Asking the White House to support more government intervention was "like asking me to judge the Miss America contest — if your heart's
not in it, you don't do a very good job." (May 13, 2008; New York Times)
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"The free market system is the foundation of our prosperity, but as we confront the damaging consequences of irresponsible mortgage lending, all but a few of zealots now understand that enforcement of standards of honesty, openness, and responsibility is necessary to prevent the sort of abuses that have brought us to the present crisis." (Excerpt from Frank's response to the President's radio address, 01/19/08)
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The war in Iraq has been, in my judgment, the greatest national security disaster in America history. (Statement by Rep. Frank from House of Representatives debate on February 16, 2008.)
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“Our vote [on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act] followed an impassioned plea for support from my colleague and chairman, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. Since coming to Congress, I can’t remember being so personally moved by a member’s remarks on the House floor. And I was not alone. While Barney is renowned for his quick wit, humor and incisive intellectual arguments, he disarmed his opponents that night with pure emotion.” (Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL), November 20, 2007 op-ed in Chicago Tribune).
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‘The lion’s share of the credit goes to the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, whose focus, knowledge and knack for dealmaking make him a rarity in the Capitol these days.” (Excerpt from 11-18-07 Washington Post Sunday Business Section article by Steven Pearlstein.)
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I used to be someone subject to this prejudice, and, through luck,circumstance, I got to be a big shot. I am now above that prejudice. But I feel an obligation to 15-year-olds dreading to go to school because of the torments, to people afraid that they will lose their job in a gas station if someone finds out who they love. I feel an obligation to use the status I have been lucky enough to get to help them. (Excerpt from House debate on Employment Non-Discrimination Act, 11 – 7 – 2007.)
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One aspect of the subprime mortgage crisis that deserves special attention is that it was in large part a natural experiment on the role of regulation. And the results are clear: Reasonable regulation of mortgages by the bank and credit union regulators allowed the market to function in an efficient and constructive way, while mortgages made and sold in the unregulated sector led to the crisis.
("Lessons of the Subprime Crisis"; Boston Globe Column by Rep. Frank, 9 – 14- 2007.)
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Congressman Charlie Rangel…said in one campaign speech that he was surprised to hear a Republican Congressional commercial that warned people against voting Democratic for House Members on the grounds that it would lead to chairmanships for Charlie Rangel, John Conyers and Barney Frank. “That’s funny,” Charlie said in his great New York City accent, exaggerated when necessary for comic effect, “I didn’t know that Barney Frank was colored.” (Excerpt from July, 2007 “Thank You” letter Congressman Frank sent to campaign contributors.)
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I have to say, I do not understand the impulse to make life harder for others when making it easier for them has no cost to us. (Excerpt from debate on Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2008 -- House of Representatives, June 28, 2007.)
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I often disagree with my colleagues on the other side, but I have rarely before been as baffled by the illogic of their argument as I am today. I do not recall the last time I heard such a hodgepodge of inconsistency and inaccuracy. (Excerpt from Debate on "Rule" for consideration of H.R. 1257, Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act -- House of Representatives - April 18, 2007.)
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