Thread: Rep. Barney Frank will not seek reelection

Frank’s Corruption Scandals Caught Up To Him

Last Updated: Wed, 11/30/2011 - 1:22pm

While much of the mainstream media seems to blame conservatives in Congress for driving liberal Democrat Barney Frank—a two-time Judicial Watch Most Wanted Corrupt Politician—out of office, the truth is that a number of corruption scandals have probably caught up with the veteran Massachusetts lawmaker who announced his abrupt retirement this week.

It was not that long ago that Frank assured his constituents that he would definitely run for re-election in 2012, mainly to defend his disastrous financial regulatory overhaul from Republican attempts to repeal it. He also said he needed to continue fighting for “full legal equality for all citizensâ€

As if this weren’t bad enough, a mainstream newspaper reporter recently exposed Frank’s unethical relationship with the government-run mortgage giants he supposedly regulated by revealing that he got his live-in companion a job at Fannie Mae while Congress was writing legislation to improve oversight of the lender. Frank actually called up and asked that his companion be hired, according to the report, which also says that Frank aggressively defended Fannie Mae after it hired his live-in partner.

The media doesn't mention this one very often.....

Media Mum on Barney Frank's Fannie Mae Love Connection

Democratic House Financial Services Committee Chair promoted GSEs while former 'spouse' was Fannie Mae executive.

Are journalists playing favorites with some of the key political figures involved with regulatory oversight of U.S. financial markets?

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews launched several vitriolic attacks on the Republican Party on his Sept. 17, 2008, show, suggesting blame for Wall Street problems should be focused in a partisan way. However, he and other media have failed to thoroughly examine the Democratic side of the blame game.

Prominent Democrats ran Fannie Mae, the same government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) that donated campaign cash to top Democrats. And one of Fannie Mae’s main defenders in the House – Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a recipient of more than $40,000 in campaign donations from Fannie since 1989 – was once romantically involved with a Fannie Mae executive.

The media coverage of Frank’s coziness with Fannie Mae and his pro-Fannie Mae stances has been lacking. Of the eight appearances Frank made on the three broadcasts networks between Jan. 1, 2008, and Sept. 21, 2008, none of his comments dealt with the potential conflicts of interest. Only six of the appearances dealt with the economy in general and two of those appearances, including an April 6, 2008 appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutesâ€

Besides that his district was re-redistricted and his voting base changed so he probably doesn't think he will win a re-election in MA.

Originally Posted by kathyet

. . . his district was re-redistricted and his voting base changed so he probably doesn't think he will win a re-election in MA.

That's the whole story right there.
And we're still stuck with him until Jan 2012.