Barney Frank I have a problem with this idea of leaving “non-combat” troops in Iraq. Do the other guys know that they’re non-combat troops? It’s not like they raise their hands and say, “no shooting!” It doesn’t work. It’s time to bring those troops home.
Barney Frank My opponent, Republican Sean Bielat, has criticized me for inviting former President Bill Clinton to speak in Taunton, Massachusetts, one of the cities I represent. The former President, who is still immensely popular here, drew a crowd of over 2200 to a rally in support of me in the high school gym. Mr. Bielat, a re...lative newcomer to the state, staged a counter-demonstration in Taunton with Tea Party activists. So I am happy to take credit for bringing two people to Taunton -- President Bill Clinton and Republican Sean Bielat.
barney2010.com
TAUNTON - Former President Bill Clinton urged Democrats Sunday to prevent "anger, apathy and amnesia" from defeating congressmen like Barney Frank.
Barney Frank The attached audio clip by Rush Limbaugh is a shocking example of homophobic bigotry. Fortunately, most people are not sympathetic to these extremist views. But it is important that we not only believe that such bigotry is wrong, but that we make an active effort to oppose it.
mediamatters.org
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Barney Frank
Elizabeth Warren is far and away the best candidate to head up the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. It was her idea; she fought hard for it; and she has a lot of political savvy. She's also extremely popular with the public and she deserves to be.
There are some who say that she would be hard to confirm. B...ut given the way the Senate works, do you really want someone who is easy to confirm? And others talk about the possibility of a Republican filibuster. But it makes no sense to cave in just because they threaten -- I say, let's make them do it. Let them find out how much support Elizabeth Warren has.
barney2010.com
"A year ago, we were being told, you have to deregulate more. Now, we are going to have to save capitalism from the capitalists."
Barney Frank
People are rightly upset about the role of big money in politics. And it’s true that big money will win if it’s got the field to itself. But if you get the average voter involved and engage the collective weight of public opinion you will kick big money’s ass.
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Find out more about my thoughts on this and ...related topics in the video at this link. And while you're there you can also sign up for my email newsletter.
barney2010.com
"The public got engaged, and once the public got engaged the bill got better. If you get the average voter involved, the collective will of public opinion will kick big money's ass."
Barney Frank
One of the things that bothers me about journalism is that members of Congress can be debating the most important issues of the day -- reforming Wall Street, repairing our health insurance system, or whether or not to continue an unpopular war – and reporters say that we are “bickering.” You have to wonder if journali...sts in the 1850s said that Lincoln and Douglas were just bickering. Would it be better if we don’t “bicker” over how to prevent the next financial catastrophe? Would it be better not to argue passionately for your principles? I don’t think so.
You can read more of my thoughts on this and other subjects in the attached article from Politico.
He has shepherded a twice-in-a-century financial reform bill to cusp of final passage.
Barney Frank The votes in the Senate Committee and on the House floor to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” constitute one of the most important advances in our fight against prejudice based on sexual orientation. A very few years from now, it will be clear that the fears expressed by our opponents arguments were totally without found...ation. I particularly want to express my admiration and great appreciation to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, and Representative Patrick Murphy, for their extraordinary leadership in bringing this about.
The Senate Armed Services Committee vote is a big step toward dismantling a Clinton-era ban on gay men, lesbians and bisexual people serving openly in the military.
Barney Frank
My Republican colleagues claim that the financial reform bill contains money for future bailouts. In the years I've been in Congress, that's one of the phoniest things I've ever heard. The bill actually makes it possible to liquidate the biggest firms when they fail -- not save them. And it doesn't spend a dime of ta...xpayer money.
During the health care debate, the Republicans claimed that there were "death panels" where there weren't any. Now that we actually have "death panels" in the financial reform bill, they pretend that they don't see them.
See the video for more:
Barney Frank
If you're going to use metaphors it's important to get them right. So
when Chris Matthews asked me on Hardball tonight if I thought the
Republicans were in bed with Wall Street and other big financial institutions, my response was no.
They are not in bed with them. They are serving them breakfast in bed.
Rep. Barney Frank: Republicans are Serving Breakfast in Bed to Wall St. visit: http://firedoglake.com/
Barney Frank
Many Republicans who voted against the stimulus and who claimed that it hasn’t created jobs are now taking credit for it. Conservatives know very well that the stimulus creates jobs; that’s why they were against it – they want Barack Obama to fail. Now that the stimulus is working, they are taking credit for somethin...g they tried to kill. It’s not just hypocrisy; it’s blatant intellectual dishonesty.
For more of my thoughts on this subject, watch this clip of the Rachel Maddow show. My interview begins at around 7:00 minutes.
The Rachel Maddow Show fan page contains links toall ofthe elements you find here at Rachel.msnbc.com. The Flickr stream, the media appearances, the podcast links, the transcripts, the fan art... Everything.
Barney Frank
I am disappointed but not surprised to learn that Republicans are planning to increase campaign contributions from Wall Street by positioning themselves as the party opposed to financial reform. I believe they are on the wrong side of this issue, both substantively and politically.
If the Republicans believe that they ...can use campaign contributions from the financial community in order to block meaningful reform, they are greatly mistaken. We will not be deterred from doing what is necessary to prevent another economic crisis.
Bankers, unhappy at the president’s proposals for tighter financial regulations, are shifting donations to Republicans.
Barney Frank Some say that if you limit the compensation of Wall Street executives you lose some of the best people. But I don’t know where they would go for comparable salaries. Maybe some of them are capable of playing major league baseball -- but I’m not aware of any. Where else could they go to get comparable pay? I guess some ...could star in major motion pictures. But I don’t know what else they could do.
