SARGE: Out Of Remission

In a not so queer turn of events another “retired” politician” Barney Frank, former representative from Massachusetts said he wants Governor Deval Patrick to appoint him Senator replacing John Kerry, the presumed appointee to Secretary of State.

This is like America (having suffered the ravages of a cancer for over 30 years) is finally told it’s cancer free, only to find the remission is short-lived. Frank retired at the end of November. The tumor announced “I’m b-a-a-a-c-k!” on January the 3rd.

Frank is the scandalized former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. During his tenure he oversaw (he said he failed to see) the collapse of the Housing market through his association with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Frank had a “personal relationship” with Herb Moses, former Assistant Director for Product Initiatives at Fannie Mae. It’s arguable as Fannie Mae has responsibility and deep involvement with housing and building starts (known as “products” in the financial world) Moses was developing product initiatives while Frank’s house mate and companion many times described as his “spouse”. They both referred to each other as such with Moses being issued a “spouse pin” for parking privileges.

A person’s sexual proclivities aren’t allowed any specific sanctions under the “Clinton Doctrine” establishing the fact you’re only issued a letter of censure when proven to have blatantly committed perjury in open court documents and specifically when stating “I did not have sexual relations with that woman!” Barney at least admits he’s gay. That’s his business. (It’s always been this commentator’s stance that if I stray into questioning your bedroom practices I give you leave to inspect mine.)

But, should a Committee Chairman be influenced by the action of his admitted paramour, no matter the sexuality? Why isn’t this Conflict of Interest? Why wasn’t real censure directed toward Frank on this basis alone? Why was the mainstream media absent on an obvious point of ethical deviance because of the need to appear politically correct?

Frank led legislation directed at loosening rules on multi-family dwellings. Fannie Mae directed Frank to use his influence against Housing and Urban Development proposals forcing a re-direction the agency’s focus toward minority/low-income buyers. This political move was designed to attract votes to the left side of the aisle because to not do so would be an affront to “the urban middle class. It also led the way to approvals of less than desirable mortgages.

Frank received more than $40,000 in financial injections to his campaigns as well as those he enjoyed with Moses. This is not an extreme amount of money when compared to other Congressmen receiving as much as $3,017,797.00 since 1989. But the stench associated with the activity indicates the moral necrosis exhibited.

Frank remained in opposition to substantive housing market controls offered as the “housing bubble” burst. In September of 2003 he said in opposition to regulation of the two entities: “These two entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerated these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.” This was a statement in direct controversy to statements he made in April of 2009: “when people are making … 30 or 40 thousand dollars a year…they’re not going to be able to afford a home and if you pretend they that they can, you are going to get them into trouble.” This was after the “bubble” burst and his complicity in deregulation by obfuscation became evident.

The Democrats are noted for being for something before they were against the same thing as John Kerry so quaintly proclaimed.

Frank’s as crooked as a dog’s hind leg and has ethics are as directional as a wind-sock in a tornado. He sucks the hope of integrity in government from the very soul of America. But he’s got the political chops necessary to assure Democratic domination in Congress. We hope Deval Patrick appoints a cure for the disease Frank and his cronies delivered to Congress in the form of their activities.

But this cancer is out of remission and endangers the host again.

Thanks for listening.

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