How Barney Frank Gives Politicians A Good Name

In his new column, “Giving Politicians A Good Name,” E.J. Dionne examines two politicians who he considers to be a credit to their profession: Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski:

WASHINGTON — Two politicians from different countries and with very different political pedigrees made news this week. Both spoke difficult truths and reminded us that we shouldn’t use the word “politician” with routine contempt.

The better-known story is the retirement of Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who was never afraid to make people angry — or to make them laugh. But more on Frank in a moment. Far too little attention has been paid on these shores to a remarkable speech in Berlin on Monday by the Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski.

He offered what may be the sound bite of the year: “I will probably be the first Polish foreign minister in history to say so, but here it is: I fear German power less than I am beginning to fear German inactivity.”

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