Barney Frank's "partner" mocks his opponent

Just about every Democrat in Massachusetts has a Barney Frank story, and very few of them would earn him the Citizen of the Year award.

Frank belittles members of Congress. He berates Capitol Hill staffers. It’s not that he doesn’t suffer fools; he doesn’t really suffer anyone.

Now that he’s in his first competitive reelection campaign in 28 years, fending off justifiable questions over his role in the collapse of the housing market and a candidate good at asking them, Frank has toned down his act. But as Barney 2.0 learns to say “Please’’ and “Thank you,’’ his longtime partner apparently hasn’t read the updated script.

Let’s go right to the tape, because a sharp-eyed Herald reporter captured it on video. Frank and his Republican foe, Sean Bielat, just ended a debate at WGBH-TV last week, and Bielat was about to talk to reporters.

That’s when Jim Ready, Frank’s partner, approached the group and began snapping pictures. Bielat smiled and lightheartedly said, “You know, we can send you some.’’

“Get used to it, dude,’’ Ready said. “If you want to be a congressman, this is nothing.’’

Bielat said shyly, “Yeah, but you’re with Barney, right?’’

“So?’’

“That’s cool,’’ Bielat responded, turning back to the reporters.

But apparently not with Ready. His face concealed by the camera, he said, “It’s a free country, isn’t it?’’

Bielat, his smile becoming forced, said, “Sure is, if we can get the Congress back.’’ He again turned back to reporters.

Ready gave a taunting laugh and said, “Quit the jokes, dude. You’re not that funny.’’

In the end, Bielat kept his cool far better than, say, Frank might have done. What Bielat could have said, maybe should have said, is that no self-respecting person over the age of 30 should ever use the word “dude.’’

His proper title is “Lieutenant,’’ which is what he was when he retired from the US Marine Corps.

When I called Frank yesterday to ask if he condones his partner goading and mocking an opponent, he told me that “Jimmy’’ is a talented amateur photographer putting together a photo essay of the campaign.

When I asked if Frank planned to apologize for Ready’s behavior, Frank said: “Jim should have broken it off and not responded. But Bielat shouldn’t have initiated the conversation. I don’t see what was inappropriate about taking his picture.’’

I’ll mark that down as a no.

A few moments later, my phone rang again. It was Frank, adding, “Jim’s new to political campaigning. He takes it more personally than someone who’s used to it.’’

After we hung up, Frank called again, saying, “You know, he calls me dude. I didn’t realize that was troubling people. He calls all sorts of people dude.’’

There’s a larger point to all of this. 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.
(from the Boston Globe)