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Republicans lost control of the Congress two years ago in part because of corruption. Some of their Members had to step aside because indictments hung over their heads. The Republicans years ago changed the rules governing their own Members. They ruled that anyone who was indicted had to step aside. The Democrats did not change their rules. The Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Representative Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), has been accused by the New York Times of paying below market rents on four New York apartments (while entitled to only one) and of failing to report income or pay federal taxes on a beachfront property. His attorney, Lanny Davis, says Rangel may owe $100,000 in back taxes. Roll Call said Rangel may have misstated the value of a condominium he sold in Florida. I can still see in my mind’s eye the clip from the inaugural speech of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). She said the veil of corruption would be lifted from the House of Representatives. It was dramatic and it was played over and over again. There is one problem. Representative Rangel remains Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Rangel had a couple of meetings with Pelosi and other Democratic leaders. Thus far they are standing behind Rangel. The charges keep piling up. The New York Post reports that Rangel, in contravention of House rules, is keeping a 1972 silver Mercedes in the House garage. Rules require a valid parking permit. Rangel has none. Rules require that a license plate be displayed. It has no plates. House rules forbid the space to be used for storage. Rangel has had the car there for years.
There is something a bit disconcerting about the chief tax-writer in the Congress who tells us he doesn’t understand the Tax Code. It is just too complex, Rangel tells us. There is hardly a taxpayer in the United States who itemizes who would disagree with that statement. The whole episode is cause enough for Pelosi to ask him to resign. She apparently won’t and Minority Leader John A. Boehner’s efforts to force the issue have failed. Can you imagine any of us telling the IRS that we may owe a tidy sum but we aren’t sure. If you or I used the excuses Rangel uses we would be headed for jail. If we said some folks on our tax team began to speak Spanish so we didn’t understand things so we zoned out. Or claiming we forgot. Or we have no idea. With Pelosi unwilling to move and Boehner stopped by his own party, it is up to Rangel himself to take the appropriate action.
For the good of the country, and to preserve the integrity of the House of Representatives which you profess to love so much, Mr. Rangel, step aside. If you are cleared you can return. But to remain Chairman under these circumstances does a disservice to your country, to the Congress and to you personally. Step aside now and let the chips fall where they may. If you don’t the Speaker in due course will be forced to remove you. If you wait to be forced out that will be your legacy. Don’t you wish for a better legacy than that?
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views of Accuracy in Media or its staff.
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3 Comments for The Rangel Example For All Taxpayers?
Ditto Mr Koppen.
Democrats are arrogant asses, but that do have rules. If a Republican does what they do – they must be removed BUT if a fellow Democrat does it – then by all means stay where you are and we will back you to the fullest.
They expect those to the right (their enemies) in Congress to obey the rules, and they expect most Americans to do so – though they make exceptions for really left leaners who are darlings to their corruptive ways – ala the two terrorist friends of Obama’s who should have been executed for their terrorism and their treason against the UNited States – but instead aided and abetted Obama’s rise and his running for President in the first place.
How true…Pelosi makes Newt Gingrich better than he actually was. Rules are rules, like it or not EVERYONE has to follow them and by not doing so should always have consequences.
You can take the man out of the Ghetto, but you cannot take the Ghetto out of the man. Rangle is and has always been in everything he does for his own gain, and nothing more.
As for the William Ayres, I don’t know how he managed to stay out of prison, but it would not have mattered, Clinton pardoned Dorhn anyway.
Mr. Weyrich, your last paragraph is a real side-splitter!
Surely you aren’t naive enough to believe that any of the things you propose would be considered by Rangel, much less acted upon.
The Democrats are pompus, arrogant tyrants who think only of themselves, and so far as they’re concerned, the rest of the country and taxpayers who elected them can go to hell!