Rep. Frank's Jujitsu on House Republicans
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) practiced a little clever arm-twisting moments ago while arguing for his chamber to pass the $14 billion auto bailout bill that would give direct emergency loans to GM, Ford and Chrysler.
Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) just inveighed against the bill, saying it should be voted down.
So Frank, ever the debater, is pulling a little political jujitsu on House Republicans: He said that if they vote against the autos bailout it will be a "stunning repudiation" -- not of the U.S. auto industry but of the Republican Bush administration.
Frank is arguing that the $14 billion is being funded exactly as Bush and Treasury wanted. The Bush administration stiffly opposed Congress approving extra money for Detroit and instead wanted lawmakers to take money from a $25 million in direct loans already approved for Detroit. Which the Democratically controlled Congress has done.
So it looks like Frank is trying to shame House Republicans, saying they would be turning on their president if they vote against the autos bailout.
-- Frank Ahrens
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Frank Ahrens
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December 10, 2008; 5:01 PM ET
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| Tags: Barney Frank, Chrysler, Ford, GM
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Posted by: millionea7 | December 10, 2008 6:12 PM | Report abuse
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"So it looks like Frank is trying to shame House Republicans, saying they would be turning on their president if they vote against the autos bailout."
well thank goodness the House Republicans are smarter than Frank and Bush... which admittedly is not surprising.