Barney Frank holds two Sonoma County fundraisers
Rep. Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., makes an appearance at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Saturday. He attended two fundraisers on behalf of his re-election campaign.
KENT PORTER/The Press DemocratPublished: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
Many of the Sonoma County residents who forked over $50 at Rep. Barney Frank’s campaign fundraiser Saturday — and $500 at a later event — likely got their money’s worth.
The openly gay Massachussetts congressman’s morning appearance at Santa Rosa’s Flamingo Hotel was equal parts comedy routine and progressive call to arms.
“I am a member of a group that continues to be disrespected in our culture and particularly in the media,” he said. “I am a partisan Democrat.”
He added that mainstream conservatism has been “repudiated” in the country, making it necessary for a partisan response from his party.
“I admire Barack Obama enormously, I think he has made a huge difference in every area,” Frank said. “There was only one part of his campaign that troubled me, when he said he was going to be post-partisan. I got post-partisan depression.”
That remark, as did many others, drew thunderous applause and laughter.
Frank, who has been a member of Congress since 1981, is up for re-election in 2010. His campaign representative said he is on Republicans’ “top-ten targeted list.”
“This is really about his friends making sure he gets relected,” said Lisa Scala-Farmer, a campaign representative. She added that raising funds on West Coast “doesn’t mean his seat is vulnerable.”
At the event, which drew Democratic Party members and past, present and hopeful politicians, Frank talked about his legislative efforts around gay rights legislation, including a measure that would expand the definition of violent federal hate crimes to cover those committed because of a victim’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Frank predicted the measure, which already has been approved by the Senate and gone through conference committee, would get final approval from the Senate and be signed by the president within 10 days.
He also discussed his support of Obama’s health care overhaul legislation that would provide medical coverage to millions of Americans who have no health insurance, as well as consumer finance protection proposals that go before the House Financial Services Committee, which he heads, next week.
Finally, he repeated his position that the country’s military spending will eventually have to be reduced by 25 percent. Domestic programs depend on it, he said.
The event was an opportunity for many local progressives to meet Frank over a glass of white or red wine from Raymond Burr Winery. It also was an opportunity for local candidates for office to mingle with Democratic Party players.
Michael Allen, a Santa Rosa planning commissioner who is seeking Pat Wiggins’ 7th district assembly seat, and Sonoma County District Attorney candidate Jill Ravitch, a chief deputy in the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, were at the event.
More than 100 people attended, paying $50 to hear Frank speak. A later fundraiser at Iron Horse Vineyards in Sebastopol drew about 50 people who paid $500 each.
The fundraisers were organized by local attorney Michael Fiumara, a longtime friend of Frank’s who earned several congratulations for getting a man considered to be one of the most prominent members of Congress to come to Sonoma County.
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