"Barney Frank's funny."

That's basically the thesis of a New York Times collection of the homo-politico's classic knee-slappers, which the paper says gives him the top spot as the Hill's "master of the one-liner." A sample:

• "I am grateful for the obscurity of the opposition’s argument.”

• "So, apparently, same-sex marriage is the V8 juice of America.”

• "I am afraid that this bill is becoming the legislative equivalent to crack. It’s going to give people a short-term high, but it is going to be dangerous in the long run to the system and expensive to boot.”

That last one came in relation to a bill authorizing $4 billion for the mythical war on drugs, which Frank obviously opposes.

Allen Roskoff's never been afraid to voice his opinion. Well, that's not true. Like so many of the lavender set, the New York-based activist once hid in the closet, but found himself out and proud after falling in with the Gay Activist Alliance, one of our city's first post-Stonewall rights groups.

Now, as president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Roskoff remains one of the most progressive activists this side of the Mississippi. In fact, it was an email from Roskoff that spurred the following exchange with our editor.

Some of you may recall last week's story about anti-gay "cult" Aesthetic Realism. Well, Roskoff wrote to us and regaled us with tales of how he and his GAA pals used to rail against the group.

Always intrigued by tales of homo history, we asked Roskoff if he'd like to elaborate for you, our darling readers. And he graciously agreed.

Read what Roskoff has to say about the Realism movement, gay activism's golden years, why homos need to stop cheering for Hillary Clinton, how Barney Frank and HRC do more harm than good, and why Barack Obama must be the Democratic nominee - after the jump, naturally.

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Democratic presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are still duking it out.

Yesterday Senator Clinton released an ad taking on Obama's "bitter" remark, which spurred Obama to release one of his own, which we've included above. Says Obama's announcer: "There's a reason people are rejecting Hillary Clinton's attacks. Because the same old Washington politics won't lower the price of gas or help our struggling economy." All this fighting's giving us a headache - and Barney Frank, too.

The homo-politico voiced his grievances yesterday, saying that the "trailing" candidate should drop out by June 3rd:

…Frank said the trailing Democratic presidential candidate should drop out of the race by no later than June 3 — the date of the two last Democratic primaries — even if it is the candidate he supports, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"Probably sooner," the Massachusetts congressman added in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. He suggested that the trailing candidate should drop out once it became clear that candidate had no remaining practical chance of winning the nomination.

Please, please let it be "sooner." This shit's making us bitter.

Meanwhile, we've included the aforementioned Obama ad after the jump…

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Massachusetts Representative and long-time marijuana advocate Barney Frank got people high and bothered this weekend. The homo-politico told Bill Maher - and the world - that he plans to introduce legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. The matter, he says, should be left to individual states and leaves more energy for pressing matters, like actual criminals. Plus, no one gives a damn about Mary Jane. criminals.

Explains Frank:

Do you really think people should be prosecuted for smoking marijuana? I don't think most people agree with that. It's one area where the public is ahead of the elected officials. It does not appear to me to be a law that society is serious about.

Frank's bill would effectively remove the federal government from the herb battle, which includes DEA raids on medical marijuana outposts in California. That, of course, ain't groovy for people in chronic pain.

We are absolutely jonesing to hear where you stand on this issue, reader, so take this copasetic poll, man:

It's a hot one for Puerto Rican politicos today.

The House of Representatives are set to vote today on whether to pass a ban on gay marriage and other forms of civil unions. If the Representatives decide to remove the civil union language - ""No other union, independently of its name, denomination, place of origin, jurisdiction or similarity with marriage, will be recognized, or validated as marriage." - then the bill goes back to the Senate. If they decide to keep the ban - well, then it goes forward.

American politician Jose Serrano of New York, however, hopes that the Puerto Ricans can contain themselves - or risk pissing off Congress:

…Serrano says that passage of such an amendment would put Puerto Rico among those groups that promote hateful and discriminatory measures which might not be seen in a good light by the United States congress.

"This doesn't help me to seek assistance for Puerto Rico," he said during a telephone interview with El Nuevo Dia, "Puerto Ricans cannot ask demand equality and at the same time try to create discrimination."

Serrano told the paper that such a measure would make it difficult to ask openly gay Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, for assistance indicating that Frank was opposed to such discriminatory measures.

Money - the international language of democracy. God bless it!

The ongoing battle between Matt Foreman and Congressman Barney Frank rages on!

The adorably cantankerous Frank appeared on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show yesterday to rebuff Foreman's remarks that Frank's "squeamish" about trans rights. Frank defended his position, of course, but also made sure to take some swipes at Foreman, including his past political judgment in endorsing former New York Governor George Pataki over Democrat Carl McCall. Frank claims Foreman went for Pataki to strike a political compromise while heading up Empire State Pride Agenda. Frank called Foreman's move "a very significant mistake in my judgment from the standpoint of in our coalition building."

Grrrrl!

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Outgoing Task Force leader Matt Foreman appeared on Michelangelo Signorile's radio show this week and lobbed a few hard balls at Representative Barney Frank, a man some say didn't take a strong enough stand during last year's ENDA debacle.

I think what really happened is [Speaker Nancy Pelosi's] people said 'Look, Congress has a terrible reputation right now, they're not delivering for any progressive causes… What do we have to do to deliver to our progressive allies?' That means labor and health and environment and gays. And, so, I mean, I don't know this for a fact, but I would bet my life that this is what happened: They went to Barney Frank and said 'What do we need to pass ENDA?"
…
"Representative Frank, who has always been pretty squeamish on the trans issue, and I guess I can say these things because I am leaving my job…

Frank's office called in soon after and called Foreman's allegations "absurd".

Frank will appear on Signorile's Sirius radio show today at 3:30 to plead his case.

CNN's Jeanne Moos dishes the dirt on Barney Frank and President Bush's infamous exchange. After the jump, natch.

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So, you may have heard that President Bush got chummy with homo-politico Barney Frank last night. What you may not know, however, is that Bush interrupted Frank's phone call with his boyfriend. Frank later informed Bush, who replied, "Well. I hope you said how open-minded I am." Perhaps Bush is working on a post-White House comedy routine?

• Out's February issue proves what we already knew: Richard Simmons is the queen of all queens.

• Lauren Williams hung out with Phylicia Rashad and the rest of the cast from the Debbie Allen Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and all we got was this incredible post!

• Hummer inspired by NYC-based fag rag HX? Wouldn't be the first time…

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The queers keep flocking to Hillary Clinton's camp. The Democrat's campaign released yet another list of pro-Hill homos. The Washington Blade reports that 21 gay "professionals and activists" are throwing their weight behind the Senator from New York.

Names on the list include H. Alexander Robinson, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition; Dana Beyer, who is transgender and a member of the Human Rights Campaign board of governors; and Rep. Patricia Todd, the first openly gay member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

“I am honored to have the support of these leaders in the LGBT community,” Clinton said. “Together, we can end the divisive politics of the current administration and renew the promise of fairness and equality for all Americans.”

No doubt the campaign's tickled pink over the recent show of support, particularly Barney Frank's rip-roaring endorsement.

No doubt Democrat Hillary Clinton's a happy camper today. The Senator just got another homo-politico vote from Barney Frank, who proudly threw his political weight behind her candidacy yesterday.

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The New York Times spilled some ink today to discuss the recently passed Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Not surprisingly, the left-leaning paper urges the Senate and President Bush to move forward with the law and protect America's gay people. The paper also takes some time to celebrate Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin, the homo-politicos who helped push ENDA's painful passage. Here's what the gray lady says about the controversial trans-exclusion:

Transgender people should be protected from discrimination, and we hope they soon will be. It would have been regrettable, however, had the sponsors refused to compromise, and as a result, lost the chance to extend basic civil rights to the millions of Americans who would be covered by the current bill.

Throughout American history, civil rights have been achieved in incremental steps. The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, barred race discrimination in public accommodations, an enormous step forward at the time. It wasn’t until the next year that Congress protected voting rights in a separate bill.

We bet the NY Times five dollars trans-rights aren't passed next year. Or the year after. Regardless, they've got a point, even if they're taking a bit of an overly optimistic view.

Homo-politico Barney Frank took the House floor today to fight for HR 3685, the non-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Watch as Frank discusses his "regret" over the lack of trans-friendly votes.