Am I supposed to feel bad for this slug? I don't think so...
Posted on 10/14/2009 4:25:28 PM PDT by Libloather
Rangel probe taking its toll
By GLENN THRUSH | 10/14/09 4:57 AM EDT
For years, Charles Rangel has been a visible, vital presence in the Capitol, bantering with reporters or booming gravelly-voiced greetings to well-wishers who yell “Charlie!” at him in the Rotunda.
But last week — just before the Republicans’ third attempt to punish Rangel — the Harlem Democrat appeared visibly tired and thinner than usual, and he barely spoke above a whisper when a reporter approached to ask a question.
The strains of the ongoing House ethics committee probe into Rangel’s finances — coupled with escalating attacks by the GOP — are wearing on the 79-year-old Korean War hero, people close to him say.
And some of Rangel’s friends and colleagues are starting to worry.
“I have commented to a lot of people — and a lot of people have commented to me — that this is finally starting to get to Charlie,” said New York Rep. Peter King, one of a handful of Republicans to vote against his party in a series of anti-Rangel resolutions this year.
People close to Rangel say he’s in good physical condition and has no intention of stepping aside. And they emphasize that he believes he will be exonerated of any criminal or ethical wrongdoing when the committee releases its report.
A Rangel spokesman wouldn’t comment, other than to say his boss is in good spirits and focused on health care reform.
But Rangel’s friends and associates say he’s frustrated and disappointed with his current predicament and had hoped that he would finish his career on a high note, shepherding through health care reform and other measures on behalf of the first black president.
“It’s nothing that he says or does, but he has a certain look in his eyes,” said a Rangel confidant, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“He seemed to be sailing through it until a few weeks ago,” said a prominent New York Democrat. “But I think it’s catching up with him.”
Last week, Democrats shot down the latest GOP attempt to sanction Rangel, a resolution to strip him of his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, on a 246-153 procedural vote.
House Republicans — even those who have enjoyed a good personal relationship with Rangel over the years — feel they have hit political pay dirt, leveraging his woes to accuse House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of reneging on promises to “drain the swamp” of congressional corruption.
“When the boss of the [Internal Revenue Service] and the chairman of the House committee that controls the IRS fail to pay their taxes and walk off without penalty, we have made a mockery of our tax system and the rule of law itself,” said Texas Republican Rep. John Carter, who sponsored the resolution. “Either this House repairs this damage or the American people will have to replace this House.”
Democrats say it’s premature to do anything about Rangel until the ethics committee completes its probe, which began — at Rangel’s request — on Sept. 24, 2008. The inquiry is reportedly focused on allegations that the chairman misused congressional letterhead to solicit contributions to an institute named in his honor and that he failed to disclose income from rental properties.
So far, Pelosi and the House leadership have stood by Rangel.
Bill Lynch, a former New York City deputy mayor and one of Rangel’s closest political advisers, denies that Rangel is wilting under the pressure —and thinks some of the speculation about his well-being has been fueled by recent voluntary weight loss.
“A lot of this is coming from the fact that he’s lost some weight,” Lynch told POLITICO. “But he’s been trying to lose weight and has been for years. I mean, years ago, we both did Pritikin together.”
And King, who considers himself to be a friend of the chairman’s, says anyone — “including someone who isn’t 79” — would be enervated by the barrage of bad publicity.
“You can see it’s wearing him down a bit, in his shoulders; they are a bit more stooped,” says King. “It bothers me. ... This is a guy who is so proud of his district, was a real hero in Korea, who has really accomplished things. It would get to anybody.”
Practicing for prison while at home?
He should have been in prison years ago!
Either way it's past time for him to leave office.
But remember Rangel earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the Korean War. I will snap to the day they play taps for the old dirt ball.
He needn’t worry. Charlie can always abscond to Dodd’s hideaway in Ireland.
Maybe he’ll do us a big favor and resign.....
Duke Cunningham (sp) went to jail. And he was a top gun.
Had to take off his money belt. It was wearing him down.
I can lose weight if I cheat on my taxes????? Hmmmmmmmm.....thinking about it.
But like Bill “bent one “ Clintoon, the scumbag democrat will get away with his crimes. If there is a God, both will suffer for their sins and lies.
Isn't that special?! /s
Aids?
Probably too much of the grape as usual, Michelle are you watching
Am I supposed to feel bad for this slug? I don't think so...
Things that make you wanna go “Blechhhhh”
Does Dodd have a villa in Ireland? Where?
True....there are so many scumbag criminal democrats, though, that the prisons couldn’t hold them all.
If the MSM would do their job, they would have all been in jail. The heads of MSM should also be in jail for the Goebbels’ propaganda and fraud they have allowed over the decades.
Would you have "snapped to" at the playing of Taps for Benedict Arnold?
His leg wound at Saratoga certainly would have qualified him for a Purple Heart, and his other services, up to a point, were at least at the Bronze Star level.
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