Representative Barney Frank is a polarizing figure in politics – not as much in the liberal haven of Massachusetts, but in the more conservative and critical area of our nation’s capitol. Frank has become an institution of Massachusetts’s politics since he was first elected into office in 1980. As a staunch liberal and as one of the most prominent gay politicians on Capitol Hill, he has long been a target for Republican taunts and criticisms based on his progressive outlook and attitude towards governing. His seat in the House of Representatives, which he has comfortably held since his first election, is now being challenged by his first worthy opponent in years.
The definition of worthy, however, is situational. Frank is the chair of the House Financial Services Committee and has been instrumental in the bank bailout and the rebuilding of financial regulations since the nation’s economic fallout in September 2008. Sean Bielat is an ex-Marine who has never held an elected position. The sentiment from supporters of his campaign seems to be the desire for someone new to represent the 4th District of Massachusetts. But why Bielat? That question has yet to be answered.
Yesterday, Bill Clinton appeared in front of a group of Frank supporters at a high school in Taunton to stump for the representative’s fifteenth term in Congress. He asked the crowd to consider, “What are we going to do now and who is more likely to do it?” when choosing who to vote for on Election Day. Frank’s challenger held a rally with fewer participants across the street and labeled as a celebrity event. Bielat is a candidate who is happy to jump on the coattails of the anti-incumbent spirit that has dominated this election season. Besides being a Marine and attending University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School, he has very little life experience.
According to Connie Reposo, a resident of the district, “We definitely need somebody young and new, and new life, new experience to replace Barney.” In today’s troubled economic atmosphere, I prefer someone who knows his way around Capitol Hill to a novice politician who is sure to be overwhelmed by the many rules and regulation of Congress. Change will not come without an effective statesman to represent Massachusetts in Congress and Bielat has not even tested the waters of this competitive and confusing political sphere.
The public has often blamed Frank for the failures of the financial market as well as the housing crisis, but he was subject to Republican leadership until Democrats took control of the House in 2007. While Bielat may cry foul at Bill Clinton’s visit to the district and use it to show the progress he has made in the race, that is all he has done – progressed. To challenge a politician such as Barney Frank would take an experienced and tested Republican, one who is not looking to overthrow the entire leadership of Congress and reform Social Security, as these are claims will never come to fruition. If Sean Bielat had done his homework, he might know that already.
(Image credit: http://www.wbur.org/2010/09/27/sean-bielat-profile)
