The out Massachusetts Democratic congressman isn't saying he'd accept a temporary post as U.S. senator, and he isn't saying he'd turn it down either.
December 21 2012 1:11 PM EST
November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST
lucasgrindley
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With President Obama reportedly set to announce that Sen. John Kerry is his pick for Secretary of State, and with many Republicans voicing support for his confirmation, the commonwealth of Massachusetts could soon have an immediate opening for a U.S. senator.
And outgoing congressman Barney Frank is being coy about whether he'd be interested in the job.
"I certainly would not take on any long-term appointment," he told Politico. "As for an interim thing, I think accepting offers that haven't been made is kind of presumptuous."
In the recent past, Frank had been very clear that he's not interested in any position that is long term, which is one of the reasons he opted not to run for reelection in his House seat.
Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin is the first LGBT person ever elected to the Senate, but if Frank were picked by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick to serve until an election could be held to pick a permanent replacement, then Frank would be the first out man to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, a strong voice for LGBT equality is likely leaving the Senate, with Kerry widely considered confirmable.
"Sen. Kerry has been a trailblazer in the fight for LGBT equality, both domestically and internationally," the Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said in a statement. "His leadership in repealing the HIV travel ban, as well as his steadfast support for employment non-discrimination protections and addressing the needs LGBT homeless youth demonstrate his dedication to equality and to the rights of LGBT people worldwide."