TPMDC
Barney Frank

Obama Praises Heroism At Fort Hood
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama discussed the shooting at Fort Hood, and paid tribute to the heroism of both military and civilian personnel at the base:

"And yet, even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America," said Obama. "We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to aid fallen comrades; tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured; using blouses as tourniquets; taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves. We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they had been trained to use abroad; skills that been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only: to protect and defend the United States of America."

Barbour: New Jersey And Virginia Elections Show America Rejecting The Democrats
In this weekend's Republican address, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) claimed that this past Tuesday's gubernatorial elections represent a rejection of President Obama's and the Democrats' agenda:

"This week also saw the first big elections since this administration and its Democrat Majority in Congress took control of our federal government. The results made clear the American people don't like where the Democrats are trying to take our country," said Barbour. "Virginia and New Jersey elected new governors Tuesday, and in both cases, voters chose Republican governors to succeed the Democrats elected four years ago. Both are states that President Obama carried by large margins last year."

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Topics: Abortion, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Bart Stupak, Capitol Hill Tea Party, Haley Barbour, Health Care, Iowa caucus, Michele Bachmann, NJ-GOV, NRCC, Pres '12, Roundup, Sarah Palin, Tea Party, Tim Pawlenty, VA-GOV

Health Care

Lieberman: I'd Be 'Inclined' To Help Break GOP Filibuster

Rachel Slajda | October 16, 2009, 4:15PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), whose vote would most likely be necessary to break a Republican filibuster on health care reform, said Thursday that he's "inclined to let the motion to proceed."

But, he added, "I haven't decided yet."

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Topics: Barney Frank, Health Care, Joe Lieberman, Public Option

Roundup

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 10, 2009, 1:06PM

Obama Boasts of Bipartisan Support For Health Care Reform -- And Shames The Opposition
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama proudly touted the support for health care from prominent Republicans such as Bob Dole, Bill Frist, Mike Bloomberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Louis Sullivan and Tommy Thompson -- and contrasted this with the opposition from other Republicans in Washington:

"These distinguished leaders understand that health insurance reform isn't a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, but an American issue that demands a solution," said Obama. "Still, there are some in Washington today who seem determined to play the same old partisan politics, working to score political points, even if it means burdening this country with an unsustainable status quo."

LeMieux: Dem Health Care Solutions Worse Than The Problems
In this weekend's Republican address, the recently appointed Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL) attacked the Democratic health care proposals as being worse than the current problems:

"We in the Congress have a duty to tackle this problem, but the solution we settle upon should not be rushed, and the solution should not be worse than the problem we are trying to solve," said LeMieux. "Right now, Senate Democrats and White House officials are behind closed doors crafting their final health care overhaul proposal. While the Democrats in Congress have not yet provided the actual language of their proposed law, we do know enough for Americans to be concerned."

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Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, David Axelrod, Gay Rights, George LeMieux, Health Care, Roundup

Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 19, 2009, 1:09PM

Obama: More Work To Be Done On Economy
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama discussed the upcoming G-20 Summit, and the need for more financial regulations to avoid a repeat of the economic crisis:

In the weeks and months ahead, we have an opportunity to build on the work we've already done. An opportunity to rebuild our global economy stronger that before. An opportunity not only to protect the American people and America's economy, but to promote sustained and balanced growth and prosperity for our nation and all nations. And that's an opportunity I am determined to seize.

Myrick: Government Run Health Care Means Delay, Death
In this weekend's Republican address, Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) discussed her experience as a breast cancer survivor, warned that government-run health care would lead to delayed care and death:

"Under the government-run health care system they have in Canada and the United Kingdom, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get those tests so quickly," said Myrick. "One international study found that three times as many citizens in those countries wait longer than a month to see a specialist. When it comes to life-threatening diseases like cancer, delay could mean death."

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Topics: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Joe Wilson, MA-SEN, Racism, Sue Myrick

Pres '12

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 18, 2009, 9:00AM

Values Voters Summit Begins Today, To Feature GOP Presidential Straw Poll
The Values Voters Summit is kicking off today in Washington, and will feature such conservative politicians as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and others. Most notably, the event will have a 2012 presidential straw poll, which will test the current appeal of various Republican politicians among religious right activists. The results of the straw poll will be announced on Saturday.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama does not have any public events scheduled today. At 1 p.m. ET, he will have a closed-press meeting with recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Health Care, Joe Wilson, Pres '12, Russ Feingold, SC-02

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | September 17, 2009, 9:02AM

AP: BaucusCare Is Industry's Favorite So Far
The Associated Press reports that the Baucus health care plan appears to be the health insurance industry's favorite proposal so far, with mandates for people to purchase coverage, and no significant competition from the government -- and stocks have gone up since it was announced. However, a spokesman Americans Health Insurance Plans said they still have concerns: "We have some significant concerns, particularly the new taxes that are going to make health insurance less affordable."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will hold a rally on health insurance reform at 11:40 a.m. ET in College Park, Maryland. At 2:05 p.m. ET, he will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Sgt. First Class Jared C. Monti, whose parents will accept the medal. At 5:15 p.m. ET, Obama will host a viewing of portions of a documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

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Topics: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Health Care, Joe Wilson, MA-SEN, Max Baucus, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

Ted Kennedy

Frank: Appoint Interim Replacement Who Will Promise Not To Run In Mass. Special Election

Rachel Slajda | August 27, 2009, 2:14PM

Rep Barney Frank (D-MA)

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said today he advocates appointing an interim replacement for Sen. Ted Kennedy, but wants that person to pledge not to run in a special election for the seat.

"We are going to have an election, that's not in question," Frank said today on MSNBC. "We will have a clean, open, honest, fast election. ... The question is what do you do during the interim period, and I think it makes absolute sense to have someone appointed who will have promised not to run again."

He admitted that the state couldn't legally hold someone to that promise.

"You cannot, I think, constitutionally enforce that, legally. But I believe you can easily find someone who will say, 'Yes, I'll serve for these months, I will vote,'" he said.

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Topics: Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy

Barney Frank

Limbaugh Cheers On Woman With Obama-As-Hitler Sign At Barney Frank Event

Eric Kleefeld | August 19, 2009, 2:12PM

Rush Limbaugh

On his show today, Rush Limbaugh cheered on the woman who showed up at Rep. Barney Frank's (D-MA) town hall with a sign depicting President Obama as Hitler:

"I think it's fabulous and fantastic, and hilarious," said Limbaugh, "that a woman shows up at a Barney Frank town hall meeting with an Obama-as-Hitler poster and this Nazi stuff, in his district. I mean, this is unreal."

"But the killer for me was, here's Barney Frank saying, 'What planet do you live on?' to this woman. Isn't it an established fact that Barney Frank himself spends of his time living around Uranus?"

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Topics: Barney Frank, Rush Limbaugh

Barney Frank

Barney Frank Confronts Woman With Obama-As-Hitler Sign: What Planet Are You From?

Eric Kleefeld | August 19, 2009, 9:53AM

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) had an amazing moment at a town hall meeting, confronting a woman with an Obama-as-Hitler sign, and who asked Frank why he supported Obama's "Nazi policy" on health care:

Frank, who is a member of at least two groups that the Nazis sent to the death camps -- he is Jewish and gay -- fired back. "On what planet do you spent most of your time?" he asked.

"You stand there with a picture of the President, defaced to look like Hitler, and compare the effort to increase health care to the Nazis. My answer to you is, as I said before, it is a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile, contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated."

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Topics: Barney Frank, Health Care

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | August 19, 2009, 8:59AM

NYT: Dems Seem Set To Go It Alone On Health Bill
The New York Times reports that Democrats are getting closer to working without Republicans on health care reform, in the wake of continued intransigence by the GOP. "Administration officials, who maintain that Republicans are badly mischaracterizing the legislation that has emerged from three House committees and the Senate health committee, said they had hoped to achieve some level of bipartisan support," the Times reports. "But they are becoming increasingly convinced that they will instead have to navigate the complicated politics among varying Democratic factions."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will deliver remarks at 4:30 p.m. ET from the South Portico, honoring 2008 Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. At 5:30 p.m. ET, he will hold a conference call with faith leaders to discuss health insurance reform.

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Topics: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, CA-SEN, Campaign Finance, Health Care, Joe Biden, John Boehner, NJ-GOV, PhRMA, Public Option, RNC, Senate '10, Stimulus, VA-GOV

Barney Frank

Frank: It Would Be Reasonable For Dems To Challenge Specter

Brian Beutler | June 8, 2009, 4:32PM

GQ's Lisa DePaulo conducted a long interview with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)--the quick-witted, at times acerbic, chair of the House Financial Services Committee--and among many other things, she asked him about his party's newest member. "[A]s a Democrat," Frank said, "I'm glad to have him."

But as an elected official, I have to say I don't think he did our profession any good. First of all, to announce that it was done purely so he could survive. Secondly, his performance since then has been very disappointing. In particular, what troubled me was when he was quoted as saying, "Well..." In terms of no Jewish Republicans, the answer should have been, Who cares? That's not a relevant issue. But then, when he said, Oh, but I'm confident the courts in Minnesota will do justice to Norm Coleman, and then said, Oh, I forgot which side I'm on!--forget about forgetting which side he's on. What that says is, his view of what the law should be depends on what party he's in. This notion that your view of what's an appropriate legal decision depends on your party is shocking for a guy who's supposed to be this great lawyer.

So what does that mean, in his mind, for the 2010 election? Frank said, "there's an erratic behavior pattern there that's very troubling. I think at this point it's entirely reasonable for some Democrats to think about challenging him." Unfortunately, the interview doesn't touch on Specter's most likely challenger--Frank's House colleague Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA).

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Topics: Arlen Specter, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, House of Representatives, Joe Sestak, Nancy Pelosi, PA-SEN, Republicans, Senate, Senate '10, Torture

Michele Bachmann

Barney Frank Faces Down Bachmann On ACORN Funding

Eric Kleefeld | May 19, 2009, 4:24PM

Michele Bachmann faced off with Barney Frank on the Lou Dobbs show last night over Bachmann's proposal to strip ACORN of any federal funds, by denying money to groups who have any members that become indicted.

In the battle of wits, the winner was...Barney Frank:

Frank pointed out that far from being a bunch of Democratic cronies, ACORN's housing work received a lot of funding from the Bush Administration, as part of the general Republican idea of contracting out community activities instead of growing the federal workforce. As for the substance of Bachmann's amendment, he argued that the low bar of criminal accusation against individual members would give too much power to a prosecutor to go after a group -- and could affect folks such as AIPAC, whose indicted members later saw all the charges against them dropped, or even the House Republicans when Tom DeLay was indicted.

"I'm sorry, Michele, why do you keep interrupting?" an exasperated Frank said at one point. "I'm sorry you don't like what I'm saying."

And by the way, this was posted on Bachmann's own YouTube account, much like another awkward TV appearance from two-and-a-half weeks ago.

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Topics: ACORN, Barney Frank, Michele Bachmann

Pecora

Investigation Of Financial Crisis Idea Gaining Steam

Brian Beutler | May 1, 2009, 1:20PM

Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested the creation of an internal "Pecora-like" congressional committee to investigate the causes of the financial crisis, and, since then, we've been following the idea as it moves closer to fruition.

In the last couple weeks, there have been some significant developments on that front. On the House side, influential Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) introduced a stand-alone resolution that mirrors Pelosi's preference. "This [House] select committee," Dingell said, would "be comprised of members appointed from the Committees on Financial Services, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Government Reform...modeled on the Pecora Commission that held hearings in 1932 and 1933 to investigate the roots of the Great Depression."

The Pecora investigations were conducted in the Senate Banking Committee, but you get the idea. Dingell hasn't been in close conversation with leadership about his particular plan, but he did send Pelosi a letter asking for her support. I asked Dingell spokesman Adam Benson why Dingell prefers this configuration as oppose to, for instance, an independent outside commission. He said, "The committees of jurisdiction should be involved because they'll be the ones to write any legislation that results from the investigation."

Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John McCain (R-AZ) feel much the same way. They introduced a measure that would create a select committee in the Senate with the same charge. "While I also support an outside commission, and have previously introduced legislation to establish such a commission," Dorgan said, "I believe the Senate has an important oversight responsibility that cannot be delegated. That's why we need a select Senate committee to investigate this financial crisis and make sure it never happens again."

That measure--an amendment to the Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act (FERA)--got the go ahead earlier this week when the bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate.

But another, similar FERA amendment would create an external commission, containing members appointed by both House and Senate leaders, and Hill sources suggest that's where the action is.