I wonder when it happened. I wonder when some editor at the Boston Globe-Democrat, having dutifully carried water for Barney Frank for decades, suddenly stopped and put down his pail. When it occurred to him that maybe—just maybe—all these news stories from “fringe” media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes about Congressman Frank’s economic idiocy and low-rent corruption might have something to them?
But I’m not here to look this journalistic gift horse in the mouth. All I can say is “Thank you, BG-D, for finally doing your job.”
Last week’s article nailing Barney Frank’s ideology-driven incompetence on Freddie and Fannie would have ended the candidacy of any congressman in a rational voting district. The facts were devastating, and Frank’s admission that he did all this damage to our economy in the name of his progressive liberalism just made it worse.
Could the BG-D have written this article a year ago? Sure! After all, the WSJ did. But the fact they wrote it at all is praiseworthy.
Then there’s today’s paper. Criticism of Frank from Jeff Jacoby is welcome, but hardly news.
But from establishmentarian Brian McGrory? Wow!
For the last three decades, the political establishments in Boston and Washington have excused Frank’s consistently obnoxious behavior as Barney being Barney. Maybe they’ve done it because he was unique as an openly gay congressman. Maybe it was out of deference for the way he unapologetically and effectively carried the flag for the most liberal of causes. Maybe it was out of fear that he’d train his quick wit and substantial intellect against anyone who happened in his path.
But now voters are looking to D.C. and wondering what has gone wrong in a city and a system that is having such a hard time getting things right. The same character flaws that were forgiven in good times might wear thin when times are tough.
Bielat, an even-keeled Democrat-turned Republican with a Harvard degree, made Ready look foolish this week. The question looms: Will he do the same to Frank next month.
Final thought? Now that they’ve reported what an incompetent, rude, insufferable a-hole Barney Frank is, who will the Boston Globe-Democrat actually endorse in this race?
One guess—and the answer’s not “Bielat.”
"The truth is something [Warren] probably prefers not to confront. Harvard doesn’t come calling just because you’re a smart lawyer and a terrific teacher — not with Warren’s modest, Oklahoma upbringing and non-Ivy League education. She is not your typical Harvard professor. At a certain point, when the law school was under pressure to promote diversity, she represented a three-fer: a great lawyer with a national profile, a woman, and a minority, at least by virtue of family lore. "
-- Joan Vennochi
