BROOMFIELD — Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., offered a critique of the Bush administration's policies, by first telling a crowd of Michigan delegates to the DNC that "all politicians lie a little."

For example, he said politicians who say they like campaigning -- it's a lie. So too for someone who says, "I hate to say I told you so." Said Frank, "I love to say I told you so. It's one of the few pleasures that improve with age. I can do it without taking a pill before, during or afterwards."

And he proceeded to tell the crowd of his latest I-tod-you-so experience, which has been running eight years. "For years, the right wing has said if countries adopt capitalism, democracy will follow," Frank said. "China has introduced more capitalism. There has been no change in its human rights record."

He said the Bush administration's support of a free market system that will resolve economic hardships is also a good arguing point this election. "There's a metaphor that when the tide rises, all the boats will rise with it," Frank said. "But if your standing on your tiptoes up to your neck, when the tide rises it will go up your nose." Frank said the economy has hammered wager earners, whose buying power has stagnated or lessened since 2001.

"The Bush administration has said markets are smart, government is dumb." But without "sensible regulation," the free market system has helped only a few while harming many. "It's about will, not about wealth," Frank said. "Don't pay attention to which group gets more," he said. "Let's all have growth. Overall wealth will rise and everybody will be better off."