Washington, DC — While many of us oppose almost every aspect of U.S. Rep. Barney Frank’s legislative agenda, one must admire his integrity, intelligence and wit. Always a favorite to watch in the chamber, his brilliant mid-1980s rhetorical duels with then-rising House member Newt Gingrich were as fascinating as they were entertaining.
And despite Frank’s well publicized brush with ethics issues in the late 80’s, he was up front about it, despite the uproar created by his liaison with Steve Gobie.
Barney Frank deserves praise for blasting his party chairman, Howard Dean, for
smearing Tom DeLay with the worst type of character assasination. Dean said yesterday that Tom DeLay, ”ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence,” referring to allegations of unethical conduct against the Republican leader.
Dean’s remark, in a speech to Massachusetts Democrats at their party convention, drew an immediate rebuke from Frank, one of DeLay’s harshest critics.
”That’s just wrong,” Frank said in an interview on the convention floor. ”I think Howard Dean was out of line talking about DeLay. The man has not been indicted. I don’t like him, I disagree with some of what he does, but I don’t think you, in a political speech, talk about a man as a criminal or his jail sentence.”
Howard Dean is more than just a loudmouth — he’s a loudmouth with horrendous political judgment.