HomoQuotable - Barney Frank

"Here’s the story. There’s a terrible crisis affecting the American economy. We have come together on a bill to alleviate the crisis. And because somebody hurt their feelings, they decide to punish the country. I mean, I would not have imputed that degree of pettiness and hypersensitivity. We also have — as the leader will tell you, who’s been working with them — don’t believe they had the votes, and I believe they’re covering up the embarrassment of not having the votes.

"But think about this. 'Somebody hurt my feelings, so I will punish the country.' That’s hardly plausible. And there are 12 Republican members who were ready to stand up for the economic interest of America, but not if anybody insulted them. I’ll make an offer. Give me those 12 people’s names and I will go talk uncharacteristically nicely to them and tell them what wonderful people they are and maybe they’ll now think about the country." - Rep. Barney Frank responding to accusations that the bailout plan failed because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's statement before the vote was "partisan" and caused some Republicans to change their votes. Republicans claim that 12 members switched their votes after Pelosi's speech, causing the bailout bill to fail.

RELATED: Regardless of your opinion of Barney Frank (and mine vacillates between abject adoration and outraged frustration), Frank is presently having unprecedented visibility on the national and international stage. An openly gay man, right or wrong on this issue, has the entire world hanging on his words. Fascinating.