Posted on 11/20/2010 8:21:11 AM PST by Libloather
Rangel censure specter draws sadness, scorn in NY
By Beth Fouhy, Associated Press – Fri Nov 19, 8:30 pm ET
NEW YORK – The prospect of a public scolding in Washington for Rep. Charles Rangel over ethics violations has drawn both sadness and scorn in his Harlem neighborhood, where he was just re-elected with 81 percent of the vote and remains an icon to residents who say they'll be the ones to decide his political fate.
"Charles Rangel has done so much for this community in the Congress, I think he should go out when he damn well pleases," said Rachel Cummings, a 56-year-old substance abuse counselor. "He's not going to walk away with them saying, 'He's guilty of this, guilty of that.' Give him a break."
Thursday's 9-1 House ethics committee vote to recommend censure for the Democratic lawmaker came days after the same panel convicted him of 11 violations, including failure to pay taxes on rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic and operating four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem instead of just one. Censure is the most serious congressional discipline short of expulsion; the full House will probably vote on the recommendation sometime after Thanksgiving.
Rangel pleaded with the ethics panel to show him "fairness and mercy" and said he's not a crooked politician out for personal reward. While his House colleagues will determine his punishment, the prevailing sentiment back home is that any decision on Rangel's future in Congress ultimately rests with him and the voters.
**SNIP**
"When it was time for Powell to go, Harlem decided," Sharpton said. "If and when it's time for Charlie Rangel to go, we'll decide that. It won't be imposed by people outside the community."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
That's really not the way it works - but I'm sure it's taught in skools.
Rangel a sole man - Veep & Dem bigs hang him out to dry
Sorry, Charlie!
A day after suffering the humiliation of having the House ethics committee recommend he get a formal censure, Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel isn't getting any lifelines from the White House or from powerful Democratic allies.
With a House floor vote set to come up after Thanksgiving on censure, Vice President Joe Biden said the decision was "hard to argue against."
"He is a friend," Biden told CNN's Larry King. "I give you my word, I don't know the details, the charges, but when the ethics committee -- a bipartisan committee -- rules that he violated X number of rules of the House, then, you know, it's hard to argue against."
Ah, but will his constituents like him as well without a big committee chairmanship and access to pork?
“Rachel Cummings, a 56-year-old substance abuse counselor.”
Seems every “Substance abuse counselor” I’ve ever come across was once a serious substance abuser.
I wish we could hear just once exactly what these fools do FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. If they do so much and are respected so much for what they do for their constituents, why are their communities still in such wretched shape? Please - how about some specifics?
Sounds like she’s still hooked on “Hopium.”
Meanwhile, Wesley Snipes goes to prison for the same thing.
I really don't think that is a problem for Lord Rangle. The next time the Democrats take control of the House (and they will someday) he will be named Chairman of some powerful commitee.
That ‘representative of the people’gig is pretty nice work if you can get it.
“....Please - how about some specifics?”
I’ll bite ;)
From an article early last year sometime about something to do with voting for a black candidate somewhere someone said the truth “Ya don’t vote against blood”.
I’m quoting a source I don’t have available to link, sorry!
Going by memory here.
#8
Geez, the guy is 80 - also, it’s bad publicity to name a chairman who has been censured. Even the Dems have trouble with that.
The lawmakers are the lawbreakers. Wonderful examples. A sheeple would be in prison years ago.
So, the laws are: Whatever seems right to your community? So if law-abiding is not really your thing, then YOUR elected leaders don’t have to follow them because they are just imposed from the outside.
Oh, cool. I see now that the residents of his community also get to decide whether he has to pay taxes to the IRS. I think I’ll move to that community and follow their rules. Timmy Geitner lived there, too, did he not?
Some animals are better than others? Only the suckers who make the laws have to abide by them? And if you don’t like them, you don’t have to follow them?
Sweet re-make of reality.
Parasites
Hey Charlie, what Rangel does affects the entire country; not what you think is your wearing really thin specialness.
I too was saddened by his censure...sad that his rotten arse wasn’t kicked to the curb!
Sorry, meant to say Al.
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