11/14/2007
Barney Frank Endorses Clinton, Takes Economic Advisor Role
Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank has endorsed Hillary Clinton's campaign and will take on the role of economic advisor, the campaign announced.
Said Frank in a press release: "I have from the beginning of this campaign believed that Hillary Clinton was the candidate best qualified to serve as President,” Rep. Frank said. “I am convinced that once elected, the qualities she will bring to the job - commitment, intellect, and political skills - will make her an extremely effective leader in our effort to reverse the badly flawed course on which George Bush and past Republican Congresses have set this country...In addition, based on my work with her on issues involving discrimination, I am convinced that Hillary Clinton is the candidate best equipped to pass laws that will treat all Americans with dignity, fairness and equality no matter who they are or who they love.
Said Clinton:" I’m honored to have the support of one of the sharpest minds in Congress. Barney has devoted his life to championing economic fairness and civil rights, and expanding opportunity for all Americans. I’m delighted he’ll take a leadership role in our campaign."
As The Nation notes, now both openly gay members of Congress, Frank and Tammy Baldwin, have thrown their support behind Clinton: "When Baldwin endorsed Clinton last summer, she cited her longstanding friendship with the senator as well as a shared commitment to health care reform. In addition, the Wisconsinite described Clinton as "strong and vocal" in her support of ending employment discrimination against gays and lesbians. Baldwin acknowledged at the time, however, that she and Clinton do not see eye to eye on the issue of same-sex marriage. The New York senator supports domestic partnership initiatives and civil unions, but has opposed moves that allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.
'It's not my position,' Baldwin said of Clinton's stance. 'I support full marriage equality. We will voice encouragement for (Clinton) to be open to changing her opinion.'"
In related news, a McCain supporter asks the candidate, "How do we beat the bitch?"
McCain's response: "That's an excellent question."
McCain responded late yesterday to the airing of his comments, according to Talking Points Memo: "McCain has on many occasions expressed his respect for Senator Clinton, just as he did when confronted with the question in South Carolina."
You can read Barney Frank's full statement after the jump.
FULL STATEMENT from Barney Frank:
"I have from the beginning of this campaign believed that Hillary Clinton was the candidate best qualified to serve as President,” Rep. Frank said. “I am convinced that once elected, the qualities she will bring to the job - commitment, intellect, and political skills - will make her an extremely effective leader in our effort to reverse the badly flawed course on which George Bush and past Republican Congresses have set this country.
“I am particularly pleased by her commitment to reverse the economic policies that have created a situation in which as the country progresses economically, only a small number of Americans benefit. Her understanding of the need to implement policies that provide fairness for middle and working class people is very important. She has shown an ability to fight for progressive values in a way that is capable of appealing to the majority of our fellow citizens, and I believe that she is both politically and substantively the candidate best qualified to be our nominee.
“As Chair of the House Financial Services Committee with major responsibilities for various parts of our economy, I particularly look forward to working with her and members of her administration in once again demonstrating that economic growth and a concern for economic fairness in fact are reinforcing values, and not, as the current administration believes, in competition with each other.
"In addition, based on my work with her on issues involving discrimination, I am convinced that Hillary Clinton is the candidate best equipped to pass laws that will treat all Americans with dignity, fairness and equality no matter who they are or who they love.”
“I’m honored to have the support of one of the sharpest minds in Congress,” Clinton said. “Barney has devoted his life to championing economic fairness and civil rights, and expanding opportunity for all Americans. I’m delighted he’ll take a leadership role in our campaign.”
Posted 8:31 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barney Frank, Democratic Party, Election 2008, Hillary Clinton, News, Tammy Baldwin | Permalink
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Nice of him to call it the "Democrat Party" too, instead of Democratic Party. Just like his mentor, GWB.
Bitch indeed.
Posted by: tjc | Nov 14, 2007 9:35:20 AM
FYI, my comment was directed at McCain, not Barney. In case that wasn't clear.
Posted by: tjc | Nov 14, 2007 10:01:57 AM
OMG!!! Quick! Someone wake up Comrade Perdue, the Oldest Living Fag for Stalin, from the homespun mat on the dirt floor of his berm cave. Hillary & Barney & Tammy have been plotting together all along! Now he has PROOF that all the Great Pumpkins, er Evil Democratic Party members have been secretly working together all along, conspiring to end civilization as we know it and cart gays and Ts off to concentration camps. If Hillary's elected, nay, ANY Devious Democrat, gay bars will be raided again and boarded shut. If Hillary's elected, nay, ANY Devious Democrat, Madonna records and Reichen calendars will be burned in a massive bonfire on, wait for it, FIRE Island! If Hillary's elected, nay, ANY Devious Democrat, Carson and Ross the Intern and William Sledd and Chris Crocker will be forced into Remedial S's Classes.
If Hillary's elected, nay, ANY Devious Democrat, circuit parties will become prayer meetings led by Rupert Murdoch. If Hillary's elected, nay, ANY Devious Democrat, all the poor of the world will be sent to slaughter houses to be turned into pate for the Evil Rich like Nancy Pelosi. LGBTs with children will lose custody of them, and they will be shipped off to military boarding schools in one of the three countries carved from the former Iraq where they will be taught the NEW alphabet: DOMADADTNAFTADLCMONEY! Oh, the horror!! Bill! Bill! Wake up!!!!
10...9....8....7....6....5.........
Posted by: Leland Frances | Nov 14, 2007 10:34:18 AM
Leland, take a pill.
I personally decided very recently that I'd shift my vote away from Hillary. While I do think she is a great, experienced candidate, her lobbyist money troubles me. Frankly, I think John Edwards is the most genuinely progressive candidate and the sole candidate who has not tried to play to the right. I think that he truly cares about his constituents whereas all the other candidates, Hillary included, are seeking political power. I don't want another GWB debacle, and while I do believe ANY Democrat will do a fine job, Edwards' positions are far more in line with my progressive stances.
Posted by: Allen | Nov 14, 2007 11:02:51 AM
In addendum:
The video of the McCain supporter calling Hillary Clinton a bitch is absolutely disgusting. I actually cringed. Any respectable candidate would have excused the person asking the question and rejected their rhetoric.
Posted by: Allen | Nov 14, 2007 11:04:44 AM
good one, TJC. i find repugs' use of "democrat party" particularly annoying.
as the "harper dictionary of contemporary usage" states:
'democrat' party is the idiotic creation of the least responsible members of the republican party. it is, of course, correctly the 'democratic party.' the only use for democrat (with a capital "d") is as a noun to designate a member of the democratic party.
Posted by: nic | Nov 14, 2007 1:52:09 PM
Ugh, I cannot stand Hillary and will not support her no matter what happens. There is so much deception associated with this woman that it is truly sickending. Of course Frank, Mr. Rent Boy purchaser, is behind her. He figures he can use his position to buy more male prostitutes.
John Edwards all the way. If Edwards is not an option, I honestly would vote Republican.
I just cannot stomach Hillary.
Posted by: NotHillaryEver | Nov 14, 2007 3:46:55 PM
You would vote Republican, Not Hillary Ever?
You're retarded. Give your mommy back her laptop and go back to eating your own snot.
Posted by: FIGHT MENTAL ILLNESS | Nov 14, 2007 4:43:15 PM
Shocked, shocked I say. Because that gasbag Barney Frank's sister (Ann Lewis) is one of HRC's most virulent psychophants, I am astounded that he is taking on an advisory role. Having seen this crew in action, I shudder at the re-coronation of the Clinton crowd. Bush/Clinton followed by Bush/Clinton. What a trailer park version of the War of the Roses. And I thought we won the Revolutionary War and defeated antiquated notions of monarchical divine rights.
At least he is merely a political hack and not a convicted felon stripped of his security clearance as is Sandy Berger. There is not a decent candidate in the running. All of them have shown that they each would sell us out for political expediency.
Posted by: rudy | Nov 14, 2007 8:05:57 PM
You've convinced me, Rudy! Just give us your last name and we'll write it in. Also for Congress and Senate and governor of every state and every other office opening everywhere.
Hell, you're so pure you should be Miss America and the Rose Bowl Queen, too. What size tiara do you wear again?
Posted by: Leland Frances | Nov 14, 2007 9:13:25 PM
Not so surprising about Frank and Clinton. Birds of a feather… vultures in this case.
As for McCain, he urgently requires psychiatric care for his desire to get revenge on the Vietnamese by murdering as many Iraqis as possible. His refusal to denounce the use of bigot language like 'Bitch' is as wrong as when Frances called Oprah Winfrey a 'Bitch' because she supports Obama.
"What a trailer park version of the War of the Roses. " Excellent.
Rudy, don’t worry about Frances’ nagging. Hes a bloated windbag; if you poke a hole in his one and only claim to fame, i.e., being Hillary’s altar boy in chief he detonates. Its fun to watch but really he’s pretty harmless and self isolating.
The idea that we’ll be better off with a victory by a ‘liberal’ Democrat or Republican is fraudulent and dishonest. People who believe that are like Little Mikey in the commercial who makes it makes it his business to ingest anything put before him. He holds his little nose, closes his eyes and swallows.
A quick look at Hillary Clinton’s web site will show that she runs on Bill Clinton’s record. Since she links herself to him and his record, and given that he ‘home trained’ Hillary, it’s reasonable to link them.
Her health care program is an example of that linkage. According to the National Nurses Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO her initial plan introduced in 1994 was written for HMO’s and insurance executives as was the plan she currently supports. Rent a copy of SICKO by Michael Moore. Find our why Clinton is the all time leader in 'donations' by insurance companies and HMO's. It’s because she’s a vulture feeding off the scraps left her by the predatory insurance industry and HMO’s.
Democrats will tell you to support the candidates whose ideas most resemble yours.
Fair enough. The Democrats brought us federal DOMA and the Republicans brought us state DOMAs and they resemble each other. A lot. Both of them supported the gutting of ENDA and they resemble each other. All day and all night. Bush brought us the war in Iraq and Hillary Clinton supports him unreservedly and they resemble each other. Like birds of a feather... chickenhawks in this case.
The Democrats bust unions, give tax breaks to the rich, deregulate businesses and support NAFTA. So do the Republicans and they resemble each other. That’s why they’re called the twin parties. They both oppose socialized medicine (except for Congress members) and in that too they resemble each other. That’s why tens of millions of honest working people boycott the elections. They want to vote but they will not vote for their enemies.
Fewer and fewer of us are going to waste our support, time, money or votes on the twin parties of the uberrich whose candidates and actions resemble each other so much. The gutting of ENDA was a wake up call. More than ever the likelihood that GLBT enemies like Clinton or Giuliani is not being seen as a cause for celebration.
Those who support these parties after this latest betrayal exhibit the sure signs of being just another over the hill right-winger who's lost it. They're on their way out of the movement.
Good Riddance.
http://www.alternet.org/story/67234/
http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2007/september/page.jsp?itemID=32072277&emc=&m=3703682&v=9597156&l=3
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/09/hillary-clintons-first-health-care-non-reform/
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/64831/?page=2
http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2007/september/page.jsp?itemID=32062402&emc=&m=3703682&v=9597156&l=4
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/64433/
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Nov 14, 2007 10:15:28 PM
Ah, Comrade Perdue. We so hope they find a cure for your political Tourette's syndrome soon. A telethon perhaps........
Posted by: Leland Frances | Nov 15, 2007 12:14:01 AM
Poor Bill, you still have that awful political Tourette's syndrome. Is it painful? We so hope they find a cure soon. Perhaps a telethon! I'll be your Jerry Lewis and host.
Posted by: Leland Frances | Nov 15, 2007 12:16:39 AM
Why Leland Francis, aren't you just the cutest thing! But darlin', I haven't worn a tiara since we sold off the family jewels to buy the winery. Truth be told I do still miss that platinum canary diamond and baroque Tahitian pearl number.
I did, however, make a substantial amount of money by collecting fees following the last election where I correctly called the outcome of every race. Why yes, 100%. I guess that is why they pay my ridiculous consulting rates.
Moreover, I am hardly pure--earning the nickname "Baby Whore" during my well-spent youth at Julliard, where I actually taught too many beauty queen contestants how to walk properly--but I tend to be correct (or at least bankable) in my political insights.
And why the sobriquet 'Comrade' for Bill P? He appears to be the antithesis of a socialist, unlike HRC.
As always, I enjoy your posts and ri-posts.
Posted by: rudy | Nov 16, 2007 4:21:54 PM
Allen, like you I loathe the Republicons use of "democrat" when referring to the Democratic Party. That's one of those "conservative" terms that started sometime in the late 1980s-early 1990's. I imagine some of those high-priced "think tanks" decided that the Democratic Party isn't "democratic" or something and so they started saying the "democrat party". It might have even come from the late and despicable Lee Atwater. Typical stupidity from the Republicons. Why are conservatives such petulant, whiny crybabies? The greater mystery is how any sane, rational gay or lesbian could ever support the Republicons. In other words, why is there such a thing as the "Log Cabin Republicons"?
Posted by: mike | Nov 18, 2007 4:27:55 AM