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Barney Frank Coming Soon to Television

Dec. 16, 2012 4:50pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even in retirement, Barney Frank promises to antagonize the right wing.

The 72-year-old Massachusetts representative ends a storied congressional career in less than three weeks. In a tenure that spanned more than three decades, Frank has helped lead the civil rights debate as one of the first openly gay elected officials, crafted a financial reform bill designed to prevent another global crisis and become a liberal hero for his willingness to clash with conservative critics.

Barney Frank

Barney Frank (Photo Credit: AP)

His days on C-SPAN may be almost over. And he has already moved out of his Capitol Hill office and Washington apartment. But this man will not go away quietly.

Frank has retained Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel to ensure he is a paid fixture on cable television, the lecture circuit, in bookstores — and maybe the occasional sitcom or Broadway show. He has already sent his agent two book proposals, one offering a recipe for future liberal success and the other a “semi-memoir” about the history of the gay rights movement. And he leaves Washington with a particular disdain for Fox News.

“I’m hoping to get paid well to do what I do now for nothing,” a relaxed Frank said last week from the anonymity of an unmarked temporary office across the street from the Capitol dome. Much of his staff is gone. He answers the phone himself with an abrupt, “Yeah?” And he’s learning how to check his own email for the first time in his life.

Look for him soon on a television set near you.

Frank has little interest in hosting his own cable television show but plans to be a regular paid commentator on political programs. When asked for which network, he says he’s only begun to narrow the field: “Not Fox,” Frank declares with no hint of a smile.

“I have no interest in encouraging people to watch it,” he says of Fox News. “They’re so overwhelmingly biased that being a voice there a few minutes a week, an hour a week, it lends a legitimacy they don’t deserve.”

Frank’s unapologetic criticism of conservatives has earned him a special place in the political arena. He has become a polarizing figure on the national stage celebrated by liberals and hated by conservatives. He dismisses the hatred as a validation of his effectiveness and calls it “a source of pride.” But Frank’s congressional career is dotted with colorful and cringe-worthy confrontations.

He earned particular notoriety for a remark during a 2009 town hall meeting at the height of the health care debate when asked about President Barack Obama’s “Nazi policy.”

“On what planet do you spend most of your time?” Frank quipped in a clash that became an instant YouTube sensation. “Ma’am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to have an argument with a dining room table — I have no interest in doing it.”

But for all his politically charged YouTube hits, those familiar with Frank’s work say he is best known locally for an extensive constituent services operation, which offered an effective bridge to the federal government. And he may be hated by many conservative activists, but Republican officials who know him best often respect his wit and effectiveness, according to Andy Card, who served in the Massachusetts legislature with Frank a generation ago and went on to become chief of staff for President George W. Bush.

“He is very smart and extremely funny. He and I don’t share the same philosophy or the same party, but I think we have mutual respect. I know I have a lot of respect for him,” said Card, who now serves as the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. “If he wants to work to legislate to get something done, he’s very, very good at it. If he wants to be an impediment, he can be very, very good at that.”

Indeed, in the policy arena, Card was most frustrated with Frank’s work on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the federal housing agencies partly blamed for the recent collapse of the housing market. As the top Democrat on the House Committee on Financial Services, which he chaired from 2007 to 2011, Frank also led efforts to craft the financial regulatory bill dubbed “Dodd-Frank,” which was attacked almost daily by GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a job-crushing government overreach that hurts small banks.

Frank defends the sweeping law, well on its way to full implementation, as necessary to prevent another global financial crisis.

He announced last year that he wouldn’t seek a 17th term. Frank will be succeeded by another potential political star, Rep. Joe Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy.

Frank plans to make two homes in retirement, one along the southern Maine coast and the other in the Boston area. He hopes to teach at Harvard University and Harvard Law School next fall in addition to the paid public gigs his agent has already begun to arrange.

“If he comes to your town, go hear him. Because he’s refreshing, he’s as informed about such a broad of issues, and he is willing to say the things that other people are thinking,” says Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh. “We’re going to miss him as an elected representative, but I’m excited that we probably won’t lack an opportunity to hear from him.”

One of Frank’s first public appearances will come in New York City’s theater scene the first Saturday in February. He says he’s agreed to a walk-on part in “Fiorello!”, a Broadway musical about former mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York.

He hasn’t ruled out movie appearances, but says he’s more likely to focus on being an active voice in the political arena.

“I had a request to do a cameo on a network TV show, but I didn’t like the script,” Frank says, declining to name the show. “So, if they won’t change it, I won’t do it. It was kind of demeaning to politicians.”

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Comments (159)

1 2 3 … 5
  • OldSurfRat
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:44pm

    Sound wilwee wilwee good.
    Nothing wike wistening to fwank on TV.

    Report this comment

    OldSurfRat  
    • Pantloadian
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:19pm

      His first guest? Santorum.

      Pantloadian  
  • TheEndIsComing
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:43pm

    Maybe he could be on PBS dressed up as a purple dinosaur named Barney,,,oh wait, that slow already exists. But at least he should be on PBS and be buds with the staff of Sesame Street. He’d fit in there well.

    Report this comment

    TheEndIsComing  
  • justa_thought
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:42pm

    Im sure barny will be a pain in the a$$ as usual.

    Report this comment

    justa_thought  
  • karen162
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:41pm

    Ratings for this show: 15
    This will be on less time than Olbermann lasted at Al Gore’s network.

    Report this comment

    karen162  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:04pm

      He’s not looking for his own show. He’s looking to be a paid commentator for Liberal TV shows on CNN, MSNBC, CURRENT etc. So now he will speak only to the Choir just like Churches do on Sunday morning with few new followers in attendance since there is an aversion to going to a building full of people you don’t agree with etc etc etc.
      You just have to look at his comments about FoxNews Channel especially Bill O’reilly who always challenged Barney on his propensity to allegorize a response from a simple yes or no to a 15 page dissertation for a PHD (Piled Higher & Deeper). That was even the case for his ethics violation trial in the Senate recently.
      Barney Frank was the sole politician that said during the lead-up to the mortgage crisis that Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac were not in trouble, its on CSpan. It was the fact that Fanny and Freddy were bundling mortgages for sale on Wall Street by banks they worked with and they knew that they would eventually fail when the mortgages started to “RESET” their rates to higher points which the mortgage holders could not afford but banks were forced by legislation that Frank pushed called the Community Re-Investment Act of 1996 that pushed these “Bad Loans” in inner city banks to get minorities into the Suburbs.

      Report this comment

      1TrueOne55  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:37pm

    At least they can save some money…he won’t need a chair…just give him a broom or a pogostick to sit on.

    Report this comment

    The_Almighty_Creestof  
    • Pantloadian
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:16pm

      Do you sell those at Walgreens?

      Pantloadian  
  • I Fly Low
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:35pm

    Just what we need. Another **** on TV.

    Report this comment

    I Fly Low  
  • ares338
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:34pm

    Barney the cork soaker! He antagonizes me by breathing. Maybe he’ll get trampled by the Village People at a gay pride march.

    Report this comment

    ares338  
  • Sharon Rose
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:32pm

    He needs to retire from the news!

    Report this comment

    Sharon Rose  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:18pm

      “It was kind of demeaning to politicians.” I cannot believe there is a script that can accomplish this any better than what is going on in Washington D.C. daily. And Barney, he’s a liar and exhibits every thing that’s wrong with Congress.

      Report this comment

      Cemoto78  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:24pm

    @The-Monk
    You may already have this but I found the following whois info from the URL posted above:

    Domain max75.com

    Date Registered: 2012-12-5
    Date Modified: 2012-12-13
    Expiry Date: 2013-12-6

    DNS1: ns-canada.topdns.com
    DNS2: ns-uk.topdns.com
    DNS3: ns-usa.topdns.com

    Registrant
    Fundacion Private Whois
    Domain Administrator
    Email:50bff52b7y3e0frv@t02cduv4f7f99a255f64.privatewhois.net
    Attn: max75.com
    Aptds. 0850-00056
    Zona 15 Panama
    Panama
    Tel: +507.65995877

    Administrative Contact
    Fundacion Private Whois
    Domain Administrator
    Email:50bff52bh2ulighj@t02cduv4f7f99a255f64.privatewhois.net
    Attn: max75.com
    Aptds. 0850-00056
    Zona 15 Panama
    Panama
    Tel: +507.65995877

    Technical Contact
    Fundacion Private Whois
    Domain Administrator
    Email:50bff52b31vjmgdx@t02cduv4f7f99a255f64.privatewhois.net
    Attn: max75.com
    Aptds. 0850-00056
    Zona 15 Panama
    Panama
    Tel: +507.65995877

    Registrar: Internet.bs Corp.
    Registrar’s Website : http://www.internetbs.net/

    The previous information has been obtained either directly from the registrant or a registrar of the domain name other than Network Solutions. Network Solutions, therefore, does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

    Report this comment

    qpwillie  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:19pm

    I’ve been reporting this A-holes posts for a long time and apparently The Blaze doesn’t have too big a problem with it…There has to be a way for them to stop it if they want…Heck,with all the pop-ups and ads this site is responsible for,it wouldn’t surprise me if The Blaze gets paid to let them post…

    Report this comment

    IndyGuy  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:17pm

    I hear there might be an opening on “21/2 Men”…..

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:48pm

      KREGNEVA, Dude, is that your best Jeff Spicoli imitation?

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
    • SUNTZU
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:57pm

      Got some gays in the closet
      Got some beers on ice
      And all my horny friends are commin over tonight.

      Report this comment

      SUNTZU  
  • neverending
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:16pm

    Fox seems to want to reach out to the other side so here is their golden opportunity!

    Report this comment

    neverending  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:15pm

    CLAUDIA’s such a COLAN….

    Report this comment

    TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:11pm

    Maybe he could do the full drag queen thing on manbc.

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
    • Crazyotto
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:19pm

      he did say “I’m hoping to get paid well to do what I do now for nothing,” so maybe you are right.

      Report this comment

      Crazyotto  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:11pm

    CALLING ANY WHITE HAT HACKER THAT WANT TO SHUT DOWN A NIGERIAN IDENTITY THEFT RING THAT POSTS EVERY DAY HERE. THEIR IP ADDRESS IS 98.126.39.196

    PLEASE REPLY TO ME HERE IF YOU WANT AND I CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS IF YOU NEED THEM……

    That’s right troll…. You are not welcome here anymore. : )

    That’s him right above this post…..

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • grayling646
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:08pm

    If none of these things work out he can always pack fudge for a living.

    Report this comment

    grayling646  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:08pm

    “Barney Frank Coming Soon to Television.”

    We already have gays on TV… so what’s the big deal? Unless of course he is going to be an act on a new version of the Ed Sullivan Show? We have a REALLY big Shoooe tonight…

    He can call his act Cirque du Bawney. He can balance a boy on his nose, one each on all of his fingers and on all of his toes…. while tying a knot in a cherry stem with his tongue. I’m sure he’ll work his way up to the spinning dishes as a bonus…

    Report this comment

    TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:07pm

    Let’s be Frank…..Better yet,let’s not…

    Report this comment

    IndyGuy  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:06pm

    CALLING ANY WHITE HAT HACKER THAT WANT TO SHUT DOWN A NIGERIAN IDENTITY THEFT RING THAT POSTS EVERY DAY HERE. THEIR IP ADDRESS IS 98.126.39.196

    PLEASE REPLY TO ME HERE IF YOU WANT AND I CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS IF YOU NEED THEM…

    That’s right troll…. You are not welcome here anymore. : )

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • Kregneva
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 9:05pm

      This is off topic and irritating this is one of a hundred silly posts

      Report this comment

      Kregneva  
  • ResistSocialism
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:04pm

    oh the wisdom of Barney

    Report this comment

    ResistSocialism  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 5:01pm

    Please please Spare us
    He hurts my head – now he will heard my eyes too!
    He and Dodd are responsible for the housing crash – loans to people who could not pay them –
    disgusting little toad!

    Report this comment

    jakartaman  
  • DougHuffman
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 4:58pm

    I’m ten years TV free and sure not going to let that sodomite reinfect me.

    Report this comment

    DougHuffman  
    • Pantloadian
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:17pm

      When did he infect you the first time?

      Pantloadian  
  • NO_MORE_OBAMA
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 4:56pm

    He needs a job so he can find some more boy toys.

    Report this comment

    NO_MORE_OBAMA  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on December 16, 2012 at 6:26pm

      Barney has a life partner. So why did he go to Fire Island a few years back? Just for the gay eye candy?

      What is gay marriage? Monogamish at best?

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
  • 702TruthSeeker
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 4:55pm

    Loser

    Report this comment

    702TruthSeeker  
  • burnteye86
    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 4:55pm

    Anew sitcom called “Barney in the Middle”

    Report this comment

    burnteye86  
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