Regards,
Peter H.

The problem is, that “as long as they don’t do it in the street” attitude isn’t enough for certain busy-bodies on both sides. And it’s the busy-bodies who say, “we want educational programs, employment laws, and hate crimes statutes that give you additional based on who you share your bunk with. And if our public behavior is not decent, well, it’s because of the trauma you inflicted on us, so you have to excuse it. Also, we do want the right to do it in the street… Folsom Street.”

Scottland raises to my mind a thoughtful point: separating the politics from the scandal – would right-thinking people still condemn Frank (and lefties still look nervous and try to change to the subject) if the Congressman was – say – a conservative lawmaker from Idaho? I think the answer is self-evident, but would be curious to hear what others think.

But to Scottland’s (#15) example: I don’t know the context of the Hannity quotes (Vitter, perhaps?) and wouldn’t vote Sean spokesman for Planet Conservative anyway. But, is Hannity’s point really just posturing?

Taking gay/straight out of the equation, can we agree that there are degrees of moral turpitude here? OK, loaded term, perhaps. What about just the public ramifications? I see it the spectrum like this:

1. Citizen John enjoys questionable quickies. (Bad for his family, public image)
2. Lawmaker or law enforcer John enjoys quickies. (Bad for family, his image, strong risk for blackmail)
3. Citizen John tacitly runs a brothel. (Bad behavior now expands to a criminal enterprise)
4. Lawmaker or law enforcer John tacitly runs a brothel. (Full criminal enterprise with the trappings of legality PLUS the strong risk for blackmail.)

Perhaps, a Frank defender could quibble about whether he should be more in the second category than the fourth. But to my mind, it’s much harder to deny that public officials must be held to a higher standard.

Look, I’m thrilled that Frank is Out and thrilled that he’s popular in his district, but time and again when given the chance to act contrite he just pivots and attacks. Right or left, this is a sure sign of weak character. As a gay man, I feel no need to defend him.

Some further confirmation on the timeline of franks homosexuality.

also, in the original post, you were suggesting that newsweek editorialised that it was franks homosexuality that made him do it. then in the update you say it was frank himself. Just wondering which one is more accurate.

Also, re: straight equivalencies, such as the DC madame scandal, i recall sean hannity defending the idea of people using such services in order to tamp down criticism of people related to the case.
“There are lonely people in the world that literally will call just to have company…”
Is that reflective of a disturbing cavalier attitude towards potential wrongdoing, not based on sexuality, but party? If the list of clients was wholly democrat, I’m not going to give Hannity the benefit of the doubt that he would have approached the issue in the same way.

I was thinking the same thing earlier. It’s about time for his pansy ass to get stomped again. The sad part is that O’Reilly’s the only one who will hold him accountable.

‘Be a man!’ Indeed.

Typical liberal reaction.

Regards,
Peter H.

And from what little influence I do have I don’t believe for a moment I am fully humble or incapable of further mistakes.

As for Congressman Frank, I actually got to meet him at an FMA marriage hearing when he, Marilyn Musgrave, Judge Bork and Jay Sekulow testified in front of a house committee on the subject. If you dig up the CSPAN footage I am the guy in the green jacket right behind him on the front row. Anyway, I was shocked at how cavalierly he and his assistants treated the other panelists. It wasn’t a major spectacle but it was sort of “bullying.” I think you mentioned that he was a kind of bully on here before. If not I must have read it somewhere else.

Anyway, thanks again for a nother thought provoking post.

so you and barney used to date, yes? bitter break up?

I’m disappointed. I thought you could be a bigger f**king dick than that. Actually, I know you can.

Is Zac Ephron, perchance, a scrappy Alderaanean princess?

Can’t we find some scrappy Alderaanean princess that is willing to strangle him with a chain while he’s chillin’ in the cocktail lounge of his sail barge?

Translation: Because Barney Frank’s corruption and incompetence are indefensible, I’m going to attack those who point them out in the most juvenile manner possible.