy democrat donors. Or that "too big to fail" was only eliminated by eliminating the competition.That's been the MO of this bunch from the get-go.
It simply cannot be a coincidence that both Dodd and Frank are retiring.
#25 Hey Barney,
Submitted by ohio granny on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:16pm.
Don't let the door hit you in the @$$ on the way out. You will not be missed.
#26 Bawney Fwank announces retirement,
Submitted by UpNorth on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:18pm.
gerbils all over D.C. breathe a sigh of relief.
And, Maxine Waters is "poised" to be the ranking dem on the Financial Services committee? Great googily moogily, we're doomed. That's the equivalent of making Ron Paul Secretary of Defense.
#27 Politics, sexual preferences, lack of ethics, and ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:51pm.
overall pissy attitude aside, Barney Frank is one of the most repulsive pieces of sh*t I have ever had the displeasure of being aware of.
Obama is not the only reason this country is circling the drain.
MD
#28 Barney Franks to Portray Elmer Fudd in new "Loony Tunes" Movie
Submitted by HollyW on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:32pm.
According to the Daily Rash, Barney Franks has been in salary negotiations with DreamWorks studios to portray Elmer Fudd in the upcoming Spielberg "Loony Tunes" movie. I guess he got the role! http://www.thedailyrash.com/barney-frank-in-salary-negotiations-for-elme...
#29 Either Elmer Fudd, ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 4:45pm.
... or Sylvester the cat.
#30 Thplplpl
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 5:22pm.
Suphering sluckershaph
#31 Franks
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 11/28/2011 - 5:25pm.
Has always reminded me of Bill the Cat