Frank Plays the Common-Man Card

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) preceded Capitol Hill testimony by the heads of Detroit's Big Three automakers by arguing that the government seems more than ready to bail out Wall Street firms but is balking at helping companies that employ regular folks.

"Why was it so acceptable to do that for the financial industry...but doing it for the blue-collar industry is somehow not right?" Frank asked, in his opening statement.

It's a novel tack: Frank supports the $25 billion in loans GM, Ford and Chrysler are seeking. Frank is trying to cut off congressional opposition by painting them as elitists -- ready and willing to give taxpayer money to well-paid Wall Street big shots but denying help to blue-collar auto workers in Detroit and elsewhere.

-- Frank Ahrens

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