Barney Frank Drops Hammer on House Republicans

[Bob Geiger]

One of the most frustrating things about covering the Congress -- and especially the Senate, which is even more polite than the House of Representatives -- is the constant references to "my friend from <insert state here>" or "the distinguished gentleman" no matter what degree of GOP scumbag Democrats may be addressing on the other side of the aisle.

If there's one guy who can always be counted on to let the fur fly and say what needs to be said at the right time, it's Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts.

Frank was only allotted about a minute to speak on Friday on the House Republican's shameful attaching of a minimum wage increase to their bill to give another tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, but he made the most of it.

Frank called their proposal exactly what it is -- "the most ethically repugnant, intellectually dishonest, morally bankrupt ploy I have ever seen in a legislative body." He went on to say to House Speaker Dennis Hastert that "… apparently shame has become entirely irrelevant to you and your party."

You can view the clip at YouTube here.

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd! Franks' speech was impassioned; a must see, and I'm glad

you found this!

[xchrom]

2. rockin the house!

[Totally Committed]

3. I love Barney Frank!

Bless him for that statement, too.

TC

[bigscott]

6. i have met Congressman Frank

several times and he is so much more entertaining in person. He REALLY lets you know what he thinks about some of this stuff. I love the guy and his refreshing honesty

[Totally Committed]

11. I've met him, too...

he's a riot AND a true gentleman. And... he's a big teddy-bear sweetheart, too!

TC

[mom cat]

23. He helped out in dealing with some anti-gay episodes at the

University Of Chicago a number of years ago. I was not even in his district, but I was disturbed by some info my daughter (then a student at UC) had told me. Barney Frank jumped right in. PS, he talked to me personally. What a mench! BARNEY: :yourock:

[goclark]

30. I agree ~ he is honest and for JUSTICE

[mom cat]

33. We need to clone him and John Conyers!

[goclark]

34. What a wonderful world it would be!

[goclark]

60. Absolutely!

[barb162]

45. That's the way he seems when I see him on TV

And very intelligent

[jonnyblitz]

50. he is the master of snarky put downs. he can slam them good. nt

[Captain Hilts]

20. At the Midnight Bubba Book Party at Politics and Prose, he was ...

really funny.

[MorningGlow]

4. Finally! Some plain talk and honesty!

K&R Huzzah!

[Orrex]

5. I've heard that Barney Frank is kind of a pushy jerk

Which is why I'm so glad to have him on our side!

He's a tireless advocate for civil rights, and he's the perfect burr under the saddle to entrenched Republican interests.

Keep it up, Rep. Frank!

[TripeOmatic]

9. When confronted by a league of 'pushy jerks' like the GOP it's good

to respond in kind.

[Totally Committed]

12. He's mouthy and "pushes back" when riled or confronted by the same...

But I assure you he is pure gold to those of us in Mass. who really love him.

Guts like his are a breatth of fresh air in this Party right now as well.

Go, Barney!

TC

[Captain Hilts]

17. Republicans actually respect his smarts. nt

[vssmith]

28. That is why I believe you don't see him on Hardball.

CM would quickly be put in his place. I saw him eviscerate Bill O'Reilly once--it was lovely.

[fasttense]

51. vssmith do you have a clip? I would love to see him put down

O'Leilly.

[benddem]

7. thanks for posting

one of the reasons I wanted Kerry to win was so Barney could become a Senator. Just on edit though in you last sentence "apparently shame has become entirely irreverent to you and your party. The word irreverent is wrong...he says Irrelevant.

[redqueen]

8. thank you for sharing that!

we need LOTS more dems like him!

:loveya:

[KC21304]

10. Very good. I saw Charlie Rangel's

speech this morning and his was great too.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Do I love Barney Frank?

Let me count the ways!!!!!!

[TripeOmatic]

14. Small correction:

in
"… apparently shame has become entirely irreverent to you and your party."
it was "... irrelevant (to you and ...)"
(likely a spell-check default)

[Schema Thing]

15. So did this piece of shit bill pass, or what?

[Captain Hilts]

18. It passed the House. It's up in the senate right now. Call your Sens!

[Captain Hilts]

16. I think that should be 'irrelevant' not 'irreverent'. Barney's the best.

[welshTerrier2]

19. Barney is both arrogant and obnoxious

i've heard him speak many times ... he's even spoken at my house to a group of Democrats i assembled ...

he has certain "social limitations" ... i don't like him at all as a person ...

i'm very glad we have him ...

[FighttheFuture]

58. Agreed!! If only more Dems were, they would not need

porta-spines!!

[wiley]

21. Democracy can work.

Barney's the best.

[bvar22]

22. Many Democrats spoke out on Friday night.

Pointed their fingers directly at the Republicans and let it fly.
I was proud of them.

On Edit:
That is one reason why the Republicans are forced to try to sneak these obscenities by the American Public after midnight on a Friday.

[Prophet 451]

24. He was great

Although, and this is totally irrelevant to what he said, this was teh first time I've actually seen him rather than just reading his words. I always pictured him as younger, dunno why.

[LincolnMcGrath]

25. Kick Ass

[pacalo]

26. Excellent! Bob, could you change the word "irreverent" to "irrelevant" in

the last paragraph? Thanks. :hi:

[Bake]

27. Watch the clip! Barney was ON FIRE!!!

Righteously so.

Bake

[Kire]

29. Did Nancy Pelosi really post this on YouTube?

I believe it.

Go Barney!

[autorank]

31. "apparently shame has become entirely irreverent to you and your party."

Well, that about sums it up...Way to go Barney K&R

[Straight Shooter]

32. "At long last, GOP, have you no shame?" Answer: "Nope. We don't." n/t

[gristy]

35. Wonderful. Thanks for posting this!

I've emailed it to all my friends, many of them residents of MA. We have voice.

[TwentyFive]

36. BRAVO!! Make these RW bastards face their own secret shame!

Deep down inside, these right wingers know they are nothing but disposable whores for people who are destroying the America and planet they grew up in. Republicans are the lowest scum the world has ever known.

Thank you Barney Frank, for reminding us of what they're doing to our nation.

[mirandapriestly]

37. The Horrid Zack Wamp from Tennessee

said "I know why you're mad. You've seen us really outfox you." Tom Hartmann played it on his show this AM, I was so mad. Hartman was saying only 7000 would benefit from the tax cut, this is so blatant!! I've just had it we've got to get rid of those __________(fill in the blank).

[Skittles]

38. THANK YOU MR. FRANK

YOU ARE ENTIRELY CORRECT

[Lifelong Protester]

39. The whole one minute was great...

but the wind up was pure poetry, spoken as fiery prose.

[ms liberty]

40. I love this man! K&R - Go Barney! n/t

[MarkDevin]

41. Damn! I thought you meant it literally.

:evilgrin:

[LuckyLib]

42. Outstanding! We need more Democrats with balls speaking

truth to these idiots in Congress.

[ClayZ]

43. Yay! K and R

:kick:

[wiley]

44. Kick again!

[opihimoimoi]

46. The Pubs had a dose of Silence of the Lambs....

I am sure they were stunned.

[alfredo]

47. A thing of beauty

[WePurrsevere]

48. Hey Dem "leaders"... take a lesson from this man & other Dems and speak

out firmly when it comes to what is correct for Americans.

Enough is ENOUGH!

[tbyg52]

52. How hard can it be?

They do this kind of crap virtually constantly--all you have to do is pick one and call it out.

[mtnester]

49. Wish he was my senator...sigh

Good on him.

[ChiciB1]

53. We Need So Many More Like Him....

Why oh Why don't more open their YAP and say something intelligent more often???

I visited the House on a trip to D.C. once and watched him in action, it was a great treat!

[Rose Siding]

54. Wow. Nancy's office has posted those videos so faithfully

She has over a hundred up now.

Look there at Congressman Frank, "moral" majority. THAT'S what morality looks like.

[Time for change]

55. That was great!

"the most ethically repugnant, intellectually dishonest, morally bankrupt ploy I have ever seen in a legislative body."

Well, I don't know about that. There are plenty of candidates for that honor within the past few years.

[yodermon]

56. Which prompted this hissy-fit

by Repuke Zach Wamp of TN:

I know why you’re so mad and why you say things you don’t really mean. It’s because you have seen us really outfox you on this issue tonight. That’s what we are doing today is bringing a very crafty, smart, good for America, good for the economy package and still allow the minimum wage to go up.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/31/wamp-outfoxed/

Direct link to video: http://images1.americanprogress.org/il80web20037/ThinkProgress/2006/outfox.320.240.mov

:puke:

[GOPFighter]

57. "the most ethically repugnant...

...intellectually dishonest, morally bankrupt ploy I have ever seen in a legislative body."

History will not be kind to these hyenas!

[underpants]

59. That was awesome

Kicked and recommended