Rangel says he's ready to fight ethics charges

[Botany]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — Rep. Charles Rangel, who has spent half of his 80 years as a member of Congress, says he looks forward to fighting ethics charges.
Other Democrats won't be so pleased.

snip

The ethics trial sought by the New York congressman and former Ways and Means Committee chairman will coincide with campaign season. Democrats
will have to defend their party's conduct. If enough of them lose, the party could cede control of the House.

snip

It was disclosed Thursday that Rangel is being charged with multiple ethics violations. The ethics committee won't reveal the specific charges until next Thursday
at a public meeting. However, several persons familiar with the allegations, who were not authorized to discuss them publicly, said some of the charges against
Rangel, who has spent 40 years in Congress, were related to:

_Rangel's use of official stationery to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York.

_His use of four rent-subsidized apartment units in New York City. The city's rent stabilization program is supposed to apply to one's primary residence. One had
been used as a campaign office, raising a separate question of whether the rent break was an improper gift.

_Rangel's failure to report income as required on his annual financial disclosure forms. The committee had investigated his failure to report income from the lawmaker's
rental unit at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. Rangel also belatedly disclosed hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment assets.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guL87z4PHsrubvj02ZL9F_bAKF2wD9H4OHLG0

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I hope there is no rush to judgement on these charges but if Charlie is found guilty I hope he steps down ASAP ..... the media will be running
a "corrupt dems" meme 24/7 right up to the election.

BTW Stationery? Please ..... that charge needs to be dropped

[davidinalameda]

1. maybe he'll resign from congress to fight them

one can only hope

[Lightning Count]

2. Cue the culture of corruption ads.

Dagnabbit!

[Historic NY]

3. He needs to step aside.

[Jennicut]

4. Rangel is corrupt and has been for years.

He should resign. It is a very Dem district that he represents so we should keep the seat.

[pattmarty]

8. Yeah, it's Adam Clayton Powell's district. And he was crucified...........

.......for relatively minor shit, if you remember. Should Vitter have resigned? What about that shitbag Ensign?

[No Elephants]

11. Ensign should have resigned. Not so sure about Vitter. Should Bubba have resigned?

I think the test has to be whether something is job related? Or, just leave everything to the voters.

[pattmarty]

13. I agree with your basic premise, but when basically your whole.........

.........political "bag" is family values, religion and not believing in science I think IT DOES matter. I never really liked Clinton, BUT he should have never been impeached for lying about a BJ. "Most" Dems are not that sexually repressed (or beholding to sexually repressed ass holes) that they spout that family values crap. I mean if you held office as a Dem Rep for instance, it would embarrass you and MIGHT even lose an election for you, but a conservative it would fucking DESTROY. The sexual "thing" is one of the major things we are different from the conservatives. Another, it the difference we think about the family values thing. The conservatives try to work on a lot of peoples religious beliefs and twist them to fit their narrative. Liberals "family values" consist of making sure that you can get a decent paying (and benefits) job to support yourself and pay your bills and as I like to say, "have a couple of bucks left over". I'm rambling so I'll leave it at that. VIVA PROP 19, hope it fucking passes..............

[Ticonderoga]

14. In my opinion,

Yes, Yes, and yes.

[Historic NY]

5. His big birthday gala bash, funder raiser is coming up...its ...

supposed to be the Dem event of the season. I'd rather think this should be low key cup cake event.

http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/paterson-emcee-rangels-birthday-bash

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. It does not appear he wants to step down

Even if formally "acquitted" or whatever the outcome may be, the fact he is under this cloud will be used to beat the party to death. So he's hurting the party.

But he is entitled to due process and a presumption of innocence.

However, that being said, if he is guilty the sooner he steps down the better *especially* if the findings can come down close to the election. The nightmare scenario is a (R) gaining notoriety with a new (D) suddenly having to step in virtually unknown. And if old machine politics pick that (D) he may be worse than Mr. Rangel.

Is it too much to pray for Mr. Rangel being innocent?

[pattmarty]

7. I always have liked Rangel. He is one of the "good guys". If he is...........

..........guilty of anything they will be "minor" shit that he should have known better to fuck with. I AM NOT saying he shouldn't be investigated, but my guess is the "violations" will be pretty minor compared to the child molesting, wife beating, diaper wearing shit the Republicans are caught doing.

[No Elephants]

10. I enjoy Rangel, and his infractions are minor as compared with

de-regulation, letting financial institutions get too big to fail, etc. But, he's lined his pockets and without legally required disclosure. Not sure why seeing a prostitute is so much worse, even if wearing diapers is your fetish.

Like a bj in the Oval Office, wearing a diaper with a whore is not job-related for someone in Congress. Corruption is.

Have you seen photos of the interior of the several rent controlled apartments he's joined together?

I'll miss Charlie's speeches and interviews, but I think he should go--along with all others who engage in similar conduct.

[pattmarty]

12. Hey man, how ya doin'? I wasn't trying to equate the diaper and BJ shit..........

........and if he is found guilty of "major" shit I think he should go. He definitely (if found guilty of "minor" shit) should give up his chairmanship. But, like I said before, and it's just my personal (liberal) opinion, is he really is one of the "good guys". I know this may sound like some of that hero worship shit the RW'rs spout about their heroes, but we both know there IS a difference between a Bachmann or Steve King and Rangel. Kind of like apples and dog shit.

[No Elephants]

9. He should be ready. they've taken long enough.

[SoapBox]

15. He needs to go...

...he has had his time. It's time for a new generation
of Dems to step it up.

The RushTurds will harp, harp, harp on this and it will
not do Progressives any good.

[classysassy]

16. Why are the Democrats

selective when going after congressional crooks?