Rangel in a sleaze squeeze

NY Post ^ | July 28, 2010 | GEOFF EARLE and CHARLES HURT

[Scanian]

WASHINGTON -- One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's top lieutenants demanded yesterday that Rep. Charles Rangel quickly settle the swirling ethics charges against him rather than face a trial tomorrow that could embarrass Democratic candidates across the country -- but the disgraced pol isn't going without a fight.

"I think it's best that he settle," Rep. George Miller, an influential California Democrat who helped engineer Pelosi's rise to power, told The Post.

"Because I just said so, that's why. That's my feeling," he added.

Amid mounting pressure on Rangel, Miller's blunt statement is the most direct message from any member of Pelosi's inner circle, and comes just a day after Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) -- another member of her leadership team -- met with Rangel to talk about the charges he's facing.

Van Hollen heads the campaign arm charged with getting enough House Democrats re-elected to keep their majority -- a task that grows harder as the Rangel affair draws voters' focus to scandal instead of the party's own agenda.

[Happy Rain]

Chuckie gots the OJ faith—thinks his race is gonna save his crooked arse.

It just might.

[XBob]

It’s amazing, this stuff about Wrangle has been known for literally years, yet the gutless republicans and democrats and propagandists (medica) have been too chicken to bring it out.

[XBob]

It’s amazing, this stuff about Wrangle has been known for literally years, yet the gutless republicans and democrats and propagandists (medica) have been too chicken to bring it out.

[kbennkc]

He's been probed for his corporate solicitations on behalf a center named after him at CCNY; having four rent-controlled apartments; failure to report $60,000 of income on required financial-disclosure reports; and skirting of income taxes on his villa in the Dominican Republic.

This can't be right. That's all they got on Charlie?

The first two are unconstitutional. Shaking down corporations heaven help the republic that's a new one? The third is now disclosed and amended, no actual tax evasion, no harm.

The rental income on his Villa ? Obviously malpractice on his accountant's part. Who has net income on such rentals after deducting the interest, expenses, damage, repairs, catastrophic losses, and charitable deductions for use by homeless native girls? Charlie ain't going no where. He will be getting more apologies than Mrs. Sherrod.

You got to get up earlier than that if you want to take down a Second Division guy.

[wmileo]

"I want what's the fair and right thing to do, and I have confidence in my lawyers and the lawyers of the Ethics Committee," Rangel said. "It's lawyer to lawyer," a Rangel aide confirmed. "

Whenever it is Congressional House Lawyer to Rangel Lawyer, that is when we can all smell the rotten fish.

Rangel always uses his Korean War Record as cover for his shenanigans. He is a human calamity.

At least Congressman(and Vietnam War hero) Duke Cunningham made no excuses for his behavior and went to jail like a man after his conviction!

[pepsionice]

It’s an interesting ending. There are eight folks on this judgement board...four Republican and four Democrat. Rangel wants a deal...but it has to have one of the Republicans agreeing to it. I can’t see that happening. So other than offering to resign...that might the only agreeable thing that all eight would readily accept.

I suspect he wants most of the charges tossed and he’ll just pay the fines. But that just won’t wash at this point.

My offer to the guy? Offer to represent the region you’ve been elected from but disqualified from voting for any piece of legislation for two years (it’d make you worthless but you could continue to collect a pay-check). Pelosi would have a heart-attack if this was the final result...but it’d make things interesting, and we’d still have Charley around.

[verga]

I hope the Fat arrogant B@$t@rd fights this tooth and nail, and he takes down the wicked witch of the west with him when all the facts come out.
Not the the Lame stream media will carry any of it.
Charlie Gibson didn’t “know” about ACORN, Bob Schieffer didn’t “know” about the new Black Panthers, and they did their best to keep it from the public.

[Ann Archy]

SETTLE????? He should be in PRISON like any regular person would be!!

[FES0844]

Is there no prosecutor to take him on?????
Corruption is rampant.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Feet first.
That’s the only way Charlie will leave.

[LibertyRocks]

I have a feeling Rangel will get an offer of a VERY sweet deal to just “go away” as quickly as possible. As a citizen, I would like to see this man tried for his criminal actions immediately.

As a Independent Conservative - and thinking about the impact of this scandal during an election season - I hope the man fights tooth and nail and that ALL the dirt on him has to be put into the media by the Dems to try to save face in this election year.

It would be a HUGE benefit for our side, IMHO, if Rangel’s ego prevents him from doing the “smart thing” — for himself AND the Dems. And hopefully he will push back hard enough that they have no choice but to arrest him just to get him to shut up.

FReeper kbennkc, said above, “That’s all they got on him?”

I don’t think I agree with that assessment. I’m sure they have PLENTY more evidence against him — we just haven’t heard about it... I believe that, depending upon how he reacts to Pelosi and gang’s pleas, we MIGHT see some more of the evidence against him. I’m just not looking forward to the fake “we’re stamping out corruption” speeches from the Dems if they have to take this to the media.

From the sounds of it — Rangel is a very strong-minded individual, and either he honestly doesn’t think he did anything wrong, or thinks he will somehow come out of this smelling like a rose (I wonder if he’ll use the race card - and when?). I think his ego is getting in the way of him correctly assessing the situation.

These people in Congress on “his” side of the aisle would have NO PROBLEM eating on of their own — as long as they see a positive coming out of it. With the election though they’d better move fast on this if the Dems want to get ANY traction for forcing him to resign. Otherwise, if this gets dragged out the scandal WILL be a very bad thing for the Dems.

All JMHO.

[dirtboy]

I’m convinced that what we see properly as corruption, Charlie sees as his entitlement, his just reward for his years of being a powerful Congresscritter. And that is why IMO he will fight this and drag it out, he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong.

[TexasM1A]

Shouldn’t the headline be “Rangel IS a sleaze queen”...

[Ax]

I had Brian Williams NBC news on last night (my wife’s choice) and I kept an ear cocked for any mention or Rangel’s case. Nary a word.

[kbennkc]

Rangel always uses his Korean War Record as cover for his shenanigans.

He is sly enough to always have a propaganda ministry media shill bring it up for him so he can just "aw shucks, never had a bad day".

Like almost all vets I am proud of my service and enjoy the bond with other vets, but any vet claiming a super citizen status is just a few shades this side of the stolen valor frauds.

When you do your duty, you are doing that which is owed. You can do no less, and still retain the honor you were born to.

Duke Cunningham

What a sad terrible disappointment that was.

[marstegreg]

The liberal media is going to have a hard time spinning this one!

[verga]

I had Brian Williams NBC news on last night (my wife’s choice) and I kept an ear cocked for any mention or Rangel’s case. Nary a word.

And your wife was just doing "opposition" research right?

[Ax]

Nope. She’s been an NBC aficionada since from way before we met (we were both widowed). I think she sticks with NBC just to neutralize my constant watching of FOX.