Barney Frank was and is a fierce defender of health care. Losing his voice in Congress will leave a big hole.

I’ve followed Barney’s career since working in Congress with a close colleague of his in the early 80s, and as a constituent since the late 80s. We at Health Care For All worked closely with office over the years, and he was an aggressive advocate for health care. His top-notch staff always helped out when federal issues needed tending.

The Globe’s Politics blog captured a number of his best lines through the years. He was at his best in confronting the know-nothings at the tumultuous town hall meetings during the ObamaCare summer of 2009. Barney’s response to a question equating health reform with Nazism is classic:

On what planet do you spend most of your time? … Ma’am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table. I have no interest in doing it.

Click to watch Jon Stewart’s presentation of Barney in action.

Thanks Barney.
-Brian Rosman