Posted on 10/30/2011 5:44:43 AM PDT by IbJensen
Censure by the House hasn't cramped his style one bit.
The last time I wrote about Charlie Rangel (D-NY), he was standing in the bowels of Congress shedding tears as Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) read House Resolution 1737, which resolved he be censured.
Censure was his penalty for cheating the U.S. tax code which, as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee — and prior to that, as the ranking minority member — he had helped write. From the wailing and gnashing of teeth taking place that day, one would have thought that Rangel was actually receiving a penalty commensurate with the crimes he had committed. In the end, the punishment for his crimes was to have a 91-word paragraph read to him, out loud, before the House of Representatives.
But alas, like every good politician, Charlie quickly recovered and was back in with the mainstream media and hobnobbing in elite public circles. Behind him were the concerns that an average person would have had if Congress found them guilty of hiding income and assets, among other crimes.
Today, Rangel is busy doing whatever it is he does in Congress: attacking Republicans, attending O’Jays concerts, and giving awards to Dionne Warwick. He is also receiving his own awards — not for being a truthful, honest, diligent representative of the people — but for his support of national parks. Rangel received the “Friends of the National Parks Award” from the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in mid-July.
On the surface, this may seem like no big deal, but I submit it is a darn big deal. Rangel has represented New York’s 15th Congressional District — which includes Harlem, Spanish Harlem, and Washington Heights — since 1971. He is the third longest serving congressman in the House, and yet today, to hear him and his constituency tell it, they’re no better off. They’re still plagued by racism, poverty, unemployment, poorly performing schools, drugs, and crime — every day.
So Rangel is getting an award from the NPCA, having been scored 91.63 percent for his national parks voting record in the 111th Congress.
Call me suspicious, call me jaded, but if I know that I’m going to receive $100 for walking home the same way every day, do you think I won’t walk that way unless I’m offered a greater incentive for walking another way?
The award was based on Rangel’s voting record on one dozen national park-related bills, with awardees voting “correctly” on at least seven of them. Overall, the bills had to do with keeping firearms out of national parks, open space under the guise of land preservation, the cleaning of monuments, and an omnibus public land management act.
When he received the award, Rangel said: “I always thought children and their future were our country’s greatest treasures.” My understanding is he went to Congress to do what was best for the people, not what was best for those with deep pockets, who would restrict the use of public property.
Rangel also spoke of “teaching the American people the significance of our history.” Really? I thought the idea of teaching Americans the significance of “our history” was to do it in a truthful and accurate way. Not the distorted, revisionist rendering of history that leads to amyotrophy of the mind.
The question that begs an answer is this: When will the public realize that the Rangels of the political world are not in office to help the people as such, unless it doubly helps the politician? The Rangels of the political world are only there for ordinary people if it makes them look good and/or makes an opponent look bad.
The majority of people in Rangel’s district cannot begin to pay for the kinds of favors that lobbyists and special interest groups can. So it stands to reason that he would use his ill-gotten gains to wine and dine with those who visited his Caribbean resort home, or favor in other ways those who had the means to contribute to his Rangel Center.
Sadly, while Rangel basks in the light of his award – he speaks about how terrible Republicans and Tea Party people are for preventing Obama from creating jobs.
Why are his constituents scared? Cause ol’ Charlie tells ‘em government dependency, multiple-generation welfare recipients, baring children-out-of-wedlock and not raising that child is A-O.K.
For being independent, self-reliant, upward mobility seeking, striving to be a good spouse, parent and law abiding citizen is for chumps. Thee prime example is of course Mr. Teflon/AA/EEO himself.
What a crock of chit!
He should be doing 10-20!!
A selfish man like many that are parasites who feed off their own kind. A vicious cycle with a willing host.
Anyone else; ANYONE, would have been sentenced to at least 18 months in federal prison.
Like Randy Cunningham used to do.
What ever happened to Randy anyway, I haven't seen him around the beltway lately?
Sorry, the Honorable Mr. Cunningham is a rank amateur compared to Charlie Rangel. He could learn a lot from the Master Parasite.
Charlie Rangel did serve honorably in Korea. So don’t mock his “korea story.” You can mock his politcal positions or his corruption and even his constituents, but leave his military service out of it. Besides, to mock his service exposes your critique of the congressman to the charge of being mere political rhetoric.
Sorry, the Honorable Mr. Cunningham is a rank amateur compared to Charlie Rangel. He could learn a lot from the Master Parasite.
Cunningham became one of the most highly decorated U.S. Navy pilots in the Vietnam War. The first fighter ace of the war, he received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.
Some of us were around then and know his history, too. But my point was, Rangel is the Master Parasite.
Cunningham lacks the one thing Old Charlie has.
Old Charlie is black. It’s like a Teflon coating.
What whites view as criminal activity, blacks view as getting back at “the man.”
They will vote for Charlie because he has been successful at it. Instead of condemnation they all laugh because he got away with it. The more whites complain that Charlie got away the more likely blacks are to vote for him.
They show their spite by voting for Charlie, they will do the same for Obama in 2012.
I personally didn’t bring the leftist Rangle’s military service up for ridicule or otherwise,
Many of us served in Korea and were awarded medals for valor and I was one of them, but I didn’t use those medals and that record to get myself a lifetime job.
He is a cad, a rat and a card-carrying member of the Congressional Socialist Club, along with Maxine and host of other traitors. You can be a hero in the 1950’s and a RAT in 2011. I trod the straight and narrow and joined the Oath Takers. Charlie just utters oaths. If the breadth and depth of his treachery were know he’d be just another lying bum.
Gee, just like Jon Carry....
I spent some time in Bermuda some time ago doing some repair work. Rangel is a big hero in Bermuda. Spends a lot of time there. Does a lot of banking there. He was on the cover of the local newspaper at least twice. I asked my buddy what the connection was. “It’s the banks,” he said. “The banks here are like the Swiss banks used to be. If anyone could find a way to investigate Rangel’s bank accounts here there’d be an international sensation.”
Just a black Kapo for the Democrat party.
Charlie Rangel type Democrats are the BEST reason to vote Republican...
Charlie Rangel type Democrats are the BEST reason to vote Republican...
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.