Barney Frank's complaint about activists is the same one he's been making for decades - LGBTQ Nation

"“By not repudiating some of these politically toxic demands for fundamental social change, the mainstream allowed the public to think that these were the positions of the Democrats,” Frank said in one television interview last week."

"Frank was talking about trans rights, especially rights for trans athletes. His complaint underscores one of the throughlines in Frank's political career. Frank sees the future of civil rights almost entirely through an electoral, and explicitly partisan, lens."

"In many ways, that is what made Frank such a powerhouse. He knew exactly the levers to pull to make things happen in Congress. He knew how the process worked, and he could bend it when necessary."

"At the same time, though, Frank has always seen politics as virtually the only way to get things done. He has done little to hide his dislike of activism, particularly activism that attracts a lot of attention. He wants things done inside the system, not outside of it."

Barney Frank is in hospice care and continues appearing on television to promote a new book. He argues that mainstream Democrats failed to repudiate politically toxic demands for fundamental social change, allowing the public to believe those demands were Democratic positions. His comments focus on trans rights, including rights for trans athletes. Frank’s political career is characterized by viewing civil rights primarily through an electoral and explicitly partisan lens. He is described as effective in Congress because he understood legislative levers and how to influence outcomes. He is also portrayed as preferring change within the system and expressing skepticism toward activism that draws significant attention.

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