Rangel Indicted By House Ethics Committee....Finally!

Remember when Charlie Rangel acted as if he were above ethics allegations?

From FDL:



I guess that really isn't the case anymore, is it Charlie?

Rangel Fails To Endorse Dems Over Bloomberg

Yet another sign of Democratic disunity in New York was on display yesterday when the ethically-challenged Congressman Charlie Rangel couldn't manage to side with his party for the upcoming mayoral election. Rangel is known for blowing off the press in regards to his own corruptive nature, but this is the first I've heard of him blowing off the Democratic party.

From The Daily Politics:

At separate events today, two Democratic heavyweights - Rep. Charlie Rangel and former President Bill Clinton - were effusive in their praise of Mayor Bloomberg, and although both stopped short of endorsing his re-election outright, they didn't announce support of his opponent, Comptroller Bill Thompson, either.

Rangel, a veteran Harlem pol and dean of the congressional delegation, said he is not ready "at this time" to take sides in the mayor's race, despite the fact that Thompson is vying to become only the second African American to hold the post in the city's history.

The DN's Erin Einhorn reports from a Harlem affordable housing announcement that Rangel said Bloomberg has "done a great job," but also added: "Having the comptroller being prepared to be able to run, I think, is totally unfair and the way that term limits have been removed."

Asked point-blank whether he has decided who he will back, Rangel said: "Not yet, no."

So with Bill Clinton at his side, Rangel took out a figurative pistol and shot Thompson in the foot, while the former President looked on without comment. As much as I would hope that Rangel could endorse Thompson (or even Avella) on his own and show that he cares about his local party, the disloyality goes much deeper than just one Harlem Congressman. What we need is leadership and currently, there is none.

Even In New Congress, Rangel Is Still An Ethical Thorn On Our Side

Charles B. Rangel is an institution in the House of Representatives and icon in Harlem, but for all the good he's done, there is a shady side that needs to be dealt with. He may think that his only problem is duking it out with the press, but if the press didn't have certain facts to report on then it'd be a different story. Yet Rangel confidently keeps on keeping on.

From CQPolitics:

Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel said Wednesday that an ongoing investigation by the ethics committee of his fundraising and personal finances would not hamper his leadership of the powerful committee.

“It does not diminish my ability to get the job done,” Rangel, D-N.Y., said after the organizing meeting of the Ways and Means Committee, which will consider the tax portion of the stimulus package. The committee also will have jurisdiction over much of the Democrats’ planned health care overhaul and over all trade legislation.

Rangel dismissed Republican calls for him to step down while the ethics committee completes its work.

“I don’t give that much consideration to the Republicans,” he said. Rangel said a number of GOP lawmakers acknowledge that there are distortions in news reports outlining allegations against him. But he added, “Some of them feel they have to do politically what the old Republican leadership has to do.”

I don't give much consideration to them either, but this isn't about giving Boehner a reason to smile. This is about keeping our principles in line and being above the ethical lapses of Republicans, not simply to think it's acceptable to sink to their level. CREW goes after corrupt politicians regardless of party and making their top 20 is a serious offense. Rangel should be ashamed of himself, but apparently he doesn't have the ability to feel it.

Charlie Rangel, Give Back That Wal-Money!

WalMart has been the scourge of liberals and progressives for a long time now. They've angered us so many times over, whether by low-paying, poverty-inducing jobs, no health insurance, union-busting, decimating small businesses in the communities they spread into....I could go on and on here. Well for years and years the corporate behemoth has given the majority of its campaign and lobbying dollars to Republicans, they are even directing their store managers towards McCain.

Yet they aren't stupid, they know change is happening and the Congress is solidly Democratic and that is why they are starting to give more to Democrats than Republicans. We as concerned citizens, must act and force/shame/tell our elected officials not to take that money. That is why I am telling Charlie Rangel to give back that money made off the backs of the working poor.

From Working Life:

Wal-Mart has at least 80 class-action lawsuitsin 41 states pending against it.

Wal-Mart illegally denied full rest or meal breaks in violation of state wage and hour laws--a violation that may cost the company $2 billion.

Wal-Mart abuses women, and is the defendants in the biggest sex discrimination case in history.

Wal-Mart is a habitual tax-dodger.

Wal-Mart's heirs buy expensive paintings but won't give their workers decent health care.

Wal-Mart sued a disabled women, demanding she give back money she won in a settlement.

Wal-Mart exploits children in Mexico.

Wal-Mart lead a global corporate lobbying campaign to block a very modest improvement in Chinese labor laws--because Wal-Mart's business model depends on exploiting cheap labor, here and abroad.

And that's just a sample. Why would any political leader, who represents him or herself to be a defender of the working person, want to be affiliated with such a company?

The answer is clear: money. The Democratic Party is almost even with the Republican Party in the money it receives from Wal-Mart, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Center's data, published in an article in today's Wall Street Journal (I'll come back to that article in a moment), shows that 12 years ago, Wal-Mart's PAC gave 98 percent of its money to Republicans. In the current cycle, Democrats have received 48 percent of Wal-Mart's PAC expenditures.

In that article above, the list of Democrats is atrocious. All of them should stand up for the principles of the party that represents workers, if those aren't part of their own moral compass to begin with. That is why I call on New York's most powerful Congressman to give back that $5,500 contribution....and my own Congresswoman, Carolyn Maloney to give back the $1,000 they gave her as well.

Rangel Decides To Do The Right (Legal) Thing

After the NY Times broke the story last week that Congressman Rangel has four rent stabilized apartments in one building he responded with all the bluster worthy of a small child in a temper tantrum. The only problem with that and some of his friends' comments defending him was that one of those four apartments was undeniably illegal. With a few days to cool down, and a stern talking-to (most likely) by his lawyer, Rangel is doing the legal thing and getting rid of his campaign office/apartment.

From The NY Times:

In a fiery news conference on Friday, Mr. Rangel said he saw nothing improper with having three rent-stabilized apartments — all adjacent on the 16th floor — for his family’s residence, but said he would review the propriety of using the fourth apartment as an office.

Mr. Rangel’s spokesman said the congressman would not discuss details of his decision.

“Mr. Rangel has indicated that he is not willing to say any more,” the spokesman, Emile Milne, said.

The congressman’s announcement that he will move his campaign office came as he faced widespread criticism from tenant advocates who said it was improper for an elected official to accept multiple rent-stabilized apartments when the city is facing a shortage of moderately priced housing.

On Monday, the National Legal and Policy Center, a watchdog group in Washington, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, charging that the discounted rent was in essence an illegal corporate contribution from the Olnick Organization, which owns Lenox Terrace, on 135th Street near Lenox Avenue.

The FEC complaint must have been the shot across the bow for Rangel. Of course, this isn't really a case of him doing the right thing with the city's shortage of rent-controlled apartments, just the correct measure to avoid the glare of the FEC. As long as he keeps the three apartments he may be within the law, but Rangel is still ethically-challenged, despite all the good work he has done for Harlem and our country throughout his career.

Congressman Rangel, Can I Get An Apartment?

Yet another scandal surfaced late yesterday when the Times reported that our dear Congressman Rangel has four rent-stabilized apartments. There are more than a few people that rent or own several homes, but it is generally financed with their own money. Charlie is paying less than four grand for all four apartments a month, and that isn't the end of it.

From The NY Times:

Mr. Rangel, the powerful Democrat who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, uses his fourth apartment, six floors below, as a campaign office, despite state and city regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence.

Mr. Rangel, who has a net worth of $566,000 to $1.2 million, according to Congressional disclosure records, paid a total rent of $3,894 monthly in 2007 for the four apartments at Lenox Terrace, a 1,700-unit luxury development of six towers, with doormen, that is described in real estate publications as Harlem’s most prestigious address.

The current market-rate rent for similar apartments in Mr. Rangel’s building would total $7,465 to $8,125 a month, according to the Web site of the owner, the Olnick Organization.

The Olnick Organization and other real estate firms have been accused of overzealous tactics as they move to evict tenants from their rent-stabilized apartments and convert the units into market-rate housing.

Now Olnick would never try and forcibly kick Charlie out of his rent-controlled buildings, especially considering he is one of the most powerful members of the House. Now that the cat is out of the bag, the Congressman needs to kick himself out, preferably from at least three residences including the campaign office.

Rangel replied to an interview request with his regular style, “Why should I help you embarrass me?” and then hung up. This is already embarassing, ethics may be a scarce commodity in Washington, especially for the 12 years Republicans held power, but that does not give him the right to skim off the top to his own advantage, even if it is in Harlem....and for all the good he has done for Harlem. The simple fact is that Mr. Rangel is a servant of the people and earns a decent (almost $170K) living for it.....that should be it.

Congressman Rangel Contracted Clinton-itis

There must be a bug going around the Clinton camp in between New York and Washington. Harlem's Congressman Rangel became extremely sick with the new ailment, especially with all the ridiculousness in the air these days. In case you haven't heard of the conditions, Clinton-itis may form excuses for harsh attack from Democrat to Democrat, denial of political realities and even a tendency to side with Republicans before Barack Obama. The sick and suffering must be pitied, but try and stay far away from it, for it can cause stinging in the ears if you are around someone with the illness for too long. NPR's Norman Siegel was brave enough to catch up with the Congressman at event this morning and documented all of his symptoms.

From The Daily Politics:

The Congressman wasn't nearly so happy after the event when, during an interview in an elevator, I asked him whether he thought Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race if she loses the Texas and Ohio contests on March 4.

"I don't think you really want to ask that question," Rangel said, insisting that he had never before heard such a thing, even though those contests have been characterized as must-wins for Clinton by none other than her former president husband.

When I assured him that I did, in fact, mean to ask that question and noted that just yesterday another Clinton supporter, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, said the "time to move on is probably at hand" if Clinton isn't successful in Texas and Ohio, he replied:

"We're not conceding that that's possible. I haven't heard that question posed by anyone at all, not even in an irresponsible way."

Prior to our brief elevator encounter, Rangel, a Clinton superdelegate who recently said he believes "the people," not the superdelegates, should determine the nominee, discussed the Democratic presidential race at length. He side-stepped a question about what Clinton has made in her campaign to date, saying:

"I can't see where she has done anything wrong. When you are back-peddling because of the outstanding impression that your competitor has given, you are inclined to fight back sometimes with statements that sound mean-spirited and vindictive.

And therefore to the extent that this campaign of Sen. Obama has a life and a spirit of its own, I would say that there is a problem there.

But I don't think that anyone that's listened to the senator over the years would believe that the campaign didn't start off strong, or that she has made any mistakes. I think that the Clinton campaign had found the Obama campaign unexpected...and I really don't find that as a negative for the senator at all.

As a matter of fact I can't begin to tell you how proud I am as a Democrat that we are bringing this type of challenge to the Republicans."

Later Rangel went even further, saying he thanks God there is a Republican who can "stand up like McCain," adding: "Because I was embarrassed as a politician with what the Republicans were bringing up."

Sorry to copy the entire article, but that interview must be told in its entirety. The decent man from Harlem has been a true friend to the progressive cause over the years but he has genuinely been sick since deciding to support the Senator from New York. My sympathies are extended to his family, especially his wife, who thankfully remains unaffected.

The Blatherings Of Charlie Rangel

Harlem's distinguished Congressman Charlie Rangel talked to WNBC today and oh boy, that Clinton endorsement has started to do strange things to his head. Rangel has been in politics for a long time and has definitely done a lot of good things, but his assessment of the intracacies of the Democratic primary is just a little bit off.

From The Daily Politics:

Rep. Charlie Rangel, a key and outspoken Hillary Clinton supporter, chatted with WNBC's Gabe Pressman today and lamented the attacks that occurred during last night's Democratic debate, saying there's "no question" that both Clinton and Barack Obama "have done themselves damage in the November election."

"The Republicans are just listening to these personal attacks," Rangel said. "And quite frankly, Gabe, the sad thing is that this stuff really works, but it turns off voters, but it increases the number of voters for the person making the personal attacks I hope for the good of America, the Democratic Party, and certainly November, that they try to stick with the issues, and that is what's going to make a more prosperous, a more secure America."

Rangel went on to insist that the Republicans are no better, and the Democrats can only benefit in the eyes of the voters by keeping their cool.

"We can't have this being turned into a food fight between two outstanding candidates," the Congressman said. "And poor Edwards is just on the side as a spectator rather than a participator. He has no clue about what's going on."

Rangel predicted Clinton and John McCain will still be standing after Super Duper Tuesday.

Well gee thanks Charlie. I know you support Hillary and all that, but come on, open your eyes. Edwards is hardly a spectator. His bold progressive stances have helped shape the debate that Americans (at least Democratic primary voters) want to hear about. They don't want the fighting like you say, they want to hear what John Edwards has to say and sometimes Hillary and Barack get that and touch on subjects like helping the Middle Class and fixing the health care system along with the rampant poverty that grows like a cancer across our country.

So Edwards is a shifter of the message and debate if anything. He may have not won a caucus or primary, but he has certainly done a lot for this race for the Democratic nomination.

Charlie Rangel Slams George Tenet

Congressman Charlie Rangel called out the obvious on George Tenet yesterday with Bob Schieffer. He said the former CIA chief has no credibility and should be investigated. I couldn't agree more. Tenet takes no responsibility for his actions in the book, and the stuff he does mention about the Bush Administration.....why the hell didn't he say something before we went into Iraq? That makes him complicit with George Bush and Dick Cheney et al. crime of starting an illegal war. So go get em' Charlie!

From RawStory:

On CBS' Face The Nation Sunday morning, after a discussion of the impasse between the Democratic controlled Congress and president over the war funding bill, host Bob Schieffer asked the House Ways and Means Committee chairman if he could "switch to George Tenet, the former CIA director whose book came out this week."

"Sometime back, he got the Medal of Freedom," Schieffer continued. "I believe you were quoted somewhere along the way as saying that rather than the Medal of Freedom, he should be looked at by the Justice Department. What do you think about these allegations that he's making now that he was misunderstood when he said it was a slam dunk, that the administration had already made up its mind to go to war? Does he have credibility with you, Mr. Chairman?"

"No," Rangel responded, "I don't think he has credibility with anyone in the United States."

Rangel continued, "For him to have had the information that he had and to tell the president that it was a slam dunk. For the president to mislead the people in the United States in believing that there was weapons of mass destruction, that Saddam Hussein was involved in the attack in 9/11, that he was part of al Qaeda. And for him to have done what he did to my friend, Colin Powell, to have him sitting in the United Nations proclaiming the connection between the two, knowing in his heart that the evidence did not go in that direction. And to accept a medal and then to put out a book -- God knows what he got in terms of an advance -- to me, this warrants an investigation."

If you know that a murder is going to take place and you do nothing to stop it, you are essentially an accessory to murder. If you know that a disastrous war is about to take place, costing thousands upon thousands of lives and the pretenses for it are blatantly false....well then you are guilty of a lot more than just one murder.

As Rangel calls for an investigation, Congressman Henry Waxman has already invited the ex-CIA chief over to the Hill to appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government reform later this week. As Tenet sells books and makes his trip around the country promoting it, it is more than fair for him to pay a visit to Congress and answer a few important questions.