Barney Frank Debates A Student On The Financial Crisis
Posted by the912project on April 7, 2009 · 141 Comments
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That was serious ownage and proof that not everyone loves the messiah.
Another example of an arrogant politician. What an a**hole! Is this the best that Massachusetts has to offer? I mean gee, are all the politicians from there this arrogant? Answer to that, most of them are! Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and this piece of work!!! What a shame!
Mr. Frank is a perfect example of the need for the following: We need to convince people to research candidates' voting records before we vote for them. It is our responsibility to KNOW who we elect. Not just their names, but their history. So that is what we should work on and make it a priority for any candidates chosen to represent us. In the coming months, we need one place where we can profile candidates for federal office in 2010. The profiles need to inform as to prior voting records, public scandals, political favors, special interest group influences, etc.
Barney Frank debates a student on financial crisis? Would anyone here consider what transpired between that student and Frank to be a debate? I certainly wouldn't. IMO that title is giving Frank way too much credit. A more appropriate title for that story would have been, Frank attacks student over simple question.
This hits the nail on the head and for Mass voters it should be the nail in Barney Frank's coffin.
http://www.politicalpopcorn.com/index.php?option=...
Hey Massachusetts!
You already have term limits.
It's called your VOTE!!!!!!!!!!
Barney Frank along with a significant number of Massachusetts (state & federal) political incumbents never faces any major party competition in running for re-election. It is truely a sad state of affairs and leads to such outrageous arrogance.
The student could have asked more direct questions but Representative Frank should be able to explain what he could have done to halt the sub-prime mortgage mess when he had oversight over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae during this economic disaster. It is up to the person in charge to explain his actions not the person who asks him to explain it.
Barney Frank displays the type of arrogance that cries for term limits. But he is in office because people keep voting for him. Politicians like Frank only fear the people during an election because, for too many of us, it's the only time we get involved. Who was it that said all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. I pray the Tea Parties are the beginning of a new era and not a last gasp of a dying republic.
What a vile, disgusting and embarrasing example of an American Congressman. I can hardly stomach him for more than 2 sentences…
He sounds like he would spit and spatter all over you, if you were standing anywhere near the mouth of his. I mean It's like he's been sucking on on somthing for so long and his tongue is so swollen that he can't get the words out properly… Ughh now I need to go vomit…
Any employee who treated their employer like that would have been fired on the spot. Period. The End and no discussion.
Well I've seen Barney in several interviews he never answers a simple question strait. He gets belligerant and argumenative. The student was very calm and not attacking him at all. He asked him a simple strait forward question. "What was you part in all of this?" Why is that so bad? Would it not be respectable for a politician to admit if he made a mistake? This guy is just like every other politcian except he has no tact. Everybody I've ever met from Mass. I liked why do they keep voting for him?
Well for once Barney was talking to someone that he should have known is the future of this great nation. We should hope that these liberals keep up with the mispeak duly recorded, and in 2010 let it rip. I can't wait, I have already heard enough to sink each and every one of their precious careers.
I don't think Barney has ever answered a question with a straight honest answer, at least none that I've heard. His verbal abuse of the student was uncalled for. He should have been escorted off the stage for being argumentative (Barney – not the student)
Term limits would wonderful – too bad we can't make them retroactive in most cases!
Barney (where's my teeth) Frank is the poster child for term limits. Where's Carlos Hathcock when you need him?
what I want to know is that during the last administration it was the right thing to do to stand up and question the Government, But now that PBO is president if you ask a question you are some kind of extremist.
Barney Frank is another version of the Mayor of Chicago Rich Daley. Just gets loud and angry to to discourage tough questions. How do the Mass. voters stomach this guy?
Barney always seems so bitter and whenever asked anything,he just explodes.This is one person I pray owns no guns.
“What is to become of an independent statesman, one who will bow the knee to no idol, who will worship nothing as a divinity but truth, virtue, and his country? I will tell you; he will be regarded more by posterity than those who worship hounds and horses; and although he will not make his own fortune, he will make the fortune of his country.” – John Adams
“In America, salaries, where indispensable, are extremely low; but much of public business is done gratis. The honor of serving the public ably and faithfully is deemed sufficient.” – Benjamin Franklin
Barney is a disgrace to all Americans. Frank has been a loser from day one and should be taken out and tarred and feathered. I bet there are many would would join to help. The voters that put him in office must be hiding their faces.
Bawney Fwank is an idiot….its not his fault. Its the unwegulated bwokers who did it.
Barney never answered the question because he did not want to admit that he made the mistakes. He is a Liberal, and as one, he will never take responsibility for his mistakes…it is always someone else's fault.
The new Muppet…..Bowney Fwank! Bwaaa, bwaaaa, bwaaaa, spittle, bwaaa, spittle.
Are you the least bit surprised at his pathetic liberal left wing response… This is what you get with these guys', no accountability whatsoever, always pointing the finger at the past administration and before them. This guy is so BAD for America that its sad. Barney Frank will soon be out of office just like BO Reid and my gooddness that "UNAMERICAN" windbag Pelosi. And we should start focusing on that liberal scumbag Stuart Smalley in MN.
Very good response, and without the above, this country has a chance at regaining some lost ground.
This is one more reason to get your kids out of the government run schools! Home school or private school really looks good right now.
Well this Administration certainly does work fast…while we discuss Barney Franks unbelievable dishonest behavior our Government just announced they were considerering extending school days to 6 days a week and kids will go all year round. The Government who can't even run themselves are deciding our kids fate. One punch right after another until we are nothing. Government taking over schools, Government taking over insurance companies …this is just the past two days! There is something terrible wrong going on here. It's a complete takeover by our Government. Not only are they imposing an extended school week and year but they are also going to start weighing the kids. Yes our fat over indulging Goverment wants to start weighing our children. Let's start with them….every season they should weigh in and let us decided what they can eat on our dime and what they need to do to get that fat off of them. Next they'll be looking in our garbage and fining us for eating something that isn't on their list.
Pffft. The government isn't going to look in your garbage! You're going to "volunteer" to do it.
Just a reminder of what Barney and the dems said about Fannie and Freddie – http://www.politicalpopcorn.com/index.php?option=...
And, another – dems cover for fannie and freddie as regulators try to reign them in – http://www.politicalpopcorn.com/index.php?option=...
Barney Frank is a disgrace to all americans. His gay friends find him to be out of touch with reality. Mass. has a bunch of losers that represent them. Maybe Mass. could become a country by itself with Frank and Kennedy as its leaders. Lawrence
Dear Rep. Frank
Your recent outburst at the Kennedy School was the most disgraceful and unbecoming spectacle I have seen from a public official in my entire life. The student whom you childishly accused of attacking you and all members of the audience who witnessed your implosion do not work for you. You work for them. You work for all of us, and that student was only the latest to call you to task on your dereliction of duty.
Your invoking of the First Amendment (in my opinion you should be more concerned about the Fifth) shows that you are, in fact, aware of the existence and validity of the U.S. Constitution. This being the case, your support of HR 1586, an unconstitutional bill of attainder, must be the result of a combination of arrogance and ignorance which makes you unfit for the office you hold.
Since you are so fond of labels, I hereby label your conduct a narcissistic perversion of the office to which you were elected by the American public, to whom YOU owe answers, and who owe you none.
—
Do y'all think I should send it? I can't believe this is America; I'm concerned about the possible consequences of expressing my honest views to a public servant.
Amen!! Send away!!
I agree, send it. But I'm not so sure Frank believes in the Constitution, or that you're responsible for your own actions.
Definately send the letter. You may also want to ask Mr. Frank about his former lover, Herb Moses (an executive at Fannie Mae). I'm surprised that the student questioning him did not.
Okay, I considered it…and I decided not to ask questions whose answers I don't want to hear. Ewwwwwww!
I would suggest sending it as an open letter in the Washington Post or simmilar news outlet just for the simple fact that for someone (Barney Frank) who doesn't even have the courage to admit any wrong doing at all on his part, I'm sure that by now he's probably afraid to keep reading his mail.
That clown stopped reading his mail a long time ago! You should send it as an open letter in the Washington Post or similar news outlet that everyone else can read as well!
BARNEY FRANK IS A COWARD WHO COULD NEVER ACCEPT BLAME FOR ANYTHING!
As a former resident of Cape Cod I've had personal dealings with Barney Frank and can tell you that he gives lip service to the notion that he's a servant to the people. He believes that he is superior to the people that he represents and takes no responsibility for any negative actions that occur on his watch or by his hand EVER. It's always a problem created by someone else and so he's been re-elected every 2 years since 1980. – The people of Cape Cod MA are mostly old and elite individuals who think only Democrats can fix things. – the 2nd worst state in the union behind CA.
Send it to his mother.
burntfrost, you hit the nail right on the head.. This man talked in more cirlces that I have in the math book that I teach from.
I would most def. send this. and if you don't mind, i am going to cut and paste and send it to him also.
After watching this video it's hard not to see how he personifies most of our elected officials. With the way they have gone about their jobs in the recent months it is clear to see this is how they view us. They label us, assume we don't know anything about anything, and assume anything we have to say or any issue we raise can be brushed under the rug by fast talking. For more evidence, how about Charlie Rangel's "none of your d### business" to a citizen questioning his car choice and policies says it all. They don't care about us. It is every bit of our d*** business!!!!
The idea that elected officials need to serve on a part time basis has never had a more meaningful purpose than today. We need to enforce that idea and have these people work among us, then go back to Washington with a better idea of what we demand out of them.
This guy has to go! We need to rally behind a good candidate in his district. Is there a decent person who is willing to run against him in a primary? Is there a decent R or I that will run against him in the General? We need National exposure to help with support for people who are willing to take on these terrible incumbants.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view...
Look how the boston herald reported
Yep good reporting Boston Herald, NOT! This is why our media has failed us, we now have to listen to talk shows to get the news because the media is in cahoots with the evil ones in congress!
WOW!! What an arrogant son ofa gunn this BARNEY DUDE is trying to bully a student then still didn't answer a simple? This is like catching a child with his hand in the cookie jar then saying (Mom I know i wasn't suppose to have a snack before supper but 350 million want hurt)
Barney Frank has no humility, he does not listen, he is the most arrogant jerk in the government how anyone could vote for such a person is beyond me. He is what i mean we all fall between
Mother Teresa = most humble and Gracious
and
Barney Frank = most arrogant and mean (He reminds me of a old pompous Roman Senator)
Lets hope we all align closer to Mother Teresa than Barney Frank.
This is why I am in favor of term limits. They should take Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Obama over to the taliban so they can all sit down and have a lovely chat about being able to get along. First words out of Elmer Fudds mouth and they would kick that jack rabbit into Russia. They are all a bunch of pompous a—- who want, and sorry to say, are destroying this once great country of ours. If there are any loons out there that think any of them give a hoot about the citizens of this country…..think again. All they want is as much money as they can get out of us by taxing everything up the whazoo. Well the only beacon of light is that the leftists will all be in the same boat as we are and it's called the Titanic.
Mr. Frank needs to learn the definition of "humility" and "public SERVANT". I'm liking more and more the call for term limits for those in public office. People like Mr. Frank would say something to the effect of "you need those people in office with connections and who know the way the system works" to which I would reply "Really? I think we can find someone else that does nothing but look out for YOUR own self interests. What makes you so special?" :-p
We already have term limits on EVERY elected official in America. We vote them out of office!
I am still waiting for this socialist congressional majority group to express their outrage over the $214 million retention bonuses they voted for Fannie- Mae and Freddie-Mac executives!! Maybe when pigs fly they will be outraged.
Barney Frank is so arrogant. He is so far removed from reality that he fails to remember that he works for the people and should therefore show them respect if they respectfully ask questions from him. It would be nice to see reality kick in and Barney, Pelosi, Reid and the other arrogant liberals get the boot in the next election.
Interesting how he deflects repsonsibility by saying I wanted to regulate hedge funds but the Bush administation wouldn't let me. Did hedge funds cause this mess- I think not.
Since when did anything stop Barney Frank or the other liberals? This is like Senator Dodd and Tim Geitner pointing the finger at each other. They no doubt will still be blaming Bush years from now. Barney and his liberal buddies are not innocent in the mess we now have in this country. For lack of a better analogy they are like the kid in school who encourages another kid to set a waste basket on fire with double dog dare you,etc. They even provide the match to start the fire. When the fire is set and starts to get out of control, the kid who pushed for the fire runs and tells the teacher that the other kid started the fire. The tattle tale kid even takes credit for trying to stop the other kid from setting the fire. Thus Barney Frank and the other "It's Bush's fault" liberals. They do not tell the truth because the truth is not in them.
I'm really proud of him for standing up and asking an honest question and then being patient while he got attacked. I mean, wow…and did Frank ever answer the question. I don't think he did…but sometimes I get so distracted laughing at the way he talks that I miss things.
I think that we should station some rightwing community organizers (Acorn tactics) to picket outside of Barney's house chanting and threaten him with hate mail until he answers the question or makes a full confession. Then we should take 90% of his salary away for falling asleep at the wheel, all of his retirement and then fire his a$$.
The stumbling block to your plan is that, unlike Acorn, most right-wingers have real jobs to which they have to show up.
The only problem is most "right wing" folks would't engage in the disgusting tactics employed by Acorn and their kind. Our sense of decency forbids it. We are better than that.
And here's the problem with that Ken…Unless you lower yourself to their level they don't see you as a threat. They assume, and rightly so, that you will just go away. As Thomas Jefferson said…a little revolution every now and then is a good thing. It's way past time for the Republicans to stop taking this crap and start standing up for themselves. I'm for doing whatever it takes to stop my country from being destroyed, whether it falls into the category of decency or not….My country it worth that and much more….
Barney is our best and brightest? The first time I saw him, I thought that he was mentally challenged. I was right he is. His reaction to this students very simple question, was disproportionately defensive and bullying. The student obviously touched off a nerve – guilt. The student stayed calm and professional while our Senator became unglued and acted like a histerical woman because he perceived opposition, he better get used to opposition.
Barney is our best and brightest? The first time I saw him, I thought that he was mentally challenged. I was right he is. His reaction to this students very simple question, was disproportionately defensive and bullying. The student obviously touched off a nerve -guilt. The student stayed calm and professional while our Senator became unglued and acted like a histerical woman because he perceived opposition, he better get used to opposition.
Did Barney even answer the question? The man is a disgrace to his office. Unfortunately he fits in with the majority of those serving in congress. I do not care for Frank and the manner in which he treats those who would question him. He is an elected official that is supposed to answer to the people. I hope those in his district do not let him serve another term.
For those calling him names, all your doing is stooping to his level. Let us all be better than that. An elevated level of discourse is our best weapon against those who we disagree with. Constantly I argue with those who disagree with me. Facts and figures work the best not name calling.
This is one guy that needs to take a little blame,look at the team captain that ugly woman,I bet they dont go for spit when its there money .Our money its different ,give them a term limit and a lie detector test ,they would be begging on a street corner
Barney is way too BIG for his britches. His size matches his arrogance. HIs arrogance matches that of those in Congress. Congress matches that of Obama. The whole blooming crowd is arrogant and we got to see what happens when a person, whom Barney works for–a student, asks a medium-sized ball lopped his way. That student was on Fox this afternoon and said that his girlfriend told Barney to stop labeling people and putting them in boxes.
After blaming Bush for everything (don't they know this ain't flying very well anymore?), he shows everyone exactly what he is: a Gnome. This is why when we email and call Congress we don't hear back from them. They don't care what we think of their actions and that is the problem. I don't know about any of you, but after this first round of Tea Parties, we need to have multiple marches in Washington. One a month if necessary, up until 2010 when we can remove their butts from the jobs we gave them. They don't deserve to run our country because they are running it for themselves, not us. We need the momentum of the movement derived from the Tea Parties. There has to be more of us than them. This administration is worse than any I have ever experienced and I am 61.
I know that this is not party-affiliated, but I do believe that this democratic administration is the worst democratic administration ever, except maybe the peanut fellow. This admin scares me for not only my freedoms, but my safety. 3 days and counting: no rush to issue a statement to North Korea. No word on any action for our American ship captain. This is an administration of NO ACTION due to a complete lack of experience on all fronts.
Just a simple question! WOW!!
How can the people in Barney's District keep voting him in? I am so blown away by their blindness to what this man has down to hurt our country. He is only in government for himself period. Please Massachusettes do right by your fellow citizens and get rid of him. Having him oversee any committee is like having our children be left with wolves in sheep skin.
ANOTHER CASE FOR TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!
Arrogant clowns like Barney are why we need term limits. Note that he is so arrogant, he barely recognized that this student has 1st amendment rights, and seemed to wonder what right this student had to question him! Typical jackass professional politician that had to be reminded by the student that it is he (Barney) that serves him (the student, a.k.a. citizen)
2010 is coming! We all need to band together, and by that I mean all America, and vote these liberal Socialist traitors out of office. We can't wait until 2012.
"Labels are good?" Well, isn't Bawney the good little Saul Alinsky student. Does anyone remember the outrageous rant he went on months ago when O'Reilly asked him basically the same question on TV? Guilty, guilty, guilty. Why isn't this guy in jail????
Barney Frank is like a rabid animal when questioned about his service record. He sputters,spits and foams at the mouth. The students question was not out of line, but Barney's reaction was over the top and Barney still did not answer the students question. I did see the O'Reilly show where Barney went from zero to ballistic in 1.2 seconds. Later, the student was interviewed on Fox news channel. He said that he used to be a extreme liberal democrat. He later changed parties when he would attend democratic functions and not get straight answers to questions he asked. When attending republican functions, he could ask questions, the person he questioned would take a moment to think , then answer the question in an honest straight forward fashion. I use to be a democrat as well. I left the party when Jimmy Carter was president. With what I see from the democratic party today, I'm glad I switched.
He would enjoy it too much.
Did you see when O'Reilly lit into him about the Freddie/Fannie subprime mess, it was a joy to behold! He should be in jail, along with Dodd, Reid and Pelousi.
I hate that man! He even said that yes "LABELS ARE IMPORTANT!!" wtf!!! I mean seriously that is the most worst thing he could have said…we are all americans!!! can't they just get over that!!!
I have stopped watching television, due in part to that mans face.
In response to your post script,
There is also a story about Le Fang Wei selling nuke materials to Iran through new york banks. I posted it and got zero response.
Barney Franks keeps stressing that he became the chiarman of the Financial Service Committee in 2007. Thus "what could he do?" This was not his fault. What he fails to mention is that he has been the ranking Democrat since 2002 and on the committee well before that. He also fails to mention that when the White House, in 2003, tried transfer oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Congress to a new agency under the Treasury, Barney faught the move indicating that "These two entities … are not facing any kind of financial crisis." Thus these companies, which together owned or backed more than 50% of ALL U.S. home mortgages, it seems that Barney accepted responsibilty for the oversight. As such, Barney, when these two companies became anchored with the dead weight of your "affordable housing" policies, the "hobbling" of the U.S. financial system by these loan defaults can be traced right back to you and the other deadbeats in Congress.
After listening to a speech by Congressman Barney Frank, a Harvard law student said “This guy (Barney Frank) is someone in a position of responsibility and authority, this guy is the one who’s making the regulations he’s responsible essentially for recreating and redesigning our financial system and he is not taking any responsibility for what happened at all.”
“One of the reasons I do not consider myself a Democrat anymore is because, whenever you ask a question your labeled and put into a box.”
http://www.thedailychange.com/congressman-barney-...
I saw the student on Greta last night, he was very interesting and smart. Too bad more college students aren't like him.
We see the response strategy of finger pointers. Deflect, suggest misrepresentation and attack the character of the individual. Congressman Frank should have just answered the question. He could have said he didn't feel he had any responsibility for the collapse, but Mr Frank knew the sound clip would be played everywhere. Instead, he re-states the assumed goal of the question and attacks the questioner.
My question is why doesn't the media complain about the obvious talking points being disseminated by the administration? Remember all the complaints from the left that President Bush delivered talking points? Wasn't Mr. Frank's response a democrate talking point?
Bejarana,
This is a great point. I would also like to point out the actions the student was talking about, the Senator was defending Freddie and Fannie by attacking the regulator! He even said the regulator was "Lynching" the head of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines! This is his only defense and it is about to run out of gas..
I only have one word to describe Barney "DILLWEED".
I will add disgusting and deviant……
Welcome to the "Do as we say not as we do" gov't.
We want a honest answer to a simple question and they can't even give us that.I really do wonder what exactly are they putting in the water in Massachusetts,now they've got a bill proposing transgenders be able to use a restroom of their choice.
What a SLOB ! He works for US, NOT the other way around, and I think it is HIS OBLIGATION to answer the questions posed by one of his BOSSES….
If there was ever a candidate for a lynching, Mr. FRANK should be on top of the list….. With Chris Dodd & Nancy Pelosi holding the second & third place positions
Did you see the young man (Joel Pollak) interviewed by Greta van Susteren? He is very poised and knowledgeable, and obviously very intelligent. I very much hope this won't be the last we see of Mr. Pollak. This country needs people like him.
No is there a link to a video so I can see it?
We definitely need people like Mr. Pollak. Calm resistance and questioning of the gov.
I saw it on Foxnews.com. I'll go see if I can find it now.
First Joe the Plumber…now Joel the Student!
Go to the video from "On the Record." It's called "Frank talk with Barney foe." I'm afraid if I try to link to it, it will just go to the overall site for Fox video.
Barney Frank is a perfect example why there should be term limits. The man is losing it! When questions are asked to the Lib's in charge notice how they never answer a question. Barney Frank should have resigned along with Dodd, Schaumer, Reed and Pelosi and a host of others….they are responsible for with holding life altering financial information from the very people they are suppose to protect. Remember Chuck Schaumer's response to us in a press release…"at the end of the day the American people don't care" I dissagree Chuck! We care what you say and do along with all your other self serving Politicians it is our business. We should fire them all and form a class action law suit against the press. Between our Politians and the press this Administration can sign anything they want into law without our consent.
I love how he turned the question around and started attacking the student. It just shows what a loser he is.
Just Wow!!! Owned by a student. Ouch. But this is just an attack from the right-wing media to make him look bad. Right…..Go with that.
Yes, that was sarcasm.
I tried to send Congressman Frank an email at his House website but could not do so because he only accepts emails from those within his district. Yet this man is chairman of a very powerful committee; why shouldn't he listen to the rest of the country since he is in a position of leadership in the House? As a lifelong conservative Independent, I am outraged that Congressman Frank chose to bully and humiliate a young man simply because the student asked him an honest question. The student was respectful; there was absolutely no reason for Frank to respond the way he did. And the numerous attacks Mr. Frank made on the "conservative right" are not only insulting to the 55,000,000 who of us did NOT vote liberal in November but also indicative of the left's tactics. They only want "debate" if they can control the questions. Isn't that an assault on free speech???
This guy MUST go down in history as the BIGGEST D-Bag ever!!!
Notice how Frank invoked the First Amendment right away, as if he really were being attacked. But that's how things are in the twisted world of the Far Left; any logical question is an attack. Poor guy.
This video was priceless. Once again, Barney shows what a shifty CLOWN he really is. I think the student did a great job, but his follow up should have asked Barney the Clown about the 210 million dollar bonuses that are heading to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. I would have liked to see him weasel his way out of that one!
WHAT A FREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not believe he is in charge of anything! Didn't his 'companion' work for one of those institutions? I thought I read that somewhere. It would be hysterical if it wasn't so sad that he even works for the government.
Barney Frank: Massachusetts's 4th congressional district since 1981. In 2006, Frank was one of only three Representatives to oppose the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, which restricted protests (notably those of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church) at soldiers' funerals. Frank is advocating a 25 percent reduction in the overall Military budget of the United States. He voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act[37], against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act[38] and against the criminalization of the transportation of minors across state lines by non-family members to circumvent local abortion laws. How is that for facts Barney? The story doesn't end there but it should!
The way Bwarney reacted to this student shows how guilty he is in the Fannie/Freddie mess. If he had nothing to do with it he should have remained calm and answered the students question. His own guilt made him blow up and attack the student. Liberals always try to shout a conservative down. Thats how they deal with things. Bwarney is sickening to watch and listen to. Vote this bozo out Massachussets, will ya? PLEASE
I'm surprised that student didn't get mad. He was asking a fair question that was very straight forward and was attacked for it. The tactics Barney used to avoid the question are disgusting. He labeled the student and discredited him and asked the student to answer a question only marginally related to make the student look bad because the 'voter' wouldn't answer to the 'politician.' I can't believe anyone in that room (no matter their political views) could laugh at Barney's jokes while that student was practically harassed for asking a simple question.
What a pompous twit. If this is the best that Massachusetts has to offer, it's no wonder that state is in such bad shape financially. This man is an absolute embarrassment and his "blameless" persona is a joke. He knows he is at the core of what happened. He just doesn't care because he is on the receiving end of the gravy train that runs from Fannie and Freddie to Congress. I'd like to know where all his 'moral outrage" is over the bonuses being paid to Fannie and Freddie employees. But then again, that would require integrity and honesty… traits he sorely lacks.
Does anyone know if there is a transcript of this somewhere? I can't get the video to play and I want to see what the Frankster had to say! I don't know, I guess I like starting my day screaming at the computer screen!!
I would try youtube.com or try foxnews
Big Barney couldn't even answer anything. He had to play like he was the know it all and he couldn't debate a lowly, silly conservative student. What a arrogant, elitist. God bless that student, we need more to speak up. Obama and his Democrat allies' arrogance, elitism, and "know what's best" attitudes are getting old and frustrating to watch.
Write your comment here…
Im just wondering in all of this deflecting that barny did was anybody else screaming at the monitor saying "it's your job to atleast research the proposals of th e congresional banking commitie?" I mean come on barny we pay you to make an informed decission not get cought up in the panic and fearmongering and then start running around screaming "Oh dear God in heaven what are we going to do the sky is falling!" Finally Barny take responsibility for your actions just say "yes I supportd the bailouts. And yes I have in turn attacked portions of that same legislation. Yes I should have read it more carefuly." is that so hard? Ineptitude greed and slef service are going to kill us.
Sic Semper Evello Mortem Tyrannus
p.s. Has anyone heard about Russia and China hacking our power grid? why is this not everywhere? why is that not an act of war?
Obama is going to tell us that we need more security on our power grid and that only one institution can handle it… the government. He's going to use that power to then start monitoring and rationing electricity to individual's homes.
About your PS -This will be a way for them to introduce the smart grid, so that we can be regulated, monitored and taxed up the a%$. It will of course be introduced as an nation crisis (can't waste any of those), for our own good, for the babies,etc. the usual talking points. They are so transparent to me now. I'm worried that one day there will be an unmanufactured crisis that we need to react to but don't because we're crisised out.
The bottom line is that Mr. Frank didn't answer the question because he couldn't. He knew that if he told the truth it would be bad for him. He then resorts to "comical" insults to laugh his way out of the situation. We should always embrace the truth, even if it is bad news.
Get that man a Teleprompter. Oh, wait–Obama is hogging them all.
Did he really say that "I think Labels are important?" It is more important in Barney Frank's mind to "label" this student then to answer the question. That makes alot of sense. Could he be any more obvious in his attempts to deflect the question and try to blame everyone (right wing conservatives and George Bush) instead of answering a rather simple uncomplicated question?
Of course labels are important. If he can label this student as a conservative, then the questions are not questions but in fact a right wing attack and so he does not need to answer them. And the fact that the video is from Fox News also diescredits the whole event, so it's as if it never happened. See how politics works?
If we label Barney then we are just right wing (seal clubbing) hate mongers that resort to typical smear politics. I'm sorry Congressman, but as the young lady stated, "Stop labeling him and answer the question!"
That was disgusting to watch! A US Congressman couldn't even debate a freakin' student! And it didn't even need to be a debate – there was a question asked and the student just wanted an answer. He sounded like any other politician – avoid the question, ramble some BS, and then say the student is attacking him. I would pick anyone who made a comment on this page over this guy to be in congress.
Bawney Fwank is DISGUSTING! Every time I hear his voice, I want to release yesterdays lunch. I can't believe he has any credibility anymore since he was the architect of the current economic crisis. I hope the voters in MA get a clue and take out the trash!
I So Agree… I Hate giving him My TV time.
Who in their right mind would vote for a Barney Frank?
No one, your mind must be at the EXTREME left of the spectrum to cast that vote!
No one, your mind must be at the EXTREME left end of the spectrum to cast that vote!
He's a career Politician. Almost 100% of incumbents are re-elected no matter what the polls say. Congress's approval ratings could be 1%, and almost everyone will still re-elect their incumbent. It’s because of the two-party system. Even if Republican so-and-so betrayed you, you can’t let Democrat so-and-so steal the seat and give the Democrats control of the so-and-so.
It’s all a game of 3-Card Monty, and we fall for it every 2 years.
This is the truth. Term limits may be good for career politicians. At the very least, it could teach the arrogant politicians to show a little respect.
I am not sure 100% but I feel it is safe to say the "Vote now and vote often crowd'?
It’s very clear from this video how arrogant and disingenuous Barney Frank really is. If he showed a little honesty and sincerity, he wouldn’t attack the student for asking him a simple question. Instead, he chose to avert eye contact and ramble on about absolutely nothing important. Good job to the student, keep making these clowns answer to you.
Although you can hear some in the audience laughing at his lame jokes, it sounded to me like there were many in the audience who wanted to hear an answer as well as people upset by his comment about the importance of labels. Maybe there is hope for the college students of this era.
Barney Frank is a joke and a disgrace.
I bow down to the student for keeping his 'cool' and asking a legitimate question to someone like Frank
The biggest problem we have is that we are all analyzing our politicians with an ounce of common sense and the vast majority of Americans are not. They are content with how their life is going and don't want to make any ripples in the water. I personally think its time to do some gigantic cannonballs. Change is in order, just not the kind that is being proposed. We have gotten so used to the status quo in this country that the concepts of our fore fathers are completely alien. They (the founding fathers) revolted against the mother land back. Even mentioning ideas like this now categorizes you as someone who has a compound in Montana, clean your guns 8 hours a day and are about a pony keg short of a six pack. We need to elect officials who have some ability to debate, but also can go UFC on Barney Frank when he wants to side step the issues. Now that would be entertaining!
Barney is hilarious. If he wasn't so dangerous I'd say keep the idiot in office for a good laugh. Unfortunatly, this man deserves to be in prison. This started way before 2006. This whole garbage started back in 1996. Under Bill Clinton's watch, is when the first lines were erased in the sand. Barney is a clueless fool. He never answers questions. Always acting like it is some sort of debate. I hate when people try to answer questions by asking questions. Usually those people are ones I very much try and avoid. Nothing good ever comes from them. Barney and his boyfriend Chris Dodd will be in prison someday. Both are the perfect pawns. The country will think the problem is fixed, and then bam, more garbage. At least it will have a chance to improve with those two clowns out of office.
As long as their idiot constituents keep mindlessly voting for them, they will stay in office. I believe that the time has come for term limts and to clean house every four or eight years. No more career politicians. Guys like this get a pass on having to answer anything of substance. You want to know how they keep getting re-elected…listen to the applause from the slobbering idiots in the audience that thought his "comeback" was remotely intelligent. These are the same people who will be complaining the most when their standing in bread lines, because one day we woke up and the nation suddenly transcended into communism.
You're right Greg, he never answered the question and you could tell by his attitude, he (Barney) felt he was above this student and quickly resorted to labeling him and it pisses me off so much, to see these attitudes from the people who work for us, it's just disgusting. It's like trying to squeeze water from a rock, getting a yes or no answer, it seems to me, when someone can't answer a yes or no question, the law is being bent somewhere and that's what we should have stayed away from.
And don't you just LOVE how they can label others in an attempt to demonize them, but put any kind of label on them and it's, "WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!! You're devisive. You're discriminating against (take your pick). You're a hate mongerer. You're a racist. That last one really burns me more than anything, and they DID try to make this a race issue just to grab the ears of the public. They like to throw that race card out there like it's candy at a parade- Just put it out there and people come runnin' to eat it up. Falsely labeling someone as a racist just to advance your beliefs is just as sinister as actually being racist! This man is literally nauseating to me!
Frank was the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee in 2003 and opposed President Bush's proposal for transferring oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. "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", said Frank. His then partner, Herb Moses, was an executive at Fannie from 1991 to 1998, where Moses created many of Fannie’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs. In 1991, Frank pushed for reduced restrictions on two- and three-family home mortgages, as well as blocked tougher regulations on the banking companies while voting for the Government Sponsored Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1991 and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992.
Two things: First, Frank never directly answers the student's questions, and when he makes an attempt to justify any of his actions, he always points to SOMEONE ELSE'S bad decision or SOMEONE ELSE'S mistake. We elect senators to be LEADERS, which means that not only do they make decisions, but must take responsibilty for them. The second thing, which is REALLY troubling, is how he describes the actions of the Paulson and Bernanke "telling congress" to give them the money and how it would be used. WHAT?! Good Lord can we gain some control as citizens over the Federal Reserve and Treasurey Dept. If they're not already in control of this country (which I would argue that they are) they soon will be!!
TERM LIMITS…………………………………BARNEY
It was a legitimate and fair question by the Harvard student. The student even left him an out. “ if any” How much reasonability if any do you take.? Barney Frank as always attacks and blames the right this was an extremely unreasonable attack on the student., and Barney Frank has yet to admit he has screwed up or made a mistake.
Every time I see or hear this pompous over bearing Senator., I wish he was up for reelection in 2010 so I could contribute to his defeat!
I'm in Texas, and have no say as to who is voted in Barneys state. It's obvious to anyone with any brain, that Barney is a liar. But those that voted him in office, sure like all the free stuff Barney gives them.
You could tell that the student was getting totally frustrated that Barney Frank would not answer his question. Feel sorry for the student because it looked like he was among few conservatives. We need to expose Barney Frank somehow, for the political hack that he is.
It is pointless, the people in his district are just ignorant. They will continue to elect this idiot. That is what is wrong with the political system. He may not be from my district, but when he holds a key committee position, it does. This is why term limits are a must! If we ever want a true chance at real representation, new blood is needed. Many have been in Washington way too long. Time to go home and get a job.
Good reasoning.
I'm in Texas, and I have no say as to who is voted in Barneys state. It's obvious to anyone with half a brain, that Barney is a liar. But those that voted him in office, sure like all the free stuff Barney gives them.
There was no debate. Barney still hasn't answered the question.
Barney the communist will never answer a loaded question. How do quacks like this guy keep getting re-elected?
Ahhh but he did answer the question. He stated, "The Chairman of The Fed (a private corporation) stated that they needed $85 billion to bailout AIG no questions asked." And the Congress gave it to them. Then the Sec. of Treasury (Paulson) and the Chairman of the Fed came back and said we need $750 billion no strings and no questions asked. And these Ass Clowns then threatened the US Congress with, "if we don't get the money, the economy will TANK." And the Congressional ASS CLOWNS gave it to them. Who the hell let the circus start running the Country.
thanks
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>I'm for doing whatever it takes as well but believe it can stillbe done without resorting to violence. I'm mindlful of not falling into the trap of being portrayed as a common thug. As a gun owner with a concealed carry permit I have to be careful in that regard. As a life member of the NRA I alsoknow just what the second amendment is for but would never resort to it until all other means for redress have been exhausted. Yes, the tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of tyrants and patriots but we are not there yet. </DIV> <DIV>