Frank calls Scalia a "homophobe"

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Kevin

The difference, I think, is that his and his supporters' mantra thus far has been "personal life doesn't matter, only performance does" and lately, his performance has been worse than lousy.

Does "personal life" not matter if the scandalier is a Democrat?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Right.

<---- failing to empathize with the outrage.

I don't think people are expressing outrage here. Like Dani said, it's not the first time this has been said about Scalia, and it won't be the last. It just seems odd for a Congressperson to say something like that.

It's not the worst thing a Congressperson has said, that much is true. Doesn't make it any less strange.

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Does "personal life" not matter if the scandalier is a Democrat?

It shouldn't, but I think it does in the minds of the public. People associate Republicans more with moral legislation, and they get more fired up when a Republican is accused of some moral scandal.

That said - it still amazes me that Frank got off so lightly. Like Kevin said, though, he may run into more issues around election time because of performance issues (although I would be shocked if MA voted him out because of his popularity within the Commonwealth).

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Does "personal life" not matter if the scandalier is a Democrat?

It shouldn't matter unless you put it at issue unless it points to some huge character flaw.

Being gay ain't a character flaw, nor is being secretive about it if you're in politics.

The drugs would be a big deal, but apparently they're ancient history.

But yeah, he never claimed to be someone who might get the John Birch Society seal of approval, so I partially agree with what you're saying.

-- now, if the 'scandalier' [love that word] was a Democrat like Jimmy Carter, or a conservative Democrat like Dan Boren, I think personal life issues would be fair game, or at least they'd get some traction.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Kevin

It shouldn't matter unless you put it at issue unless it points to some huge character flaw.

-- now, if the 'scandalier' [love that word] was a Democrat like Jimmy Carter, or a conservative Democrat like Dan Boren, I think personal life issues would be fair game, or at least they'd get some traction.

I was being tongue-in-cheek in pointing out the hypocrisies of the far left. I think my humor has gotten a bit too dry lately.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

You're underestimating the power of being an incumbent Democrat in Massachusetts.

Pretty much. I didn't know exactly what part of MA Barney Frank represented until I looked it up on a map. I kind of assumed that he represented the Cape--maybe the Provincetown connection?--but wow. Is that the most liberal corner of MA or what?!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I was being tongue-in-cheek in pointing out the hypocrisies of the far left. I think my humor has gotten a bit too dry lately.



Pretty much. I didn't know exactly what part of MA Barney Frank represented until I looked it up on a map. I kind of assumed that he represented the Cape--maybe the Provincetown connection?--but wow. Is that the most liberal corner of MA or what?!

Haha...I got the humor but was a bit too cracked out to respond with anything remotely clever.

Not only is that a liberal corner of MA, but it's the most affluent section of the state. Brookline, Newton, Dover and Sherborn are four of the most affluent cities and towns in the Commonwealth, so he's cleaning up with financial backing as well. Most of the prominent doctors and lawyers vote Dem, and while there's the occasional businessman who votes Republican, they're still giving money to Frank because of his committee assignments.

ETA: This is a total aside, but an interesting one; his predecessor, Rep. Drinan, was a priest who left office after Pope John Paul II demanded that all priests withdraw from elected office in the early 80s.