Chastened Rangel Backtracks on Anti-Troop Comments

Newsmax.com ^ | 3-28-2003 | Carl Limbacher

[Paul Atreides]

Engulfed by a firestorm of outrage over his comments suggesting that U.S. troops were deliberately killing women and children in Iraq, Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-NY, said Friday that he should have been more careful with his words.

"There is no question that if I had a chance to reword that, that I would have done a much better job," the embattled Democrat told nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity.

Appearing Thursday night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," Rangel had complained, "I just don't believe that you bomb women and children in order to enforce [the U.N. resolution on Iraq]."

When challenged on his claim that U.S. forces were killing Iraqi civilians, Rangel responded sarcastically, "You're right. They're shooting themselves. They just don't know they're being liberated."

Although the mainstream press ignored Rangel's outburst, NewsMax.com's initial report on the episode along with viewers' reactions to his remarks ricocheted throughout the Internet. By Friday morning the Harlem Democrat's diatribe was topic number one on talk radio.

The nation's top radio talker Rush Limbaugh began his show excoriating Rangel, calling his comments "undiluted, pure, 100 percent, thoroughbred hatred from the Democrat who would be Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee if the Democrats were in charge." He then replayed extensive audioclips from Rangel's Fox News Channel appearance.

Hours later a chastened Rangel appeared on Hannity's radio show in a bid to clarify his statement. Under intense questioning the top House Democrat was combative at first, maintaining for 15 minutes that his words were being distorted. But then he finally relented.

"I have no argument with your statement that our men and women that are in combat put themselves more in harms way by the precautions they are taking to avoid the injury to innocent people, innocent civilians and women," he told Hannity. "There is no question in my mind that I did not say nor did I mean that the injury of the women and children was deliberate."

The antiwar congressman then attempted to revise his words:

"What I wish I had said is that I am against the war, that the war is because of the violation of the United Nations resolution, [and] that I wish that we allowed the United Nations to enforce the breach of that resolution. As a result we didn't do it, we are in war, it means combat, it means collateral damage.

"And as a result of that, the pain is not only the pain that our men and women are facing. But they are [sic] the pain of innocent people, that although not deliberate, bombs fall on them. Many times it's the bombs of the Iraqis that fall on them as they're shooting at our planes."

[Paul Atreides]

Thank God for talk radio!! I shudder to think what that evil scum would get away with if we didn't have it.

[samtheman]

The mainstream media's suppression of this story is a criminal act.

[Feckless]

Another scumbag who's glad he's not subject to Texas Common Law.

[Bernard]

Where's the apology? All I saw was that he was sorry he got caught. He should volunteer for human shield duty.

[Paul Atreides]

Were that his accusations true, we should slap a wig and dress on Rangel, put Daschle in a baby carriage, and drop the two off in the desert and let our troops have at them.

[TommyDale]

His words were no different than screaming "Fire!" in a theater. He is attempting to incite hatred and violence within the United States, and should be tried as a common criminal. Freedom of speech is guaranteed in this country, but Rangel is over the line, being treasonous. Why does the American public allow this?

[ClancyJ]

Rangel proved beyond doubt that he does not have the necessary qualities for president.

In fact, he has more of the qualities of traitor.

[South Dakota]

I listened to strangle rangal trying to worm his way out of reponsibility for his words.

First he tried to say they were misconstrued, then he tried to blame Sean.

Finally he had to admit that it was a poor choice of words that he used.

SCUMBAG

[shadeaud]

Trent Lott makes a comment that was taken to imply racism ( interpretation) and was forced out of his position. This maggot claims definitivey that our military is bombing innocent civilians and what happens? Nada. I think he should do more than just say he mis spoke. I say he should resign from the house, return his Bronze Star( still don't believe he did what he claims to have done in Korea) and repent for his anti-Americanism

[Mister Baredog]

Why does the American public allow this?

Rangel is the congressman from Harlem and has been in office a long time. I can't even imagine if he were the chairman of House Ways and Means(tax writing committee). He will not be replaced in congress until after his funeral, after which they will elect an annointed replacement.

[TommyDale]

Come to think of it, I am not aware of any blacks (with the exception of those in the Bush Administration) who are not opposed to the Iraq action.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Rangel needs a size 11 cowboy boot right up his a**. What a first class jerk !

[pcgTheDestroyer]

JC Watts (of course, intelligent THINKING man that he is...)

[Clara Lou]

Charlie Rangel is a liar. He said what he said very forcefully on the show, and then, when Hannity took issue with him, Rangel repeated himself in the same terms, also very forcefully. I'd have to work very hard to overcome the urge to expectorate on Charlie Rangel if he came within range. It's good that Texas and NY are so far apart.

[IronJack]

There is no backtracking! This punk MUST be held accountable. The time to think about what you're saying is BEFORE you say it; that is especially true if you're in a position of influence or power. We didn't buy it from the Dixie Chunk, and we're not buying it from Rangel.

Let there be a Day of Reckoning for these loudmouths!!!

[Quix]

I AGREE.

Part of me thinks he's still getting away with too much.

He hasn't changed his convictions. He'd still sell the USA down the river for a few popularity points or added power mongering.

Scum is too lofty a label for him.

[alloysteel]

There is nothing like a good fetch upside the head to clarify one's thinking. Unfortunately, the feeble response of the mainstream press to Charlie's outrageous assertions did not succeed in delivering a sufficiently effect reminder that this sort of muddied reasoning and poor selection of words should not be tolerated. Charlie will be right back at it, tomorrow or the next day, delivering the word to the troops as to how to carry on a running fight with the Bush Administration, and being a voice for the frustrated minions of the liberal-lefty cohort that is united mainly in their hatred of George W. Bush. Nothing personal, you understand. This is just business.

[tsali1927]

Why was Charlie given a chance to revise his statement--- I believe he call for Trent Lott to resign when made a stupid statewment -- I don't remember Charlie R asking for a "revision" .

[Neenah]

Rangel needs a size 11 cowboy boot right up his a**.

...and a cough drop.

[Let's Roll]

And Sean did give him a chance to retract or modify. He wouldn't back down.