Rival blasts Barney Frank’s swanky free jet ride

boston herald ^ | October 13, 2010 | Dave Wedge

[george76]

Barney Frank, immersed in one of the toughest political fights of his career, took a free private jet to the Virgin Islands courtesy of a Maine congresswoman’s billionaire ...whose company received a $200 million federal bailout, the Herald has learned.

Frank, who’s facing feisty Republican challenger Sean Bielat, flew to the tropical paradise for a vacation in 2009 on a $25 million jet owned by Paloma Partners honcho S. Donald Sussman, the fianc...of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). Paloma Securities — a subsidiary of Sussman’s Greenwich, Conn.-based hedge fund — received $200 million in 2009 as part of the $180 billion federal bailout of troubled insurance giant AIG, records show...

Frank, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, said his partner, Jim Ready, lives in Pingree’s district and the couples are “personal friends.”

Republican National Committee spokesman Parish Braden said: “Barney Frank’s acceptance of a lavish gift from a hedge fund manager, an industry he is responsible for regulating, is a troubling conflict of interest that raises serious questions about his judgment.”

Sussman, a huge Democratic campaign donor with homes in Maine and Connecticut, lives in St. John, Virgin Islands

[gov_bean_ counter]

Had my annual ethics training today. The expression that kept coming up was the “appearance of impropriety”. I guess only for the little guy.

[parisa]

Sussman, a huge Democratic campaign donor with homes in Maine and Connecticut, lives in St. John, Virgin Islands

Where do we go to get honor and integrity back in this country????

[BAW]

Time to take out the trash.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Here's the "couple" mentioned in the article. Virgin Islands, my a$$.

[mmercier]

Nothing like a Hummer at 35K

[Rocky]

Looks like devil’s horns coming out of Barney’s head.

[FormerACLUmember]

Crooks like Barney Frank’s bribe giver, also donate huge amounts to the democrat party because the payout is far greater: in this case a $200 million payout.

[Rocky]

Sussman’s hedge fund is Barney’s significant udder.

[no dems]

THIS IS SEAN BILEAT’S OCTOBER SURPRISE!!! Get this word out Sean. Folks how can we get this to Rush and FOX News?

[Razz Barry]

When I was in fast food management, mgrs were not allowed to accept any gifts from suppliers. Bonny’s free ride, I hope, is coming to an end.

[Libloather]

...the couples are “personal friends.”

Could that be the problem?

[aliquando]

I guess gay men don’t like belts. To much effort.

[bray]

Lots of pedophilia going on in Virgin islands.

Pray for America

[Lazlo in PA]

The other Dim Congressman in this scandal claims she is being followed, skulked and has doors knocked on by mysterious opponents.

http://www.sunjournal.com/approved/story/916125

Wonder if the Lamestream will jump on this like they did on O’Donnell claims.

[CanaGuy]

There is a name for this behaviour; it’s called GRAFT. I thought it was illegal, but even if it’s not, it is morally wrong. Where has the sense of shame gone?

[Tunehead54]

Don’t worry - Rush gets half his show prep here ... ;-)

[Leisler]

Which one pitches and which one bites the pillow?

[EQAndyBuzz]

On DU you would have a thread of 5000 saying,

“I’d hit it.”

[DeaconRed]

BWWWWARNY FAG GONA LOOSE! ! ! ! ! !