Barney Frank and the Code of Ethics for Government Service

The tortured shape of Barney Frank's Massacusetts 4th District (above) calls to mind the original gerrymandered congressional district of 1812 that gave the tortured political sleight of hand its name. It included our own Chelsea-by-the-Sea as the tail of the serpent. As we blogged last April, we've chosen our next political battle, skipping over our own far less powerful MA 8th District Rep. Michael Capuano, to go straight for the jugular of the man who did so much to precipitate the nation's current economic woes. Frank (MA-4) has three Republican challengers, including businessman and US Marine Sean Bielat, our candidate of choice.

Barney "Frank wrote a special provision into the TARP legislation designed specifically for OneUnited Bank," writes Jonathan Well at Bloomberg Opinion, shedding a little light on the culture of corruption that must be rooted out in the "term limits by other means" that are the November elections (h/t Sean Bielat):

For all the strange details to emerge in the Maxine Waters bank-bailout scandal, this one might be the most surprising: It turns out members of Congress are prohibited from doing “special favors” for anyone, even if they receive nothing of value in return.

Who knew? Here I had been living under the impression that handing out special favors is something Washington lawmakers do all the time — be they free pens, tax breaks or earmarks. And, of course, it is.

Yet under the Code of Ethics for Government Service, it is against the rules for any federal employee to “discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not.” That’s what it says in Count III of the ethics charges against Waters, which were unsealed this week by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The House of Representatives adopted the code in 1958.

No wonder Waters and Charlie Rangel are crying "Racism!" It's the last refuge of scoundrels:

The bank eventually received $12 million under the Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, in December 2008. That’s because an even more powerful lawmaker intervened, Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Frank wrote a special provision into the TARP legislation designed specifically for OneUnited. It instructed Treasury to consider assisting banks with less than $1 billion of assets that had suffered severe capital losses on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac preferred shares …

The reason OneUnited wasn’t healthy is it made poor investment decisions. But for Frank’s efforts, the bank would have collapsed.

Enter stage right Sean Bielat, an authentic small-government American original who speaks for us tea partying red staters hunkered down here behind deep blue enemy lines in Taxachusetts. We'll be interviewing Bielat tomorrow or Monday, so please let us know any questions you'd like us to ask him. Meanwhile, twitter/blogfriend Brian O'Connor of Red Dog Report attempts to answer the question "Who is Sean Bielat?":

Barney Frank has been in the United States Congress since 1981, and he has been collecting a taxpayer funded paycheck for the last 37 years.

Sean Bielat, on the other hand, has served in the Marine Corps and has actually taken a paycheck from the private sector; first at McKinsey & Company and later at iRobot …

Barney Frank recently spearheaded the White House's massive Financial Regulation Bill, which restricts how banks can make profits, but then funds bank bailouts if the CEO's make bad decisions, causing the bank to fail.

Sean Bielat, on the other hand, would rather see free market solutions to business and industry.

"The unemployment rate in Barney Frank’s district is particularly high, at over 12% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics," notes the Massachusetts Conservative Feminist, who adds "The Commonwealth’s average unemployment rate has remained between 9.2 and 9.5% for the year, starting at 5.6% in January of 2009, according to the Boston Globe." It calls to mind the fact that the bluer the state — that is, the more heavily a state went for Obama in the 2008 election — the greater the per capita debt today.

A reminder: Let us know your questions for Sean Bielat. This from our inside source:

Just be fair and not afraid to ask tough questions, like, can he win, etc? Given that I see myself as an advocate, I often give them some leeway, discuss the interview first off-record, telling them, I don't mind helping them to get their message out — but I won't let them make me look like a shill, either. I would think his big goal is convincing people he can win — that impacts fundraising — so he shouldn't duck the question. To some extent, I want to hear their rationale for themselves and for their campaign being able to win. That usually serves both me and them to put out there.

Update: Instalanche! Thank you, Professor Reynolds.

Crossposted at Riehl World View and Liberty Pundits.

Comments

[Michel Warren]

This November, Barney Frank will be stunned to discover he has joined the ranks of the unemployed.

He will console himself with the sure knowledge that he can make millions lobbying his old friends in congress.

But then, like a bad dream, he will discover that all of them have been bounced too!

Thank goodness he has his gold-plated, diamond-encrusted, platinum-infused, jewel-dripping, cash-stuffed congressional pension to tide him over!

Whew! That was close!

A man who has worked as tirelessly as Barney Frank has to destroy America's financial future deserves the most opulent retirement that truck drivers, loggers, bricklayers, and waitresses can pay for.

[goomp]

The Dems confuse Bush with Barney.

[Joel VB]

Great article. Thanks for posting! I agree that Sean Bielat will bring a much needed fresh perspective to Washington. He is a man of intellect and integrity and will make the 4th district proud again. Sean has my full support.

[Jonathan Rubinstein]

A question for Mr. Bielat. While many Americans including this one cannot restrain our excitement of seeing the backside of Mr. Frank forever, a vile human (it has nothing to do with being gay) and a financial moron who has contributed hugely to the destruction of our financial health -- he has had a great deal of help from both parties. I ask Mr. Bielat to express to us what he believes are the three most important efforts Congress can undertake to stabilize our financial meltdown and begin to reindustrialize the U.S. We have a permanent trade deficit and huge budget shortfalls which are destroying the nation, linked with mismanagement at state and county levels in all regions. What does he propose? The fix is going to take a generation. But what does he propose to begin the healing?

[mockmook]

Jonathan, the question should be: "What should Congress un-do?"

There is no "Do", there is only "Un-do", Yoda

[curious]

will he vote to repeal obamacare?

will he support transparency even when it hurts?

[kwayne]

While I am a Florida resident, nothing would make me happier than to see Frank out of office. Bless you and God speed on your effort to unseat him.

[kwayne]

ps - hopefully Redstate or a blog like them will help get the word out that Mr. Frank finally has a decent challenger and folks from all over America who are fed up with Franks arrogance and ignorance will support his ouster. I know I would, even sent Sholly some money last election -

[Susan Horne]

I live in MA in the summer months, but in CA in the winter months. What does Sean feel needs to be done to stop illegal immigrants from entering this country? Also, how does he feel about Obama's flagrant disregard for the constitution by failing to uphold the law by allowing santuary cities like San Francisco to continue to harbor illegals? P.S. Good luck Sean. I like what I hear about you!

[John LaRosa]

I am a Massachusetts resident who has had to listen to Barney Frank's nonsense for my entire adult life. I know Sean Bielat personally and I can't tell you how excited I am that he is the one who will finally end three decades of arrogance, corruption and ill-conceived/naive/dangerous liberal policy.

Sean is a US Marine with a great academic background (Harvard, Georgetown, Wharton) and an indisputable record of private sector business success (iRobot + C-Level Management Consulting). He will listen to the voters as opposed to ramming unwanted legislation down their throats. He favors private sector solutions and wants government to work within the limitations outlined in the US Constitution. He wants to rein in spending, cut taxes, simplify our tax system, secure our borders, and defend us against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In short, he wants to work FOR us, not AGAINST us!

Sissy, I look forward to your exclusive interview with Sean. I'm sure your readers will like him and I will do everything I can to help spread the word around. Thanks for the great post!

It's time to RETIRE BARNEY FRANK! http://www.retirebarney.com

[BradMarston]

I am a candidate for State Representative in the Massachusetts Eighth Suffolk District. One of my biggest concerns regarding the unfettered growth of the Federal government is its effect on state's rights.

The federal government increasingly uses the power of the purse to bludgeon states into accepting mandates and adopting policies in contravention of the 10th Amendment.

I would like to know what a Congressman Bielat would do to return the balance between the federal and state governments to its rightful and Constitutional place.

Brad Marston
Candidate for State Representative
http://BradMarston.com

[Lisa]

Sean Bielat has taken the "Club for Growth" pledge to repeal Obamacare! For those who wonder if he's tough enough to take on Barney, remember...HE's A MARINE! Sean will make the tough calls to cut waste, even if it's in the district...Ouch! It's ALL the taxpayers money. Naturally, he will work to support the district first, but not with pork and waste. He's serious about fixing what's broken.
www.seanforcongress.com