This large volume details Congressman Barney Frank’s career and, to a lesser extent, his life. His political views and votes in Congress are comprehensively discussed which is appropriate since his identity largely depends upon his principles.
For many years, politics was his life to the exclusion of anything else. He became (and remains) an extraordinary politician liberal, principled, persistent. The book quotes him as saying, “It makes me crazy when people claim you have to choose one or the other idealism or pragmatism…. Once you have your ideals, to argue that you are then relieved of any obligation to be pragmatic is totally irresponsible…. No unrealized ideal ever fed a hungry child, cleaned up a polluted river, gave shelter for homeless people or provided medical care for people in need….�
I was periodically aware and supportive of Barney Frank before this book but it was an education to learn how highly respected he is by his peers in Congress. Many have named him as the most effective Congressman in the House. His intelligence and wit are renowned. He appears to have something of a prickly personality but his heart is certainly in the right place.
He would be excellent as our first gay President.