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1991: "Democratic lawmaker criticizes Bernie Sanders"
Barney Frank figured out Bernie Sanders in 1991. This gives context into Bernie's current behavior. Overplaying his hand, alienating allies, demagoguery, and a general lack of effectiveness is Bernie's life story.
Democratic lawmaker criticizes Bernie Sanders.
When the House Banking Committee approved an amendment to the Banking Reform Act last month dealing with affordable housing, U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders took credit.
In a news release and later press conference, Sanders hailed the adoption of the amendment he sponsored as "a victory for creative partnerships aimed at meeting our country's urgent housing needs."
But US Rep. Barney Frank, a senior members of the committee, says the proposal nearly died -- solely because it was sponsored by Sanders.
"Frankly, we got it passed in spite of him," he said.
Frank said Sanders had upset so many committee members with his sweeping speeches against the overall bill and attacking banks as enemies of the people and bankers as crooks that it was difficult to get enough Democratic votes to pass the amendment.
"Even Henry Gonzalez was offended by Bernie's remarks," said Frank.
Gonzalez, a Democrat is the chairman of the House Banking Committee. Frank called Gonzalez, who was the first Mexican American ever elected to the House, one of the most progressive members in the House, noting that he had introduced impeachment resolutions against both presidents Reagan and Bush.
"When you provoke Henry Gonzalez to attack you, that is an indication of the problems Bernie provokes," said Frank.
"This place is not working," said Sanders. "It is failing. Change is not going to take place until many hundreds of these people are thrown out of the offices. That by definition creates a bit of friction."
"Within the committee, people will disagree with my point of view or agree with my point of view," said Sanders. "In terms of the S&L bailout, for example, I was propelled to be one of the leaders of the opposition. No one said we can't work with Bernie Sanders. I don't think that is a problem."
Frank is one of the more liberal members of the House. He was an opponent of the Persian Gulf War and is a strong proponent of civil rights legislation. He said he had been looking forward to Sanders' arrival in Congress, but has been deeply disappointed by Sanders' tactics and style.
"Bernie alienates his natural allies," he said. "He is completely ineffective as a lobbyist because he offends just about everyone else -- really undercuts his effectiveness," said Frank.
"To him, anybody who disagrees with him is a crook; there are no honest disagreements with people. Bernie's view of the world is that the great majority of the people agree with him on all the issues and the only reason he does not win is that the Congress is crooked."
Frank said that while Sanders' status as an independent hampers him in the House, it is Sanders' personality that causes him his greatest problems.
"Being an independent makes you less influential," said Frank. He exacerbates that by how he is an independent."
Frank said he disagrees with Sanders' statements that there are no differences between Democrats and Republicans. "Issue after issue, tax reform, civil rights, we see big differences," said Frank.
"Democrats saved Bernie's housing amendment in committee; the republicans didn't do that."
Frank contrasted Sanders style with the US Rep. Ronald Dellums, D-Calif, a very liberal member Franks described as effective.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19910712&id=vqJJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4293,3641940&hl=en
When the House Banking Committee approved an amendment to the Banking Reform Act last month dealing with affordable housing, U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders took credit.
In a news release and later press conference, Sanders hailed the adoption of the amendment he sponsored as "a victory for creative partnerships aimed at meeting our country's urgent housing needs."
But US Rep. Barney Frank, a senior members of the committee, says the proposal nearly died -- solely because it was sponsored by Sanders.
"Frankly, we got it passed in spite of him," he said.
Frank said Sanders had upset so many committee members with his sweeping speeches against the overall bill and attacking banks as enemies of the people and bankers as crooks that it was difficult to get enough Democratic votes to pass the amendment.
"Even Henry Gonzalez was offended by Bernie's remarks," said Frank.
Gonzalez, a Democrat is the chairman of the House Banking Committee. Frank called Gonzalez, who was the first Mexican American ever elected to the House, one of the most progressive members in the House, noting that he had introduced impeachment resolutions against both presidents Reagan and Bush.
"When you provoke Henry Gonzalez to attack you, that is an indication of the problems Bernie provokes," said Frank.
"This place is not working," said Sanders. "It is failing. Change is not going to take place until many hundreds of these people are thrown out of the offices. That by definition creates a bit of friction."
"Within the committee, people will disagree with my point of view or agree with my point of view," said Sanders. "In terms of the S&L bailout, for example, I was propelled to be one of the leaders of the opposition. No one said we can't work with Bernie Sanders. I don't think that is a problem."
Frank is one of the more liberal members of the House. He was an opponent of the Persian Gulf War and is a strong proponent of civil rights legislation. He said he had been looking forward to Sanders' arrival in Congress, but has been deeply disappointed by Sanders' tactics and style.
"Bernie alienates his natural allies," he said. "He is completely ineffective as a lobbyist because he offends just about everyone else -- really undercuts his effectiveness," said Frank.
"To him, anybody who disagrees with him is a crook; there are no honest disagreements with people. Bernie's view of the world is that the great majority of the people agree with him on all the issues and the only reason he does not win is that the Congress is crooked."
Frank said that while Sanders' status as an independent hampers him in the House, it is Sanders' personality that causes him his greatest problems.
"Being an independent makes you less influential," said Frank. He exacerbates that by how he is an independent."
Frank said he disagrees with Sanders' statements that there are no differences between Democrats and Republicans. "Issue after issue, tax reform, civil rights, we see big differences," said Frank.
"Democrats saved Bernie's housing amendment in committee; the republicans didn't do that."
Frank contrasted Sanders style with the US Rep. Ronald Dellums, D-Calif, a very liberal member Franks described as effective.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19910712&id=vqJJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4293,3641940&hl=en
49 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Don't be sad it's over. Smile because it happened.
The article -make of the source as you will- sounds authentic because it explains Sanders' lack of camaraderie with his colleagues.
In a state like Vermont, where politics is personal and small scale, voters get a more personal bead on politicians.
They don';t seem to find him unbearabl;e, as they keep reelecting him, and gave him over 80 percent vote of confidence in the primary.
But maybe they're just sending him to DC to get him out of their hair. 
--imm
now, lobbying for Wall Street.
25 years ago, Barney Frank described the last ~6 months of the DU. 
