Barney Frank stuns commencement crowd during speech

WHDH-TV ^ | 5/28/12 | Victoria Block

[raccoonradio]

NEWTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Democratic Representative Barney Frank raised eyebrows during his commencement speech at UMass Dartmouth when he referenced the Trayvon Martin case.

Barney Frank, never at a loss for words, drew gasps from the commencement crowd at UMass Dartmouth where his good friend Hubie Jones was awarded an honorary doctorate -- complete with a degree and hood.

"When they give you an honorary doctorate they give you one of these and Hubie, I think you now got a hoodie you can wear and no one will shoot at you," Frank said during his speech.

The crowd was stunned by the humor, and many in his district felt it was in poor taste.

“That’s terrible. That’s insensitive. I don't think that's an appropriate joke," one woman said.

The hoodie joke was a clear reference to the controversial Florida shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman -- a shooting that has drawn thousands into the streets demanding justice for the young black man who was wearing a hoodie at the time of the shooting.

Jones, a long time social activist told 7News, "I don't believe Barney Frank meant any harm. He's a quick witted guy and within the context of the commencement it was a surprise."

For Frank, it should be no surprise that he was forced to explain himself in a statement, which says in part:

"I wore a hooded gown in three ceremonies earlier this year…used the same joke on myself…I shamelessly recycled the hoodie joke."

He went on to say he "used the ‘hoodie’ line to ridicule the notion that a hooded sweatshirt is somehow sinister."

Frank said he thinks the world of Hubie, but some of Frank's constituents don't think as highly of him.

"I definitely think he owes an apology to Hubie and then to the community

as well," a woman said.

Hubie Jones and Barney Frank have been good friends and have worked alongside each other for decades.

Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12007593498827/barney-frank-stuns-commencement-crowd-during-speech/#ixzz1wDl3V2Z9

[FlyVet]

Blame the fools who invited him. They had their choice of hundreds of inspirational speakers, and they went with this no-good, crooked lowbrow. What did they expect?

[McBuff]

Hey Dartmouth. . you invite a scumbag - you get scum.

[funfan]

What did they expect Barneys frank is inappropriate.

[Viking2002]

Bawney is pandering, Leftist twinkie; ergo, he gets a free pass, no matter the crime. As for his constituents? He's said and done far worse to America over the years; it never kept those haughty New England types from repeatedly sending him back to D.C. to inflict more damage, so their 'condemnation' rings as hollow as an old bell.

"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power..... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave."

--Patrick Henry, to the Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775

[Slings and Arrows]

It’s just the AIDS-related dementia talking.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Could the public finally be getting enough of the leftists constantly wallowing in the supposed abuse of blacks - nah.....

[DemforBush]

You ever notice how we never see Frank and Charles Nelson Riley in the same place, at the same time?

I’m just sayin...

[jocon307]

OY, and he said this about a black guy? That’s pretty stupid.

[Rummyfan]

What else is to be expected from a commencement speaker like Barney Frank?

[norwaypinesavage]

I am certainly no supporter of Barney Frank. That said, I have no problem at all with what he said. He, indeed, was given a “hoodie”, and a good natured comment about it, though maybe inappropriate considering the commitment students go through to earn one, is hardly worth a condemnation.

[fwdude]

It looks like his arse cooties are now rotting his brain.