Does Barney Frank get a pass? Sure, why not Gannon. The whole thing is a wonderful tempest in the teapot to keep the opposition busy. An excellent distraction -- they chase it like some dog chases a ratty tennis ball. They can't help it.
I love it when the libs get their knickers in a wad over something like this. It always comes back to bite them in the rear. It's the old Road-Runner effect. They keep falling for it over and over.