Barney Frank Speaks at HLS

Representative Barney Frank '61 (D-Mass.) spoke about impeachment, the influence of the right wing, the importance of voting, and gay rights to a crowd of about 150 students at Harvard Law School's Austin Hall yesterday afternoon.

Frank commented on two issues currently prominent in the national media--the possible impeachment of President Bill Clinton and the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming.

Frank blamed the far right's extensive influence in Republican party politics for both of these national dilemmas.

"We have never been in a comparable position in American history where such an ideologically militant group has had such an influence on a major political party," he said in his speech.

As the second ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Frank plays a large role in the current impeachment proceedings.

Frank is also the only openly gay Democrat in the House of Representatives, and his remarks came in the midst of a national outcry over Shepard's death.

Co-chair of the Harvard Law School Democrats Andrew B. Kratenstein, a third-year law student, introduced Frank as one of the great "intellectual and political leaders" of Congress, whose "sharp wit is matched only by his sharp tongue."

Frank did not disappoint.

He opened by discussing impeachment. Frank said Republicans have been overzealous in their pursuit of Clinton and are now paying the price.

"The air does appear to be going out of the balloon," he said. "Republicans have figured out what they thought was going to be a major hit is not working out."

Frank lauded the public for its "discretion" in judging Clinton.

"The public has reacted very differently than the Republicans expected," Frank said. "The public has shown a great deal of discretion. They haven't shown sufficient anger at Bill Clinton. If the public worked for the Republicans, [the party] would fire them," he said.

Frank also attacked Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr for his role in the proceedings.

"Linda Tripp is a woman to whom Kenneth Starris deeply indebted. She transformed him fromInspector Clouseau to Sherlock Holmes," Franksaid.

During the question-and-answer period whichfollowed the speech, Frank was challenged todeclare his personal opinion of Clinton.

Frank said Clinton's actions were"unconscionable" and "irresponsible," but notimpeachable.

At this point, Frank said his support ofClinton is merely political. "I want to lessensuffering, to end discrimination, to reducepoverty, to fight bigotry. Bill Clinton has beenan ally in those fights," Frank said. "If he ranagain, I would not support him."

However, Frank said he felt that Clinton hassuffered enough. "Bill Clinton has been veryseverely penalized. He cares a lot about his placein history, and that place is now quite shabby.He's endured public humiliation, and he has toface hurting his wife and child. The past year hasbeen hellish for him," he said.

Frank blamed much of the current politicaldebacle on the far right.

"Bill Clinton deeply angers the right wing, inmuch the same way Ronald Reagan annoyed the left.They're asking: 'What do these goddamn voters seein this guy?'" he said.

As a result, many Republicans are in anuncomfortable position, according to Frank, caughtbetween the public who want to let Clinton remainin office and the right who are "demanding hishead."

Frank challenged the audience to go out andvote.

"Eighteen, 19, and 20 year-olds don't vote verymuch...It's much more complicated to get adriver's license, and I don't know any 19year-olds who don't have one of the those," hesaid.

For some in the audience, this was Frank's mostresounding message. "There's a link betweenpolitics and public policy in our daily lives, andwe have control over that," said third-year lawstudent Sanders L. Adu. "His message to vote iswhat I'm going to take away from [the speech], andwhat everyone should."

Many of Frank's closing remarks dealt with therecent murder of Shepard. Frank stressed that thetwo men charged with the murder are only 21 and22, "barely out of high school."

When asked where he would place blame for themurder, Frank cited the Republican desire to cutfunding for secondary school programs tocounteract homophobia.

According to Frank, Republicans oppose theprograms on two grounds: they will lead to"acceptance" and they "promote" homosexuality.

Frank countered these attacks handily. "What isthe alternative to acceptance? Tragically, one isto get rid of [gays]," he said.

Adu was pleased that Frank discussed the recentmurder.

"It's important that he brought up MattShepard. It shows that if you have politiciansbashing [gays], there will be consequences," Adusaid.

The audience, comprised primarily of lawstudents, reacted very favorably to Frank,applauding him frequently.

But there were dissenters. "I did not hear muchnew stuff. It was very partisan. The truth isnever really said," Nan Ding '02 said.

Many audience members also directly challengedthe policies of Frank and House Democrats duringthe question-and-answer period, inspiring livelydebate.

At one point, Frank responded to a questioner,"You couldn't be more wrong."

Kratenstein was thrilled to have Frank,especially at such an opportune time.

"I was very pleased; he addressed impeachment,the most issue of the day. It's a constitutionalissue with a lot of legal dimensions, and havinghim in the law school was a great educationalexperience," said Kratenstei

"Linda Tripp is a woman to whom Kenneth Starris deeply indebted. She transformed him fromInspector Clouseau to Sherlock Holmes," Franksaid.

During the question-and-answer period whichfollowed the speech, Frank was challenged todeclare his personal opinion of Clinton.

Frank said Clinton's actions were"unconscionable" and "irresponsible," but notimpeachable.

At this point, Frank said his support ofClinton is merely political. "I want to lessensuffering, to end discrimination, to reducepoverty, to fight bigotry. Bill Clinton has beenan ally in those fights," Frank said. "If he ranagain, I would not support him."

However, Frank said he felt that Clinton hassuffered enough. "Bill Clinton has been veryseverely penalized. He cares a lot about his placein history, and that place is now quite shabby.He's endured public humiliation, and he has toface hurting his wife and child. The past year hasbeen hellish for him," he said.

Frank blamed much of the current politicaldebacle on the far right.

"Bill Clinton deeply angers the right wing, inmuch the same way Ronald Reagan annoyed the left.They're asking: 'What do these goddamn voters seein this guy?'" he said.

As a result, many Republicans are in anuncomfortable position, according to Frank, caughtbetween the public who want to let Clinton remainin office and the right who are "demanding hishead."

Frank challenged the audience to go out andvote.

"Eighteen, 19, and 20 year-olds don't vote verymuch...It's much more complicated to get adriver's license, and I don't know any 19year-olds who don't have one of the those," hesaid.

For some in the audience, this was Frank's mostresounding message. "There's a link betweenpolitics and public policy in our daily lives, andwe have control over that," said third-year lawstudent Sanders L. Adu. "His message to vote iswhat I'm going to take away from [the speech], andwhat everyone should."

Many of Frank's closing remarks dealt with therecent murder of Shepard. Frank stressed that thetwo men charged with the murder are only 21 and22, "barely out of high school."

When asked where he would place blame for themurder, Frank cited the Republican desire to cutfunding for secondary school programs tocounteract homophobia.

According to Frank, Republicans oppose theprograms on two grounds: they will lead to"acceptance" and they "promote" homosexuality.

Frank countered these attacks handily. "What isthe alternative to acceptance? Tragically, one isto get rid of [gays]," he said.

Adu was pleased that Frank discussed the recentmurder.

"It's important that he brought up MattShepard. It shows that if you have politiciansbashing [gays], there will be consequences," Adusaid.

The audience, comprised primarily of lawstudents, reacted very favorably to Frank,applauding him frequently.

But there were dissenters. "I did not hear muchnew stuff. It was very partisan. The truth isnever really said," Nan Ding '02 said.

Many audience members also directly challengedthe policies of Frank and House Democrats duringthe question-and-answer period, inspiring livelydebate.

At one point, Frank responded to a questioner,"You couldn't be more wrong."

Kratenstein was thrilled to have Frank,especially at such an opportune time.

"I was very pleased; he addressed impeachment,the most issue of the day. It's a constitutionalissue with a lot of legal dimensions, and havinghim in the law school was a great educationalexperience," said Kratenstei