Hubie Jones (CH 2 Boston Say Brother 1972)
Posted on 05/28/2012 7:16:21 PM PDT by 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
Hubie Jones (CH 2 Boston Say Brother 1972)
Imagine the uproar if Scott Brown had said this. Instead,
since it’s Barney...”crickets, please”
That goes without saying - eh?
You know you bombed when they make you explain it.
Stunned? Really? Why?
Haven’t they paid attention to what he’s been doing in Congress all these years?
Whoever invites this sham of a man to be a commencement speaker deserves whatever she/he gets....
Oh barney, you’re such a drama QUEEN!
Barney would be quaking in his fairy boots if he were to run into some hooded youth on the street late at night. Gaurrantee it.
Barney Frank is a mutant. It says volumes about the prople in his district who would vote for and give power to such a disgrace. The IQ average in that area must be mighty low. Good riddance to him...but will he please just go already!
Thanks - I just threw up in my mouth!
Barney Frank is a mutant. It says volumes about the people in his district who would vote for and give power to such a disgrace. The IQ average in that area must be mighty low. Good riddance to him...but will he please just go already!
Vomit-swallowin’. There’s a lot of that going on lately.
I just looked at some photos of Margie Cho, same-same.
THe audience was lucky that Barney didn’t drop trowel and show his Frank.
I’m gonna be sick after visualizing this.
He could have done what he did on the Rachel Maddow show and it would have been less shocking.
Well, except for those sitting downwind.
I doubt the crowd was stunned. They’re the ones that invited the scumbag.
Well, the idiots and drones up there have been returning this queer to office for how many years? More than I care to remember, I'm sure.
BTW, when Barney gets married will he be the pitcher or the catcher?
I can only imagine what the civil/social environment must be like in the district that kept electing this man person.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.