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Frank sent message
 Protesters take aim at Frank Protesters stand outside the Mansfield Democratic Committee breakfast on Saturday morning, where U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Newton, spoke. The protesters held signs blaming Frank for the nation’s banking crisis. (Photo by Oliver Kozlowski)
Top Headlines The demonstrators said they blame Frank, D-Newton, who spoke at the breakfast, for much of the financial crisis gripping the nation's economy, and said they oppose government bailouts of banks. Similar protests have greeted Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, at other events, including one in Westport last October. Olivier Kozlowski, a Mansfield Republican, said a lot of the protesters were people such as himself who were busy working Wednesday and could not join the "Tea Party" protests that were held across the country, but wanted to make their feelings known. He said he and others are angry at Frank for his handling of financial issues involving banks and mortgages giants Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. "What we are seeing is a lot of angry people out there," Kozlowski said. The billions of taxpayer dollars given to failing banks and companies is another area of concern, he said. "Everybody is struggling with the pocketbook, and they're seeing bailouts of the banks and GM and everyone but them," he said. While the protesters made their voices heard, the Democratic breakfast at the Mansfield Elks Hall went on without disruption. Frank spoke about the economy and banking crisis. Kevin Doyle, chairman of the Mansfield Democratic Town Committee, said the protesters may have even attracted more people to the breakfast as the annual event had its largest turnout ever, 150 people. He said the protesters were well behaved and Frank was not bothered by them. State Rep. Louis Kafka, D-Sharon, and Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, spoke in addition to Frank. JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.
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s-plumb wrote on Apr 19, 2009 5:38 PM:
skeptic wrote on Apr 19, 2009 3:41 PM:
Hardhearted wrote on Apr 19, 2009 3:36 PM:
It's true that Clinton had a projected surplus. It depended on the dot com bubble never ending. "
s-plumb wrote on Apr 19, 2009 2:17 PM:
This paper is as progressive as they come. They are certainly not conservative (ie defend the US Constitution).
Perhaps the SC feels the need to make up for the total lack of coverage of last weeks tea parties, in which, hundreds of thousands, if not more participated. These involved individuals from left and right. "
kris wrote on Apr 19, 2009 1:35 PM:
Southern View wrote on Apr 19, 2009 12:07 PM:
realist wrote on Apr 19, 2009 10:35 AM:
There are three news stories here:
1. Barney Frank found Mansfield in a non election year
2.People have realized that congress did not exercise their oversight responsibility
3.The big story is that the SC printed a story about a protest against a Democrat. "
anavoter wrote on Apr 19, 2009 10:25 AM:
They were suppose to be providing oversight when in fact they did not. In fact Chris Dodd receved a sweetheart deal (extremely favorable mortgage) from Countywide Fiancial and his pal Angelo before the collapse. He also intially denied changing the language in the bail out bill regarding bonuses only to later say there was a misunderstanding.
Frank had personal ties to a key individual at either Freddie Mac and Fannie Ma and has supported bail out money to weak special interest owned banks.
That being said our Congressional elected leaders (both Republican and Dempocrat) have failed the American People. They all have been blinded by the political contributions they received from special interest groups that do not represent the average American. "
fbwizard wrote on Apr 19, 2009 10:02 AM:
I do agree however that I'm not sure a protest with 15 people warranted a story. It looks kind of pathetic. I know the SC is generally Republican but this doesn't help anyone. "
Southern View wrote on Apr 19, 2009 9:19 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Apr 19, 2009 9:14 AM:
coachbarnett wrote on Apr 19, 2009 8:58 AM:
No, of course you don't. You're too happy blindly loving the most crooked president we've had since Kennedy, and blindly following CNN in blaming Bush for everything in sight.
And take a look around... those "tax breaks" you're getting from this obamination of a president have added billions upon billions to our deficit. So much so that it will still be getting paid off long after we're all dead and gone. "
reality check wrote on Apr 19, 2009 7:44 AM:
Frank is lucky he knows where mansfield is located. Frank lives for DC and picking on Harvard kids (who are way smarter than he).
Local Reps have nothing to do with this, they're actually working to STOP the taxation all the Dems are busy creating...when they aren't stuffing money in their bras, double-dipping on pensions, or lining up for high-salaried positions. How ya feeling about your Democratic party these days? "
stp wrote on Apr 19, 2009 7:31 AM:
As far as wasting tax payer money is concerned President Obama's plan includes the banks paying the money back with with 8% interest and accountability. I don't recall getting any of the money back that the Republicans spent since 2000.
My taxes have actually gone DOWN since Obama's been in office. So have the taxes of 95% of Americans.
These protesters need to get a life. "
Just Fed Up wrote on Apr 19, 2009 7:25 AM:
Here is a news flash for you both: Not everything from either party is absolutely good or bad.
When you blindlessly defend the actions of Barney Frank you are no better than those who did the same for Bush.
The Clinton era surplus you post of was smoke and mirrors. Yes, I agree, the economy was certainly better as the world rode the tech bubble. The value of my house rose exponentially, though, not realistically. My 401k soared on false earnings reports. Jobs were aplenty.
Is there anyone out there who really feels in their heart that the run-up that occurred when Clinton was blessed enough to be in power was all attributed to him or the Dems? Or as a corollary, that all the current economic times are all attributed to Bush or Reps?
There have been too many administrations affiliated with both parties and too many sessions of Congress controlled by both parties to lay our current situation fairly on either party.
Bush was wrong. Frank is wrong.
Shut your mouth, roll up your sleeves and do something about it!
I have to go, mom needs the basement to do laundry. "
reb715 wrote on Apr 19, 2009 7:10 AM:
nannystate wrote on Apr 19, 2009 6:50 AM:
tallyho57 wrote on Apr 19, 2009 5:52 AM:
But these Republicans are out there demonstrating against Barney Frank?
What are these local Repubs drinking? State Senator Scott Brown, and state Reps Richard Ross, Jay Barrow and Betty Poirier should all just slither back under the rocks with their fellow Repub friends who, apparently, have no concept of reality.
P.S. When's State Senator Brown going to address another gym full of children and spew obscenities at them? Now there's a Repub whose taken the concept of "free speech" to a whole new level. Way to go, Scott! "