December 1, 2011 7:45 AM

"What planet do you spend most of your time on?"

“Government” is just another name for the things we decide to do together.

  • Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

Like a lot of Liberals, I was saddened by the news the Barney Frank has decided to retire instead of running for re-election. It’s not as if he hasn’t done his time in Congress, of course, having been elected 16 times. That said, I don’t think most Americans are cognizant of just how much his absence will change Congress- and not for the better.

Frank the politician was far from perfect. Yes, he was once censured by the House, and that remains a blot on his resume. Beyond that, though, Frank has steered away from the safe, vanilla politics that most in Congress practice out of a desire to keep their jobs. Never afraid to call it as he sees it, Frank’s honesty has offended, refreshed, thrilled, and pissed off colleagues (both Republican and Democrat) and the Washington press for 31 years. Add to that his open and unabashed homosexuality, and you can understand why and how Frank became, and has remained, a lightning rod for the Far RIght, a symbol of all that’s evil about America-hating Liberalism. Or something like that.

After 31 years in Congress, it would be tough not to grant Frank the right to gracefully exit stage left. He’s done his time, he’s in his early 70s, and so who could blame him for wanting to leave the madness behind and enjoy a saner, quieter life with his partner?

In reflecting on what Frank was able to accomplish during his tenure in Congress, I ran across a piece written by Matt Rothschild, editor of The Progressive, which I think sums up Frank’s contributions quite nicely:

He took no guff from anyone. He was combative, and very quick on his feet, with a wit that could knock an opponent flat.

After he came out as gay in 1987, the first member of Congress to do so, he kept getting reelected anyway, despite the bigoted snickers from Republicans.

He stood up for civil rights not just for gays but for women and African Americans and for all Americans.

He also was a civil libertarian, courageously voting against the FISA law that expanded domestic spying.

He was a proponent of medical marijuana—and an opponent of the death penalty.

He opposed the Iraq War from day one and called for an early end to the Afghan War.

He had a strong environmental record and helped to strengthen the Clean Water Act.

He voted against media concentration and for net neutrality….

Most of all, I’ll remember him for telling off a Tea Party person who came to his 2009 health-care town meeting and compared Obama to Adolph Hitler. Frank invoked his “ethnic heritage,” and said, “What planet do you spend most of your time on?”

Barney Frank was a tough, smart, and committed Progressive who took no crap from anyone. He ignored Republican snickers directed at him as he ridiculed them for their intransigence, hypocrisy, and obstructionism. His honesty and his willingness to call things as he saw them advanced Progressive causes and called attention to the need to make government about ALL Americans, not just the ones wealthy enough to buy themselves a Congressman or six.

I’ll miss Frank, his refreshing honesty, and his guileless approach to the often messy and unpleasant job of governance. Would that whoever replaces Frank can learn from his predecessor’s legacy and be even half the presence Frank has been. America needs that now more than ever.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on December 1, 2011 7:45 AM.

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