Barney Frank Points Fingers In The Wrong Direction

According to this story, House ignores Bush, rejects $700B bailout bill, Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of The House Financial Services Committee, claimed on Monday that the Republicans were at fault for not passing the bailout bill. The Bill failed by 12 Votes and Representative Frank was upset with Republicans who blamed comments by Speaker of the House, Nancy Peloci (D-CA) for the failure.

Republicans blamed Pelosi's scathing speech near the close of the debate - which attacked Bush's economic policies and a "right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation" of financial markets - for the vote's failure.

Someone smarter than I am once said, '... be careful where you point you finger of blame, because you have 3 fingers pointing right back to you.' Considering that 97 Democrats voted against the bill, maybe Representative Frank should have taken that advice! In fact 13 Democrat members of Representative Frank's own Committee, which you will remember he Chairs, voted NAY. Look at this list:

1. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-PA
2. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-CA
3. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-MO
4. Rep. Joe Baca, D-CA
5. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, D-MA
6. Rep. David Scott, D-GA
7. Rep. Al Green, D-TX
8. Rep. Melissa L. Bean, D-IL
9. Rep. Paul W. Hodes, D-NH
10. Rep. Christopher S. Murphy, D-CT
11. Rep. Andre Carson, D-IN
12. Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-LA
13. Rep. Travis Childers, D-MS

Did you notice the "D" after each name? They are all Democrats, and they are all Democrats who serve on the House Financial Services Committee, of which Barney Franks (D-MA) is the Chairman.

Mr. Franks, you have more than enough votes to pass this bill, if you just got 12 of the 13 Democrats on your own committee to vote "YEA". In fact, Mr. Franks and Ms. Pelosi, the House has enough Democrats to pass this bill without even one Republican Vote of "AYE". Since many of the 97 Democrats who voted against this bill owe their positions to Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Franks, what does this say about Democratic Leadership?

By the way, Jessie Jackson (D-IL) is another "NAY" vote. Representative Jackson is a member of the same Chicago Political Machine which produced Senator Barack Obama. Representative Jackson is one of Obama's chief advisers.

Suggestion to Chairman Barney Frank. Be sure you think before you point fingers.