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Barney Frank Pleads for Realistic Expectations and Practical Activism

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Posted on Oct 12, 2007
Barney Frank

Though he referred specifically to the gay non-discrimination bill, Rep. Barney Frank made an impassioned plea for realism among activists that could be applied to the war, the environment or any other major issue of the day. He warned that imperfect legislation can help millions of people, unless “ideologically committed single-issue groups” are given a veto.

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By Agnoscentus, October 27, 2007 at 11:42 am Link to this comment

I’m sorry C.P.T.L., Frank’s comments are strikingly lucid.  Progressive causes have made poor headway in this country over the past twenty years specifically because the most strident and passionate parties in each enterprise have destabilized and fractured each coalition’s focus.  I expect less than half of the country can even articulate what it means to be transgender, are familiar with the surguries, hormonal treatments, and even psychotherapy involved in the process.
Why arrest progress in the name of utopia?  The obviously limited hate crimes bill Frank advocates would protect millions and expedite further political action to protect transgender people in the future.

Politicians have to deal with the fact that change is difficult and incremental in a democracy.  If you aren’t willing to compromise, then why should anyone else in our society compromise with you?

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By C.P.T.L., October 18, 2007 at 9:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Rep. Frank’s so called reasoning for supporting gambling, “The main reason for allowing it is: Human beings like to do it,” “What’‘s to study? Whether or not I should be able to make my own bet with my own money?’’ doesn’t qualify as reasoning.

It’s Bush-level brainlessness and Republican-like sell-out-to-business politics of the lowest order.

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By Outraged, October 18, 2007 at 12:12 am Link to this comment

Wow, not one comment.  OK.  I won’t make one either.

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