Speaking Frankly : What's Wrong with the Democrats and How to Fix It

by Barney Frank

Barney Frank! Frankly!

Genres: Politics

164 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 1992

About the author

Jewish-American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a Democrat and has represented Massachusetts's 4th congressional district since 1981. The district includes many of Boston's southern suburbs--such as Brookline, Newton and Foxborough--as well as the South Coast.

Following the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives in the 2006 midterm elections, Frank assumed the chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee.

Frank is one of the most liberal members of the House, and has been outspoken on many civil rights issues, including gay rights. In 1987, he spoke publicly about his homosexuality for the first time. He said in a 1996 interview: "I'm used to being in the minority. I'm a left-handed gay Jew. I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority."

Reviews

[Jeffrey Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5)

A very quick read. I realize Frank is a controversial character within politics, but his fight in the promotion of gay rights drew me to this book initially. I’m currently reading another book on the history of gay marriage where Frank plays a pivotal role in calling out the timid approach of liberals against the more assertive and vocal Republicans. This book aims to examine the inability of Democrats to hold control of the position of presidency due to key issues that alienate voters. He does a great job in highlighting the reasons and solutions from the 1960s to the early 90s.

Frank highlights four key issues that Republicans use to their advantage in order to win presidential elections. These include:
•national security
•crime
•racial discrimination
•taxes.

It’s interesting to learn that Democrats tend to win other positions due to their stance on the above policies, but fail to win the majority of presidential elections. Frank argues that Democrats tend to alienate centrist and Republican voters when they focus too much on the social issues plaguing marginalized communities. Frank recognizes the significance and importance of these social issues for a more equitable and just society, but points out that the majority of Americans can’t relate to them, leading to liberals being mislabeled as too extreme or un-American. For example, many Americans prefer tough on crime policies that liberals take a soft stance on.

Frank dedicates half the book to provide solutions to bridging the gap between Democrats and centrists in order to win future presidential races. His arguments make sense for the issues of that time period. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it still holds up well with MAGA and Evangelical Christian ideology running rampant in this country today. As I read this material, I wondered what would have happened had Democrats taken the advice Frank provided in this book. Would we have the largely vocal support of the far right and the prominence of Evangelical Christians seen today? Would we be witnessing the partisanship in politics on these same social issues? Or, would we have a more just society due to the election of more Democratic presidents and their passing of legislation that helps all American citizens?

[Mark Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written back in 1992, this book still holds a lot of tuth for Democrats.