Meet a left-wing housing entitlement thug
Yesterday afternoon, a bunch of screeching left-wing radicals invaded the Bear Stearns headquarters in Manhattan demanding aid for homeowners. As you know, I oppose federal bailouts of every make and model–and that includes both the Bear Stearns deal and the bipartisan stimulus-palooza. The bailout protesters who held their demonstration yesterday, however, are totally unhinged. And out of control:
About 60 protesters opposed to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s help in bailing out Bear Stearns (BSC.N) entered the lobby of the investment bank’s Manhattan headquarters on Wednesday, demanding assistance for struggling homeowners.
Demonstrators organized by the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America chanted “Help Main Street, not Wall Street” and entered the lobby without an invitation for around half an hour before being escorted out by police…
… After leaving Bear Stearns, the crowd moved to JPMorgan.
“We will go to their neighborhood, we will educate their children on what their parents do. They should be ashamed,” NACA founder Bruce Marks said of employees at both banks.
The nutroots call me a “stalker” for publicizing public contact information of anti-war zealots and for researching, documenting, and challenging the assets of a Democrat poster family for massive government health insurance expansions. But check out this Bruce Marks.
He has a record of showing up at children’s schools and bullying them because of their parents’ employment in the name of social justice.
Has he earned scorn and condemnation? Of course not! As a reward for his tactics, Marks–who proudly calls himself a “bank terrorist”–was named “Bostonian of the Year” in 2007 by the Boston Globe. The paper praised his “sensible innovation.” Seriously:
IT MAY SEEM LIKE AN UNUSUAL CHOICE, given that Marks is a controversial character who once infamously called himself a “bank terrorist.” But this is no ordinary time, and it seems uniquely suited to Marks’s curious blend of in-your-face activism, customer-focused service, Machiavellian angling, and social-justice passion.
Over the years, as part of his permanent campaign to browbeat banks into giving fair loans to low- and moderate-income people, Marks and his yellow-T-shirted followers have swarmed shareholders’ meetings with enough force to shut them down. They have picketed outside the schools attended by the children of bank CEOs, pressing the youngsters in signs and chants to answer for the actions of their daddies. And they even once distributed scandal sheets to every house in one CEO’s neighborhood, detailing the affair he was allegedly having with a subordinate. In time, that CEO, like most of the others that NACA targeted, sat down with Marks and signed a deal.
To those who found his tactics an outrageous invasion of bank executives’ personal lives, Marks refused to acknowledge any line between home and work. “What you do is who you are,” he says. “It’s all personal.”
Let me repeat the threat he issued at the Bear Stearns protest yesterday:
“We will go to their neighborhood, we will educate their children on what their parents do. They should be ashamed.”
If any prominent liberals have criticized Marks’ tactics, I haven’t heard them.
Have you?
***
Reader Rich zeroes in on Marks’ shakedown racket:
Michelle,
Poke around Bruce’s website and you will see that he requires those he arranges mortgages for (yes, Bruce Marks is a Mortgage Broker) to participate in this “action”.
His most recent source of money is Bank of America. Now he storms Bear Stearns (not the first time mind you) who is tapped dry of funds. I would look for some “partnership” to develop between NACA and JPM Chase (the next owner of Bear Stearns).
One thing I would like to know is how much does Bruce make from NACA? He might be the best paid mortgage broker in the country right now.
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- Right Voices » Blog Archive » three presidential contenders delivered major economy-themed speeches this week, yet John McCain demonstrated a better understanding of the housing crisis than either of his potential Democratic opponents
- PointOfLaw Forum
- Left-Wing Pork in Bill for Homeowners | OpenMarket.org
- Michelle Malkin » An inconvenient truth
- Hawaii Ending Universal Child Health Care After 7 Months Because Families Were Dropping Private Coverage So Their Children Would Be Eligible For The Subsidized Plan | Right Voices
- Michelle Malkin » Stimulus slush fund for the housing entitlement mob
- Michelle Malkin » The rule of the mob
- Michelle Malkin » The rule of the mob
- Obama Backs Corrupt Status Quo in Financial Rules Overhaul | OpenMarket.org
- “That the Dog returns to his Vomit …” Obama Administration Has Learned Nothing From The Minority Mortgage Meltdown | National Policy Institute
- More Risky, Low-Income Loans: Obama Asks Congress to Create a Harmful Consumer Financial Protection Agency | OpenMarket.org
- Michelle Malkin » Tea Party-bashers gone wild
- Michelle Malkin » More tax dollars for the self-proclaimed bank terrorist
- Obama Financial Regulations Make Things Worse, Promote Risky Loans, Destroy Banking and Lending Options | OpenMarket.org
- Michelle Malkin » No cheers for left-wing collaborators at Bank of America
- Obama administration promotes junky, risky mortgages at taxpayer expense, ignoring history’s lessons | OpenMarket.org
- Obama Administration’s Pay Caps Reward Failure and Political Connections | OpenMarket.org
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Categories: Subprime crisis
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So he makes his money by extortion. What a loser.
I hate liberals. I really do.
“We will go to their neighborhood, we will
educatescare the bejeezus out of their childrenon what their parents do.TheyWe should be ashamed.”There I fixed it for him. Harass and threaten and when that doesn’t work – “peacably assemble.”
Pb, short and sweet. I find it very difficult not to.
Disgusting.
One man’s “extortion” is another (liberal) man’s “social justice.”
Jesse Jackson will no doubt give this guy an award for strong arm extortion tactics.
extortion…exactly. but this extortion’s OK, because he’s doing it for a good cause: the (all encompassing) poor.
meanwhile, it’s because banks over the last few years loaned money to the undeserving that we – the ones who pay our mortgages on time – are now suffering economically.
PB#2
I agree 100%.
L
Why would MSM or Dems leadership speak out? He’s working from their “for the children” playbook.
Hmmm. No such thing as “private lives?”
First the environuts harass and firebomb the homes of researches. Now this guy goes after the children of people he doesn’t like. Who’s next? Why is homeschooling under such intense attack?
Beware. Be warned.
PB, I agree 1000%.
What a thug! He can’t get adults to listen so he strong arms their kids. I just wonder does he have children?
not extortion… child abuse…creep…
Bingo!
What about the freaking responsibility on the part of the irresponsible homeowners who took on too much house, agreed to sub-prime mortgages or just mortgage agreements they either didn’t read or didn’t understand? Yes, there are many bankers who used the sub-prime loans to package attractive collateralized debt for their investors. Both need to take some responsibility.
However, to terrorise their families, their kids and “educate” them on the error of their parents’ ways? If anything, banks loaned out a lot of easy credit to people who didn’t qualify for it in legitimate ways or couldn’t manage it when they did receive it. Easy credit is one thing, accepting it and claiming you’re blameless because those mean, nasty bankers “conned” you into taking on a questionable loan… that just doesn’t pass the “should I pay for your bad choices?” test.
This is what happens when you open the entitlement door. You don’t get to leave it ajar and pick and choose who gets to come through. Oh no, that door must be kept wide open for all to come and go as they please. As a conservative I say, bolt the damn door shut and if that doesn’t work, then we’ll have to just bulldoze the place.
The left has yet to meet a “Marks” it doesn’t like.
We will go to their neighborhoods and indoctrinate them!
I would love to see how many people this clown brokered finance for that could not afford it, just so he could make a profit.. I bet there’s plenty of them.
This is a mortgage broker (bad start already) that attacks children because he doesn’t like who their parents work for. That right there would be enough for me to want to hospitalize him. Wonder how he’d react if I went after his kids because I believe all mortgage brokers are responsible for the current crisis? It certainly would make at least as much sense as his justifications for doing it.
This guy is a self righteous do-gooder playing the typical liberal shell game. Here is a press release from John Kerry:
So basically, he gets liberal legistlators to back him and he harasses banks with lawsuits (to be decided by liberal judges) to fund his business(NACA). NACA then uses the spoils to renegotiate loans with high-risk borrowers. What does he care? He looks like a savior by risking our money.
More importantly: Be Armed.
Wacko Libs will stop at nothing to get their way, not even violence. Be prepared to defend yourself.
Isn’t extortion and blackmail illegal or did the Pelosi group pass legislation it’s legal!
Think this might get the job done?
Thanks, Michele. It’s always a good thing to examine the men with the bullhorn.
Before this liberal idiot beats up on banks for not supporting low income loans he might want to read up on the LOVELY Community Reinvestment Act. This was signed into law by no other than Jimmy Carter and revised by no other than Bill Clinton. This act forced banks into so called predatory lending. becuase banks were forced to give loans to people who couldn’t afford them in neighborhoods of high risk!
This is truly sick.
Let’s see here, I am disgusted by the actions of Eliot Spitzer and I think he is a terrible man… How would the people applauding Marks react if I were to confront Spitzer’s daughters? How about if I track down the Obama children at school and make them answer for their parents’ America-bashing? That would obviously be wrong. I will never understand the one-sided liberal mindset.
I protect my home and family with steel. I advise others to do the same.
These people have got to be mentally ill. Seriously.
Th e phrase “predatory lending” is an oxymoron. The adjective “predatory” should be used to describe actions that are forced on one of the parties. How about “predatory taxes” or “predatory legal action”. Those are actions where someone gets devoured.
Wise counsel, indeed!
As for Marks, can’t he be charged with felony stalking?
# 28 WHAT!?
The performance artists of the extreme left continue to act like spoiled self absorbed children badly in need of some discipline. The time is coming when someone will give them the spanking they need and if not careful it will be one they will not be able to survive.
Just like the race hustling Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Coalition Mr. Marks proves extortion is profitable when going after big bad corporate America.
What kind of school allows this zealot whacko to even get near the kids at all? How in the world can these people protest schools, unless it is at a significant distance?
I am a peaceable person, but I will tell you one thing… if any protesting whacko got near any of my kids I would go Patton on his Machiavellian hide. Kids are off limits. Leave them be.
Haven’t those banks heard of “Security Guards”? They’re armed people who are hired to keep dangerous people out. If the banks had a few of them around, they could keep Bruce Marks and his ilk out.
As for the schools, someone should have called the police.
When he goes to peoples homes they should: 1, get a restraining order, then, 2, get a .357 magnum and a 12 gauge pump.
Isn’t this the banking policy that created the sub-prime meltdown? Lending money to people who can’t afford to repay is not a good idea, from any perspective (other than Communism.)
one day he’ll find a parent not afraid to cross the line back at him..
We can’t imagine the firestorm that would result from a civilian security guard actually touching one of the protesters.
Aren’t they in the same league as bank robbers? And security guards are there to stop robberies.
How about “predatory activism”? I think that would describe this horrible man’s actions perfectly!
Come to think of it, Code Pink fits that description quite well too.
ArmywifeArmymom #32 I like the way you think. Military wives do know how to deal with idiots and Mrs. Boomer is also just as tolerant of those that would mess with the kids.
I’m in full agreement ArmywifeArmymom, maybe I’m a little barbaric for some, tuff stuff, but if this clown or any other messed my kids it would be the last kid they said boo too.
Anyone notice our resident trolls aren’t to be heard from here today? hhhmmmm…maybe their in transit…from BSterns.
Sounds like it’s time to picket his house and expose him on O’Reilley.
What do these “protestors” do for a living that they are always available for these “protests”?
In all its manifestations, socialism can be an ugly thing to behold.
Over the years, as part of his permanent campaign to browbeat banks into giving fair loans to low- and moderate-income people, Marks and his yellow-T-shirted followers have swarmed shareholders’ meetings with enough force to shut them down.
Customer focused… YOWWZZA!! OK. Now I’m thoroughly confused. This guy browbeats banks into lending to high risk borrowers. They lend to these borrowers who susequently default by the legions. The banks go belly up. And now this SOB is wanting MORE? He is the perfect Marxist! “Gimme whacchu got and shame on you for not giving me all I want – you bastard.” This guy needs electroshock therapy and a lobotomy. The banks get bailed out because 70% of any economy is based on public trust in the system. Congratulations moron, you have a personal responsibility for helping to undermine that trust. It is you who should be ashamed. But since you know neither personal responsibility, trust, and lack a basic understanding of economics, you will feel nothing but a lust for more of the same.
If the last lender in the world gave away the last loan to the last needy person, would anyone ever need a lender again?
Selah….
This guy is a for-real cultist.
Wackjob. Although dangerous to the financial system, he is even more dangerous to his own “clients”.
His outfit does operate as a mortgage lender/broker. And yes, they do offer attractive rates. But the rates come with a price.
A borrower must “join the cult”, for lack of a better term, to get the good rate. They must attend his version of homebuyers counseling, which is more in the lines of radical activism training, prior to getting approved for the loan.
His outfit then takes out a lien in second position on the borrower’s house, and the borrower must perform a certain number of hours/days of activism per year to stay in good graces — i.e. attending rallies, picketing various companies and banks, etc. If you do not perform, they own you.
The world is round, though, and his blackmailing, hateful ways are going to come back on him shortly…in spades.
I agree with you ArmyWifeArmyMom-nobody messes with this Mama bear’s cubs. Leave the children alone.
Hey Bruce, why don’t you pick on somebody your own size?
Come to think of it, you look to be about my size.
The insane is sane and the sane is insane.
Going to the kids’ schools. Unacceptable. If it happened at my kid’s school. I would have to will myself to avoid steering my car in their direction. I don’t mean that as a threat, but these people are playing with fire in going after peoples’ kids.
Textbook Mafia…
Unbelievable that the Boston Globe finds this man’s behavior not only acceptable but also laudable. Would they mind if I harassed the children of the editors and reporters?
“Hey, your daddy is Marxist liar!”
“Hey, your mommy is bonking her boss to get better assignments and a promotion!”
It’s just amazing that adults buying a dwelling can not do high school math. They know not the difference between principle and interest, ARM verses fix interest terms, total final cost, monthly payments, and associated taxes. But are very able to scam the government Katrina caliber to make the payments for these educational disadvantaged carbon units.
If someone does that to my kids, I will end their career, permanently. I don’t believe violence settles anything, but when it comes to children being victimized by some zealous bastard. Extreme violence is called for. Just who does this MFer think he is?
Meanwhile, Rev Wright’s church is building him a $1.6 million dollar home, and attached a $10 million line of credit…
I had the strange fortune last night to drink heartily with a bunch of Bear employees as I work across the street from the building.
Apparently whomever equipped them with signs didn’t quite have their cause straight. There were both signs lauding and opposing the takeover.
Apparently it was really quite something.
Forget the bulldozer, its time for some bombing practice…F/A-18 E/F with a 5000 pound inert, laser guided practice bomb dropped from 35,000 feet.
Thats the ticket!
GSP
Racism and hatred are quite lucrative, it seems.
I notice he’s doing that crap back east.
Out west, it works differently.
You go after my children, I am coming after YOU, up close and personal.
Talk about a lose-lose. Deny loans to the uncredit-worthy and be labeled racist, give loans to the uncredit worthy and then be condemned by idiots like left-wing housing entitlement thug.
GSP,
That would work quite well but not as fun as one of these (click on the right to watch the video) Winona Wood