Congressman Frank came by my school last week to talk to the American Constitution Society (I was just elected as its new BC Law President and am a new Editor at Large on ACSblog). He had some interesting things to say about the Democratic candidates (all the same), the economy (flexible and in need of repair), the Republican platform (lost), and the GOP candidates (fake). I asked him about subprime mortgages and was surprised when he advocated more renting and manufactured housing (trailers) as the best solution.
Here are some highlights:
On National Security:
A recent plan to extend the death penalty to suicide bombers was scrapped.
“I don’t think we should object to the granting of the [new Executive] powers. We should object to the granting of the powers without a system of checks and balances.” (loose transcript)
On Romney:
He is the “most intellectually dishonest person I have ever met.”
On civil rights:
Expect a bill protecting gay rights in employment later this year.
Prediction: Though Congress would never put the Army through a major change immediately after the trauma of Iraq, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be gone within 18 months of our withdrawal from Iraq.
On the Economy:
Economic inequality in America is at pre-1928 levels.
The current administration “venerates capital” in flawed ways.
Public policy should be trying to diminish inequality. Though inequality is not bad per se, you can have too much.
While Bush and Clinton both have good economic records, Clinton was better than Bush because inequality was reduced. Clinton raised taxes on the rich and Bush lowered them; both did well. That is to say, the economy is flexible enough to tolerate different policies.
If you read that the economy is doing great and your wages aren’t going up, you get upset. This is why the Bush Administration isn’t getting any credit for its growth of the economy. If we were in a recession and people’s wages weren’t going up they would accept it. But now we have “growth being monopolized by a small handful of people.”
On the Democrats:
There are no substantive differences between the Democratic candidates for President.
On Justice Scalia:
The Justice has a “deep and abiding homophobia.” See his opinion in Lawrence v. Texas. Keep in mind that Romney and some of the others want more like him.
Again, check out the audio clips in the extended entry. Part 4 and 5 has questions from the audience (including yours truly on the subprime mortgage issue). That’s where he talks about Romney, too (end of part 4 and beginning of part 5).
Technorati Tags: 2008, ACSblog, consumer law, law, Barney Frank
Click on “Posts” or “Info” (depending which is visible) to see a list of the various parts. Part 1 comes first, but since I uploaded it first it is the last on the list. Go figure.
