CLOUCESTER, Mass. – October 29, 2010 – Gloucester and Cape Ann are obviously not part of Congressman Barney Frank's 4th Massachusetts Congressional District.
But this and other fishing communities have certainly benefitted from the role he has taken as a front-line legislative fighter for Massachusetts' and New England's fisheries, first alongside Sen. Edward Kennedy and now, after Kennedy's passing, as the primary torchbearer for an industry too long victimized by excessive federal regulation and regulatory enforcement.
We don't pretend to know all of the issues and dynamics in play within Frank's district and within his re-election bid against Republican challenger Sean Bielat, but we recognize that fishermen and their advocates throughout Massachusetts, New England and beyond cannot not afford to lose this vital advocate for Fishing Nation from the halls of Congress.
And here's what one of the chief newspapers within his district — the Standard-Times of New Bedford — did say about Frank in granting him its full endorsement earlier this week.
"… Contrary to the propaganda Republicans have spread attacking the 30-year congressman, he is not to blame for the mortgage crisis.
"Frank freely admits he was mistaken in 2003 when he said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were not headed for serious problems.
"'I was wrong,' he told The Standard-Times in an editorial board meeting earlier this month. "I was late to say they were in trouble." He thought Republicans, who held not only the White House but both houses of Congress, were targeting Fannie and Freddie for the wrong reasons.
"Far from being some kind of conspirator as the right would like to paint him, Frank is a responsible advocate for affordable housing — ownership and rental alike. And since the (mortgage) crisis, he has worked harder than virtually any other member of Congress not only to end it, but to prevent it from happening again.
"Frank has the ear of the president and considerable power in Washington. Lose Frank, and SouthCoast loses that access.
"He knows the halls of D.C., but he also knows the streets of the 4th District very well. He has his finger on the pulse.
"Persistent advocacy by Frank helped convince U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to announce just last week that he now believes he has the authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to make emergency changes to fishing regulations if they can be supported by science. That means Locke is open to raising catch limits on important species like yellowtail flounder, which could be a shot in the arm for New Bedford fishermen.
"Whether it's high finance or the local economy, economic issues are among Frank's strengths. He shows it when he supports federal funding for things like SouthCoast rail, which means so much to the region's future.
"Frank is in the fight of his life this election season. His opponent, the educated and articulate Sean Bielat, has put a great deal of thought into his positions. He appears to be a free-market pragmatist, not the kind of ideologue far too common in the Republican Party today.
"While we hope Bielat remains active in politics, Frank is the right person to represent the 4th District in Congress. More than ever, he needs your vote. Frank is under attack from right-wing interests who want to see a powerful Democrat ousted for good.
"Voters may see some mistakes in the handling of the financial meltdown, but the real mistake would be to unseat Barney Frank. He works for our interests day in and day out, and he is widely acknowledged as one of the sharpest minds in Congress. We urge you to give him your vote Nov. 2."