Posted on 12/27/2005 7:31:22 AM PST by Liz
Rep. Charlie Rangel has taken more donations from American Indian tribes tied to sleazy lobbyist Jack Abramoff than almost any other Democrat in the House, finance reports show.
Rangel has taken $27,000 from the Mississippi Choctaws and another $9,000 from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in California since 1999. Both tribes are eager to cash in on casino gambling and are clients of the indicted Abramoff.
The tribes funneled $27,000 to Rangel's leadership PAC used to help elect other Democrats and routed another $9,000 directly to the Harlem Democrat's re-election campaign.
A study by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics found that 210 members of Congress have received campaign cash from Abramoff, his associates or his Indian-tribe clients.
But only 25 of those lawmakers received more than $21,500 20 Republicans and five Democrats, including Rangel. His $36,000 ranked him third-highest among House Democrats.
Abramoff, who donated his own cash only to Republicans, has been charged with fraud in Florida and is being probed by the feds for allegedly greasing the palms of pols and bilking his clients. He is mulling a deal to plead guilty in the federal influence-peddling probe.
Rangel is the top Democrat on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees all tax-related issues a key interest for Indian casinos and businesses..........he has no intention of returning the contributions. "If I thought for one minute any money was from Abramoff, I wouldn't hesitate to return it," Rangel said....... "I don't know Abramoff," and said he's never taken a dime from the disgraced GOP lobbyist.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
His wampum? I thought it was another BJ scandal.
That creep will wiggle out of this one.
Has Rangel ever given one penny back to anyone?
ROTFL......good one.
Probably not.
This is the Democrat SLEAZE Factor, continuing from the CLINTONS >
Geez, to hear Demo spin people only Republicans are corrupt. LOL!
They should get rid of all 20 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Then they should find out who Soros and his ilk gave money to and get rid of all of them, too.
Maybe Charlie will clear his voice before he makes excuses this time.
Best idea of the day.
Only thing Dims are good at.
Democrats just don't get humiliated or punished for anything. I will be suprised if he even gets a slap on the wrist...
Rangel is a lying piece of Marxist/Socialist/Communist crap.
Hard to throw stones...
That voice is his way of trying to sound pathetic and downtrodden. Just ignore the $5000 suits and diamond stickpins.
American Indian tribes, Money
Isn't Rangel a Democrat?
Ah yes, McLaim's Campaign Reform has really taken the money out of politics!!What a crock!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.