A former U.S. congressman told students and community members Tuesday he thinks a big issue in the upcoming presidential election is voters’ deep resentment for the government.
Barney Frank, a former Democratic representative for Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives and the first openly gay congressman, spoke at the Hammer Museum to about 300 residents, alumni and students about the presidential election in 2016 and voter discontent. He served for 32 years in the House of Representatives, from 1981 until 2013.
“People are voting for anti-government officials, not because they think the government shouldn’t do things, but because they’re angry the government isn’t doing anything,” Frank said, in response to questions about the surprising success of certain candidates in the upcoming election.
Attendees arrived at the theater more than an hour early to hear the congressman speak. Frank opened the forum by discussing the context of the next presidential election, saying he understands people are angry at the government because it has not produced the results they believe they are entitled to.
“Ooh government, you’re letting me down, you didn’t do nothing when my income went down,” Frank sang, parodying the song “Winchester Cathedral.” The riff drew applause from audience members, who nodded and laughed in agreement.
Ian Masters, a local radio host, organized the event and moderated the forum with Frank, answering questions from audience members. Several attendees asked to hear Frank’s perspective on gun control and his opinion of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
“I had Frank on my radio show before and he’s one of the toughest interviews I’ve ever done,” Masters said. “Today is exactly one year out from election day, and I thought Frank, with his experience of more than three decades in Congress, could really give a sophisticated perspective on the election.”
Event attendees said they looked forward to Frank’s analysis of the election and issues in modern politics.
“The media often presents a very skeptical view on politics, and I want to see what Frank has to say and get a politician’s look at the election,” said Jimmy Gorham, a UCLA alumnus who returned to Westwood for the event.
Shuky Patel, a first-year political science student, said he hoped listening to a leader like Frank would give him the spark of inspiration he needs to get involved in the 2016 election.
Frank said 48 percent of Republicans voters have shown support for Ben Carson and Donald Trump in the polls. He said he thinks the majority of Republicans are voting for whom he calls unsuitable candidates to get back at the government, without realizing the impact their votes have on the country’s future.
“With some of these people so angry and so alienated, they would vote as irresponsibly as they could to get even with the government,” Frank said.
Frank said he is concerned Democratic voters will abstain from the election and instead protest to show their frustration, based on how harshly Democratic celebrities criticize the government.
“Jon Stewart is very funny but if you watched him you wouldn’t vote, because (according to him) every government official was a bum,” said Frank, “Nothing good ever happened on the Jon Stewart show.”
Frank said he thinks voters are mostly frustrated with the government’s failure to intervene in the economy. He added he thinks the solution is to bring down federal spending on the military and the war on drugs, so the government can focus on addressing economic problems.
“If the public understands the futility of government spending in these areas, we can be the strongest nation of the world, and a lot more cheaply than we are today,” Frank said.
Frank took pictures with audience members and signed books after the forum.
The Hammer Museum’s next monthly forum, titled Project Fatherhood, will feature activists Big Mike Cummings and Jorja Leap on Dec. 10. The forum is free and open to the public.