Posted on 09/10/2009 7:25:18 AM PDT by Libloather
Pelosi $pares Charlie: GOP
By DAPHNE RETTER, Post Correspondent
Last Updated: 5:05 AM, September 10, 2009
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Charles Rangel has donated more campaign cash to the House Democrats than virtually any other member of Congress -- and critics charge that's bought him protection from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Federal Election Commission reports show Rangel's campaign committee has forked over $2 million to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since 1995.
Only Pelosi (Calif.), Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (Maryland) and Democratic Whip James Clyburn (SC) have been more generous.
Rangel also has donated $3.8 million from his campaign and leadership committees to Democratic candidates directly since 1999, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
"Rangel's seven-figure contribution to the Democrats' campaign committee seems to be money well spent. It looks like it has earned Rangel Pelosi's unyielding loyalty," said National Republican Campaign Committee spokesman Tory Mazzola.
Rangel spokesman Emile Milne said, "Throughout his time in office, Congressman Rangel has worked tirelessly to elect and maintain Democratic majorities in Congress and will continue to do so. No one owes him anything, and he's happy and proud to support Democrats in Congress."
Rangel has defied calls from other politicians and more than a dozen newspaper editorial boards to step down from his post as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, considered one of the most powerful panels in Congress, since ethical charges against him began to stack up last summer.
Pelosi has also refused to publicly cross Rangel.
His money has helped the re-election efforts of 119 members currently serving in Congress and three members who sit on the ethics committee.
Republicans have twice forced votes related to Rangel's ethical problems, and sources say more such votes could come up before year's end. No Democrats have voted with those efforts.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Some call that bribery.
Not only that, but Pelosi is afraid to oust his from his chair seat because the Congressional Racist Caucus would mutiny.
Please let this be the arrest hinted at by GB...
But Charlie's the ranking guy on Ways and Means. That puts him in charge of the nation's purse strings. He's a cheat. He's just bought protection from the Speaker of the House. She's a crook. This is scandalous. Where's the outrage?
hinted at by GB....I think it’s about ACORN.
Gypses, Tramps & Thieves
That was my prayer, too.
Not many. I fully expect the perp walk to go unreported.
Charlie Must resign.
“Draining the Swamp” Ping!
Your editorial asserting that the House health-reform bill would somehow "prohibit the IRS from forgiving taxpayers who erred in good faith," is not only inflammatory, but inaccurate ("Fire Rangel," Sept. 2).
The bill contains good-government provisions to discourage taxpayers from engaging in abusive tax-shelter transactions. These provisions have passed both the House and Senate in the past, have enjoyed bipartisan support and were included in the president's budget.
Insinuating that I snuck anything into the bill is just plain wrong. These provisions were in the legislation considered by the committee on Ways and Means during a public markup, and materials describing them have been public for months.
HR 3200 does not unfairly punish taxpayers who have acted in good faith. HR 3200 would strengthen the penalties that apply to individuals and corporations that engage in abusive tax-shelter transactions. Individuals who make a mistake on their tax return or otherwise err in good faith would not be affected by these provisions.
Rep. Charles Rangel, Manhattan
Charlie, Resign!
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