When good people let us down

On this evening's PBS News Hour, Jim Lehrer asked David Brooks and Mark Shields for their comments about Barney Frank's decision not to seek re-election. Both praised Frank's formidable intellectual and verbal skills as well as highlighting his ability to get stuff done in Congress.

About Frank's impatience with stupid questions there is little disagreement. That's fine and often funny. Brooks went on, however, to characterize Frank as a bully.

You know, you go to Capitol Hill, and we see -- just on the show today -- there are these scrums, where these reporters surround the politicians. And most of them are like us, who are sort of middle-aged guys, and we can take it. But there's always a bunch of young people who are just learning the trade. And they're nervous.

And I just saw Barney Frank as cruel to them on a couple of occasions, needlessly cruel. And I'm sure he did a lot of good things, but that needless cruelty always put me off. And that's the lingering memory I have.

Shields, Brooks on Gingrich's 'Skeletons,' Bill Clinton's 'Second Act,' Tax Cuts | PBS NewsHour | Dec. 2, 2011 | PBS 

I have no direct experience with Barney's behavior. Sandra and I saw him in downtown Boston one time years ago. My impressions of him are based on what I've read, heard, and seen in the media. Reflecting on those stories and the reports from people who have met and worked with him, Brooks's comments are credible.

There are always times when it's necessary to speak truth to power. There are always times to afflict the comfortable. Mike Benedetti and I spent a good bit of time talking about those themes last night. #Occupy has carried hard messages but has done so with self-deprecating humor.

Barney used to do that, too. A campaign ad in the 70s clearly showed that he understood that his sartorial abilities rarely reached a passing grade.

When campaigning, Barney could be funny and smart, but also charming. That happened when he needed something - a vote or a favorable press piece.

In his non-reelection announcement, he said, “I don't have to pretend to be nice to people I don't like.” His political insights were sharp enough to know that he couldn't be successful if he was his natural self. By dialing it back, he could champion the liberal causes and get a lot of good stuff done.

His true perspective, though, seems to be that, for whatever reasons and for whatever purposes, he knew that he was smarter than the rest of us and that he didn't respect us for that.

Damn.

Say it ain't so, Barney.