If the Democratic leadership of the U.S. House is still serious about championing ethics, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., must be replaced as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, at least temporarily. Even if Rangel’s self-requested ethics probes end up finding no wrongdoing, the state of the finances of the House’s top tax writer are shocking. Among the reported problems: Failing to disclose and pay taxes on $75,000 in rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic he purchased with a no-interest loan from the developer. Renting three New York apartments at below-market rates, and using one for political activity. Undervaluing of a condo near Miami. Failing to properly report many privately sponsored trips.
Rangel’s hiring of a forensic accounting expert and acknowledgment that he “owed my colleagues and the public adherence to a higher standard of care” are insufficient.
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39 Comments
He should resign or get booted if the charges are correct.
replaced?
Heck, he should resign his seat! Why, this is much worse than playing footsie in the mens room.
But then again, this is a democrat.
Or, he could go the palin route, scream partisan attack, and refuse to cooperate.
Just more dispicable conduct by the party which holds the reigns of government.
Keep it up – I recall dems using conduct in the mid-term elections. Worked for them.
Agreed – he should step down. However AmWay, he is not in “the party which holds the reigns of government.”
OK, I suppose some would say the executive branch has more power than the legislative and the courts.
Just more dispicable conduct by the party which holds the reigns of congress.
Seems to me it’s politics as usual and it happens in both parties.
Are there ethics investigations going on in Alaska? Is the person being investigated stepping down from the office they currently hold? Is the same person also now on the McCain ticket for national office? Before she got on that McCain ticket was she welcoming the investigation, cooperating completely? In fact, didn’t she also invite the investigation? And now, when nothing about the investigation has changed she won’t cooperate?
Seems to me it’s politics as usual and it happens in both parties.
Linda
The guy in Alaska, actually TWO guys, DESERVED to be fired.
What is the purpose of being the “boss” if you can not fire people?
How can you “clean house” after an election, if you can not fire anyone?
How can you be “held accountable” as an executive, if you can not hire and fire your staff?
He can resign in disgrace as soon as Sarah Palin does . . .
He should resign or get booted if the charges are correct.
Exsctly correct. Because he’s in charge of writing tax laws, tax evasion presents an obvious conflict with such duties. But he, like Sarah Palin or any other politician, deserves due process (but note that I simply said “due process”–I would object to his selection as a vice-presidential candidate under such circumstances, as few positions must be more free of even the appearance of impropriety).
I would note a qualitative difference, though: the disingenuous spin of some people notwithstanding, Palin is accused of official misconduct directly related to her job. Not so with Rangel.
R’s don’t know what to think, they thought like them, we would automatically try and defend the accused.
Palin’s life’s an open book, which is why she doesn’t take questions, and refuses to cooperate with the authorities.
Ares supoenas optional? I know they are if you work for the bush admin., but does that apply to state officials as well? Watch Palin try and claim executive privelege to keep her hubby from going.
“shocking!”
thow anotha brotha under da bus……
hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
poor charlie, not only did he no KNOW how many houses he had, he didn’t know he had to pay his taxes….
no interest loans?? (sounds like he may have the same realtor the One has….)
was charlie a “community organizer?”
BIG mistake charlie….
thow anotha brotha under da bus……
Wow, racist and inaccurate! But it guess it follows that showing any respect for the rule of law is throwing someone under the bus, at least when it’s somebody on “our side.”
Politics about principle: the modern Republicans on display.
/sarcasmOFF
What is it about being the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (more particularly, a Democratic Chairman) that causes a lack of good judgment, and if the allegations are true, potential ethical and legal lapses?
At least Wilbur Mills didn’t, to my knowledge, get into trouble in income tax matters; just a stripper…
BTW, I agree Rep. Rangel should step down as Chairman. I’ve a feeling, just as in the case of the late Congressman Mills, that his constituents will reelect him this November.
AV – I think the temptations just might be too great – especially for someone who has been in DC too long and has Potomac Fever.
Has he been convicted? whatever happened to “innocent until proven guilty”? Both sides seem ready to condemn anyone (on the ‘other’ side) who has been charged with anything–regardless of determination of innocence or guilt. Does partisan politics transcend our Constitution?
ahhhh…poor grammar. correction:
DO partisan politics transcend our Constitution?”
Both sides seem ready to condemn anyone (on the ‘other’ side) who has been charged with anything–regardless of determination of innocence or guilt.
Obviously, you didn’t read any of the comments before posting.
P.S. I do however, agree with that’s a bad trend.
Good question, I don’t have an answer. I wouldn’t have thought so before the bush administration. Seems some are above the law of the land. Guess some can ignore subpoenas. Others get to decide when the law applies to them and when it doesn’t.
Seems some are above the law of the land. Guess some can ignore subpoenas. Others get to decide when the law applies to them and when it doesn’t.
———-
It has always been that way….Yes, even before Bush. To think otherwise is foolish.
Step down and resign would be a good idea. At 78, Charlie has nothing else to prove.
Both sides seem ready to condemn anyone (on the ‘other’ side) who has been charged with anything–regardless of determination of innocence or guilt.
……………….
Raptor
Posted September 16, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Permalink
ahhhh…poor grammar. correction:
DO partisan politics transcend our Constitution?”
………………..
Rags
Posted September 16, 2008 at 3:47 pm | Permalink
P.S. I do however, agree with that’s a bad trend.
——————————
It’s Pelosi that is forcing him out. nits
You DO know that Pelosi is a democrap right?
Which ethics investigation (of the two brought up in this thread) will get the most attention?
Bet Alaskan politicians wish they could go back to the days of fewer paying attention. The eyes of the world have been placed on the Alaska state legislators.
The guy in Alaska, actually TWO guys, DESERVED to be fired.
You have the transcript of the investigations into the first firing? Maybe the second one, too, I guess.
—-
And I agree with Phantom, Ben, etc. Rangel should step down.
Well if he is merely under investigation- does that mean Palin gets to lose her seats too since she is also under investigation?
Once the dems get full control, Bush will be indicted.
I agree, PMom.
It’s better to charge Bush after he’s out of office. Then he can’t pardon himself.
“Bush will be indicted”
Such is the idiocy of the loony left.
If he’s not indicted, he won’t be able to travel outside the US.
Like Pinochet, he’d be liable for a war crimes tribunal . . .
“he won’t be able to travel outside the US”
mots
He will never step aside…only Republican congressman are required to leave when they get caught doing something unethical! Also why has Rep Jefferson of New Orleans never gone to trial on his alleged bribery charges?
Oh, the poor, poor dimos. They just do not seem to know how to earn an honest days wages.
Now that we have Fannie and Freddie going under the stories come out about the big donations to the dimos and about the dimos that have made millions (although not qualified in their positions) as employees of them.
Poor, poor dimos. Sad to think they were not given the opportunity to work and make it on their own. Instead it all comes back to government being their sugar daddy. heh,heh,heh
“OK, I suppose some would say the executive branch has more power than the legislative and the courts.”
Ya THINK?
It appears that only the executive branch in Washington, and the governor’s office in Alaska, have the ability to ignore subpoenas with no consequences.
Sunflower, please explain how fannie and freddie have any explicit involvement in the current mortgage crisis, assuming you do understand the current mortgage crisis?
Political_mama
Posted September 16, 2008 at 5:54 pm | Permalink
“Once the dems get full control, Bush will be indicted.”
HAHAHAHAHAHA Never happen. Period. You know it, I know it. If you don;t know it you should.
Whether that is the way it should be is open for debate, but not by me. No time to get into that at this moment, but I” bet you a burger and a beer it never happens. You too capn