(Barney Frank) admits to helping lover land job at mortgage giant in ’91

[alp227]

Source: Boston Herald

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank admitted he helped his ex-lover land a lucrative post with Fannie Mae in the early 1990s while the Newton Democrat was on a committee that regulated the lending giant — but he called questions of a potential ethical conflict “nonsense.”

“If it is (a conflict of interest), then much of Washington is involved (in conflicts),” Frank told the Herald last night. “It is a common thing in Washington for members of Congress to have spouses work for the federal government. There is no rule against it at all.”

Frank said he helped his former longtime companion, Herb Moses, land a job at Fannie Mae in 1991 after Moses graduated with a master’s degree in business administration from Dartmouth College. Frank said he was approached by a Fannie Mae executive and vouched for Moses, who formerly worked as an economist in the Department of Agriculture.

“(The executive) said, ‘Herb applied for a job,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I think he’d be great. He’s an economist and he’s got an MBA,’ ” Frank said, recounting the conversation. “He was hired to an entry-level position.”

Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2011_0526frank_knocked_on_his_fannie_rep_admits_to_helping_lover_land_job_at_mortgage_giant_in_91/

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Frank's relationship with Moses caused controversy and questioning of Frank's ability to oversee Fannie Mae; see Media Matters for an .

[KoKo]

1. Wow! Cool on Barney Frank... Glad he's one of the "honest ones." n/t

[pnwmom]

2. Seriously? He's apparently admitting that, as a member of the House

Financial Services Committee, he helped his partner land a job with one of the mortgage companies he was charged with regulating.

This is cool?

[Tempest]

5. It's not like his partner got a job where he made management decision

Or was involved in dealing with Congress.

I don't see the problem.

[pnwmom]

9. That doesn't matter. The issue is the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The mortgage company appears to have done a favor for a member of the House Committee in charge of regulating it.

This isn't cool.

[gkhouston]

17. And Frank abstained from voting on issues involving Fannie Mae

while his partner was working there. From the link in the OP:

“I said publicly that my companion worked there and I voted present. I didn’t think I should vote on it,” the congressman said.

[Tempest]

20. Now that puts a dent into their argument

Doesn't it?

[Tempest]

19. The appearance of a conflict of interest?

You can find that practically everywhere you look these days.

And like the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving.

[joeglow3]

28. Appearance is more important that fact

As a CPA, I can assure the appearance of independence is MUCH more important that the fact of independence in today's society.

[roguevalley]

14. if this were a republican, would you say the same thing? Shame on

his ass.

[Tempest]

18. Yes, I would

This is like the wife of the CEO of a grocery chain getting a job as a purchaser at one of their stores.

Big deal.

[KoKo]

6. Maybe he now feel's "Safe Enough" to Admit it? Now it's time to do this?

:shrug:

[emilyg]

34. No -it's not cool.

[Ian David]

3. Boston Herald actually had a more balanced article on this.

There is no controversy here.

[alp227]

4. Cool! Just edited the source n/t

[KoKo]

7. Do you have a link? or a synopsis for those of us who have little time?

[pnwmom]

10. Did the article in the OP just change?

The other one said it was a mortgage company -- this one says Fannie Mae. The latter is government, the former is not.

[alp227]

11. i changed this to the Herald from the AP after poster pointed out Herald was more balanced

Here's the brief AP story: "Rep. Barney Frank says he helped then-domestic partner get hired by Fannie Mae in early 1990s"...it referred to Fannie Mae as a mortgage company

[fascisthunter]

21. WOW... the Herald???

[SoapBox]

8. 1991? Wasn't that like a hundred years ago?

...but will FuxNoose Channel make it sound like it happened today?

[DissedByBush]

12. "then much of Washington is involved (in conflicts)"

Isn't that kind of the problem?

[saras]

13. Kind of ridiculous

It was 1991. IF - a big if - it turns out to be a problem, let's bust everyone who's doing it now FIRST. And not just Senators, all of them. Then, let's bust everyone who did it in the last administration. If there's still any government left by the time we get back to 1991, cool.

B. At the time he did it, it actually was common.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

15. Remember the guy with the great name of Gerry Studds?

I thought he was also one of Barney's boyfriends.

[fascisthunter]

22. oh yeah... one of the right wing's favorite whipping boys

they love pushing that name around.

[Javaman]

16. "but he called questions of a potential ethical conflict “nonsense.”

“If it is (a conflict of interest), then much of Washington is involved (in conflicts),” Frank told the Herald last night."

So while it maybe unethical, everyone else is doing it, so therefore, that makes it a-okay in Rep. Frank's mind.

Why be different and not anticede to a popular unethical practice.

Like my mom would always say to me, "if your friend jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do too?"

Apparently, Rep. Frank chose to take a dip with out considering anything.

I like Rep. Frank, but it appears as if he is as much a part of the club as the rest. Some are better than others, but never the less, still a part of the same club.

Just goes to show you, they don't work for us. They don't care about us. They don't fear us. They laugh at us.

[One_Life_To_Give]

23. +1

[gratuitous]

24. It appears that the extent of Frank's involvement was basically that of a reference

There's no indication that Mr. Moses wasn't qualified for the job he got with Fannie Mae, and I have to say that if I was applying for a federal job and had a connection with an elected official, I'd sure try to use it, too. However, it will be interesting to see the treatment (and I'll bet it will be disparate) given this 20-year-old "story" and the facts surrounding former Sen. Ensign's doings in regard to the Hamptons (Ensign had affair with the missus, Ensign's parents paid off the mister to the tune of $96K, and Ensign helped mister get another job after mister left his position on Ensign's staff).

[JAnthony]

25. An MBA from Dartmouth? Someone like that would NEVER be

hired for an entry level position with such a poor educational background, right???

<<sarcasm>>>

[Baby Bear]

26. Barney Frank is a Good Guy

It has always been hard to get a job without some kind of contacts. This story gets the tempest in a teapot award.

[yurbud]

27. That's metaphorically appropriate: Fannie Mae did to us what Frank & his lover did to each other

except hopefully Frank and his guy enjoyed it.

[hughee99]

29. A non-story. It's not like he's flying around on some hedge fund mgr's private jet. n/t

[defendandprotect]

30. There are no rules against nepotism for Federal jobs, Congress?

[hollowdweller]

31. Barney is right and wrong

Right it's not unusual wrong in doing it.

[JAnthony]

32. Giving a recommendation for a friend is wrong?

I don't think so!

[otohara]

33. Next Stop The FCC

where nepotism is alive and well - James Baker's daughter (leaving to be top lobbyist for NBC/Comcast), Rep. Clyburn's daughter, both voted YES to NBC/Comcast deal.
The FCC is the stepping stone to lucrative lobbying jobs. There's a long history, a revolving door to high paying jobs if you've worked at the worthless and corrupt FCC.

[StarsInHerHair]

35. PLEASE stay in power, if "diaper Dave" can stay DONT pull a Sptizer!!!

nt

[Name removed]

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