Barney Frank

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Barney Frank Recalls Decision to Come Out in 1987

In memoir, he writes he was tired of trying to hide it

(Newser) - Barney Frank is out with a memoir this month in which he writes about his decision to come out as the first openly gay member of Congress in 1987. The impetus? "I was ashamed of myself for hiding my membership in a universally despised group,” he writes in...

Barney Frank Film Pairs Him With 'Gay Slur' Actor

Alec Baldwin produced new documentary on ex-lawmaker

(Newser) - Barney Frank may be retired, but a new documentary has him back in the spotlight—and pairs him with an actor some would call an unlikely ally, the Daily Beast reports. The gay, retired Massachusetts lawmaker will be interviewed at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Compared to What by...

Barney Frank: Cut the Crap, Legalize Heroin

And lots of 'high-functioning people' are on cocaine anyway

(Newser) - As a not-so-shy congressman, Barney Frank pushed for marijuana to be legal (and copped to eating a pot brownie ). Now that he's retired, he's going further: He tells the Huffington Post that he thinks cocaine and even heroin ought to be legal, too. The only drugs that...

Deval Patrick Picks Ex-Aide to Replace Kerry

William 'Mo' Cowan gets the call over Barney Frank

(Newser) - Sorry, Barney Frank. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will name his former chief-of-staff, William "Mo" Cowan, as John Kerry's interim replacement in the Senate, passing over the more famous retired congressman, a source tells the AP . The pick is expected to be announced later today. Cowan will hold the...

Barney Frank Gives Hagel a Pass on Gay Comments

But Republican group is less forgiving

(Newser) - With Afghanistan and defense spending at stake, Barney Frank is willing to overlook an anti-gay remark. "I was hoping the president wouldn’t nominate" Chuck Hagel for defense secretary, the gay-rights activist and former Democratic lawmaker tells the Boston Globe . But "as much as I regret what Hagel...

Barney Frank on Senate: 'Coach, Put Me In!'

Former congressman admits he'd like John Kerry's seat

(Newser) - Barney Frank wants to temporarily fill John Kerry's probably-soon-to-be-empty Senate seat, and he's not making a secret of it. "I'm not going to be coy. It's not something I've ever been good at. I've told the governor that I would now like, frankly,...

Barney Frank: Looking Forward to No Responsibility

After lifetime in politics, Frank happily retiring

(Newser) - After a lifetime in politics, Barney Frank is looking forward to retirement in a matter of days, as he explains in a farewell interview with Politico . “After 45 years, I’m tired,” he says. With his contentious and storied career on Capitol Hill headed for history, what's...

Adios to the Quirks of the 112th Congress

Say goodbye to this Congress' puppies, purses, and ponytails

(Newser) - As more than 80 members of the legislative branch prepare to pack up their bags and hit the road, the New York Times takes a look at some of the quirky characters and characteristics of the 112th Congress that are leaving us for good:
  • No more fluffy dogs: North Dakota
...

Barney Frank: Pot Brownie 'Made Me Sleepy'

Frank calls decriminalizing marijuana a 'personal freedom' issue

(Newser) - While speaking out in favor of decriminalizing marijuana on CNN yesterday, Rep. Barney Frank admitting to having tried pot, although not smoking it. "I did have a brownie once," said Frank. "It made me sleepy." For most of the interview, Frank framed it as a "...

Barney Frank Defends 'Uncle Tom' Comments

Log Cabin Republicans 'acquiesce' to 'the masters'

(Newser) - A backlash erupted over Barney Frank's comments that Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud members are gay Uncle Toms . Frank doesn't care: He doubles down on his comments and defends them in the Huffington Post . Frank explains that gay Republicans who claim to be improving the GOP's attitude...

Barney Frank: GOP Gays Are 'Uncle Toms'

Plus, he slams 'Myth Romney' at convention

(Newser) - Barney Frank blasted "Myth Romney's" economic record at the Democratic National Convention yesterday, but the Massachusetts congressman got almost as much attention for remarks he made earlier in the day. Frank, who is openly gay, slammed gay Republicans for praising Paul Ryan, despite his opposition to gay marriage...

Joe Kennedy III Wins Mass. Primary

RFK grandson seeks House seat being vacated by Barney Frank

(Newser) - For the last two years, Congress has been Kennedy-free for the first time since 1946, but that looks set to change this fall. Joseph Kennedy III has won the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District by an overwhelming margin, reports AP . The 31-year-old lawyer, who has worked as a...

Democrats' Platform to Include Gay Marriage

It was unanimously included, Barney Frank says

(Newser) - The committee drafting the Democratic Party's official platform has, for the first time, included support for same-sex marriage on it. All 15 members of the committee voted unanimously to include the section, Rep. Barney Frank tells the Washington Blade . "Everybody was for it," he said, tracing support...

Barney Frank Gets Married
 Barney Frank Gets Married 
Jul 8, 2012 6:09 AM CDT

Barney Frank Gets Married

Becomes first sitting congressman to have same-sex wedding

(Newser) - Barney Frank in 1987 became the first sitting member of Congress to announce he was gay, and yesterday he became the first to have a same-sex wedding, reports the Boston Globe . The retiring congressman, no stranger to controversy , married Jim Ready in front of 300 friends, family, and colleagues. Frank,...

Barney Frank: Sorry for Hoodie Joke

'No one will shoot at you' in a graduation hood, he assured Hubie Jones

(Newser) - Barney Frank is apologizing for opening up his super-sized mouth this weekend: Seems the soon-to-be former Massachusetts congressman made a crack about the Trayvon Martin case at a graduation ceremony this weekend, the AP reports. Speaking at a Dartmouth commencement Sunday, in which the university also gave an honorary degree...

RNC Chair: Gays Deserve Dignity, Not Marriage
 RNC Chair: 
 Gays Deserve 
 Dignity, Not 
 Marriage 
TALK SHOW ROUNDUP
May 13, 2012 1:25 PM CDT

RNC Chair: Gays Deserve Dignity, Not Marriage

Reince Priebus says debate ought to be respectful, but marriage for one man, one woman

(Newser) - Gay marriage, a topic of some small amount of discussion this week, ruled the talk shows today, with RNC Chair Reince Priebus tackling the subject head-on : "People in this country, no matter straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect. However, that doesn't mean it carries on to marriage,...

Even Congress Hates Congress
 Even Congress 
 Hates Congress 
THIS JOB SUCKS
Mar 8, 2012 11:39 AM CST

Even Congress Hates Congress

And that has many of them jumping ship, finds Politico

(Newser) - Also on the list of people who aren't too keen on Congress these days: members of Congress. Consider the woes they now face: fewer freebies (darn ethics rules), pay frozen at a meager $174,000, increasingly expensive campaigns, no earmarks for those back home, and a seeming lack of...

Joseph Kennedy III Running for Barney Frank's Seat

Bobby Kennedy's prosecutor grandson aims for Congress

(Newser) - There could be another Kennedy in DC soon. Joseph P. Kennedy III, Bobby Kennedy's grandson, has announced he's running for the Massachusetts congressional seat currently held by retiring Rep. Barney Frank . "I believe this country was founded on a simple idea: that every person deserves to be...

Barney Frank Is Getting Married
 Barney Frank Is Getting Married 
Jan 26, 2012 12:13 PM CST

Barney Frank Is Getting Married

Will tie the knot with longtime partner Jim Ready

(Newser) - Massachusetts is one of the few states in the US where gay marriage is legal, and Barney Frank intends to take advantage of it. The retiring congressman plans to marry longtime partner Jim Ready, a spokesman confirmed for the Boston Herald , though he wouldn't say precisely when or where....

Check Out Barney's Best Videos on YouTube

From ribbing Newt Gingrich to battling Bill O'Reilly

(Newser) - With Barney Frank retiring from Congress , "It’s about to get a little dumber, and a lot duller" on Capitol Hill, Ezra Klein writes in the Washington Post . Need any proof of Frank's chutzpah? YouTube is rife with videos that display his sharp wit and natural toughness. Whether...

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