Posted on 10/19/2010 7:56:46 AM PDT by jessduntno
Emily Rooney moderated a debate between Barney Frank and Sean Bielat on October 14th. Rooney starts by noting that Bielat has come from outside of politics to be a surprisingly strong challenge to Frank. She calls it the “race everyone is talking about.”
As usual, Frank does most of the talking. Bielat has been learning how to get Frank to hang himself, and at many points during the debate, Frank does just that. Bielat has Frank almost stuttering and blabbering trying to make complex arguments that appear to make no sense.
Rooney had to cut Frank off several times in what seemed like an act of charity. Bielat speaks for maybe one fifth of the time, and wins easily.
Debate Highlights: Frank’s “Kerry Waffling” Moment
If you watch nothing else, you must see the exchange starting at about 6:50, where Bielat gets Frank into a Kerry-like “I was for it before I was against it” argument. Frank is talking about his opposition to a failed 2005 Bill that would have reformed Fannie Mae:
Frank: “The bill passed the house, so I could hardly be blamed [for opposing it].”
Bielat: “Even though you voted against it?”
Frank: “Yes, I can’t be blamed. It passed the House.”
Bielat: “But you voted against it.”
Frank: “Let me explain. I voted for it in committee. [later] I voted against it because it weakened an unrelated provision. But you can’t blame me for stopping something when I was in the minority.”
Bielat: “No. If you voted against it, I think I can.”
Frank: “But I didn’t stop it. This is what you don’t understand. The bill passed the House where I served…”
Bielat: “At the end of the day you still voted against the bill.”
(Excerpt) Read more at massachusetts-election-2010.com ...
It continues like that for awhile. You can see on his face that Bielat can hardly believe his good fortune at having Barney bury himself like this. Bielat finishes:
“You voted against that bill. In 2004 you co-authored a letter with Nancy Pelosi to the Bush Administration calling for less restrictions on Freddie and Fannie. The record is clear.”
Emily Rooney tries to save Barney at this point by moving the discussion on to other topics, but Barney insists on taking another stab at explaining the inexplicable, making the point that the bill was ultimately blocked, not by him, but by Republicans.
Bielat is incredulous:
“So you’re upset because some Republicans voted the same way you did? Is that the argument that you’re making?”
So, did Franks boyfriend come back again to make a scene?
So, did Franks boyfriend come back again to make a scene?
RE: Sean Bielat Crushes Barney Frank in Debate on WGBH’s Greater Boston
But will the voters of that district pay attention and even care? They’ve had Bawney for so long it’s like a bad habit...
For Bielat it was a classic case of being in a battle of wits with an unarmed man...
Remeber, "Gerrymandering" was invented in Massachusetts.
Just like any liberal. You start throwing facts in their direction, and they bury themselves.
Its annoying the GOP never put a Conservative up against this babbling idiot two decades ago.
ouch, gonna leave a mark..
Thanks for posting.
What a great candidate Sean is.
He makes us proud.
It was Edmund Gerry(close friend of John Adams)wasn’t it?
Ping so I can LMAO later.
Because the GOP has considered conservatives an embarrassment.
Hopefully they're learning to know better.
>the GOP has considered conservatives an embarrassment.
Hopefully they’re learning to know better. <
If Charlie Baker and “Little Richie” Tisei are any indication,the Ma. GOP hasn’t learned a thing....
http://www.massresistance.org/docs/govt10/election10/baker_tisei/index.html
“So you’re upset because some Republicans voted the same way you did? Is that the argument that you’re making?”
Not many people are that fast on the comeback. We need LOTS more of that.......
“Ping so I can LMAO later.”
He tied him in knots ... this kid is the real deal.
Include Jennifer Nassour on that list. Remember when Republicans wanted to be on the front page of The Boston Pilot? Now they trip over Conservatives trying to get on the cover of Bay Windows.
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