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twa
July-22nd-2010, 10:24 PM
About time

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38367462/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

The investigation of Rangel has focused on:

* His use of official stationery to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York.
* Whether he had the Ways and Means Committee consider legislation that would benefit donors to the Rangel Center at the same time the congressman solicited donations or pledges.
* Preservation of a tax shelter for an oil drilling company, Nabors Industries, which has a chief executive who donated money to the center while Rangel's committee considered the loophole legislation.
* Use of four rent-controlled apartment units in New York City, when the city's rent stabilization program is supposed to apply to one's primary residence. This raises the question of how all the units could be primary residences. One was a campaign office, raising the separate question of whether the rent break was an improper gift.
* Whether Rangel, as required, publicly reported information on the financing and rental of his ownership interest in a unit within the Punta Cana Yacht Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Rangel also had to pay back taxes on the rental income.
* Whether he intentionally failed to report — when required — hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in assets. The amended disclosure reports added a credit union IRA, mutual fund accounts and stock.

Priceless Rangel:pfft:

Russert: "Are you worried about losing your job?"

Rangel: "What are you talking about? Are you just trying to make copy? What job? The one I got?"

Russert: "Yeah, these are potentially very serious violations."

Rangel: "How do you think I got my job? I was elected. How do you think I lose it?"

Russert: "There are two ways, you can lose it if your colleagues voted you out of here because of ethics violations or if your constituents don't support you."

Rangel: "What station are you from?"

Russert: "NBC, MSNBC."

Rangel: "Well you're young, I guess you do need to make a name for yourself, basically you know it's a dumb question."

Russert: "How is it a dumb question?"

Rangel: "It's allegations made by some people."

Russert: "Sir, you did not file taxes on your properties in the Dominican allegedly, if that comes to be true, is that not a problem?"

Rangel: "It doesn't really sound like NBC asking these dumb questions. It just shows what happened to a channel that did have some respect."

sacase
July-22nd-2010, 10:29 PM
Maybe it is the old age creeping in...lol

Teller
July-22nd-2010, 11:02 PM
Damnit. I hope the one person in Washington who I can imitate perfectly doesn't lose his job. :ols:

Burgold
July-23rd-2010, 06:07 AM
I agree with the opening sentiment. It's past time we got to the bottom of this. If found guilty, he needs to be not only booted from Congress, but into a jail cell.

dockeryfan
July-23rd-2010, 06:19 AM
This isn't new obviously. Russert hasn't figured out how to interview someone from beyond. Rangle thinks he is above the law.

dockeryfan
July-23rd-2010, 06:20 AM
Anyone a fan of the wire? Clay Davis?

Sheeeeet.

Thiebear
July-23rd-2010, 06:22 AM
I got excited last October as this is my Pet Peeve of Congress/Administration:



House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July.

Washington Post: 10/2009
Apparently a low level staffer working from home accidently shared a 22page doc on people being investigated. Good to see that finally finished 1 of them.

THEREALTOR1
July-23rd-2010, 07:11 AM
This isn't new obviously. Russert hasn't figured out how to interview someone from beyond. Rangle thinks he is above the law.

I believe that was his son conducting the interview.

Bang
July-23rd-2010, 07:39 AM
"Russert: "Sir, you did not file taxes on your properties in the Dominican allegedly, if that comes to be true, is that not a problem?"

Rangel: "It doesn't really sound like NBC asking these dumb questions. It just shows what happened to a channel that did have some respect."


Play ball,, ah say play BALL boy!

Poster child for the old way. Make an example of him if they really want to show me change I can believe in.


~Bang

wshngtn1
July-23rd-2010, 08:13 AM
Call him on his cell phone and fire him! Then when the truth comes out apologize to him in public, have Obama call him and apologize and then offer him a better job!!! That's how we roll!

Duckus
July-23rd-2010, 08:41 AM
About time

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38367462/ns/politics-capitol_hill/



If ethics violations were grounds for being thrown out of office, downtown Austin would be empty. :silly:

ACW
July-23rd-2010, 09:01 AM
Congressional Ethics Committees=:ha:

brianm23
July-23rd-2010, 09:14 AM
Maybe if I stick my fingers in my ears and close my eyes, the question will go away.


nananananananannananan... not listening..... nanananananananannananan..... nope still not listening....... nananananananannanana...... is he gone yet .......nanananananananananan

twa
July-23rd-2010, 09:18 AM
If ethics violations were grounds for being thrown out of office, downtown Austin would be empty. :silly:

Would that be a bad thing? :)

dockeryfan
July-23rd-2010, 09:21 AM
I believe that was his son conducting the interview.

I didn't realize it was his son.

The story has been around for quite some time. I remember hearing a piece about it on NPR has to be a year ago. Maybe more.

Chachie
July-23rd-2010, 09:43 AM
I wonder who Rangel pissed off. These accusations sound like business as usual for all elected officials.

THEREALTOR1
July-23rd-2010, 10:04 AM
I didn't realize it was his son.


I don't believe Ol' Charlie did either :D

twa
July-23rd-2010, 10:11 AM
I wonder who Rangel pissed off. These accusations sound like business as usual for all elected officials.

Obviously Pelosi since she did not block/delay it longer it.

Certainly some of them are unfortunately business as usual,others are much more serious.

The only other congresscritter of his standing to go thru a similar situation went to prison, I believe
James Traficant
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/01/congress.traficant/

Thiebear
July-23rd-2010, 11:21 AM
fine and or reprimand at best coming his way.
This is why he doesn't care.

Predicto
July-23rd-2010, 11:26 AM
Now that Jefferson and Murtha are gone, the Democrats need someone to carry the "most corrupt Democrat in Congress" banner.

Looks like old Charlie is up to the task. :silly:

twa
July-23rd-2010, 10:00 PM
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/110691-exclusive-house-democrat-calls-on-rangel-to-resign

EXCLUSIVE: House Democrat calls on Rep. Charles Rangel to resign

In a major development, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) on Friday night called on beleaguered Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to resign.

Sutton's statement comes one day after the House ethics committee charged the 80-year-old Democrat with multiple violations.

In a statement to The Hill, Sutton stated, "It is regrettable, but Charlie Rangel needs to resign from his seat in Congress. This isn’t about being a Democrat or Republican, this is about preserving the public trust. Our nation is facing extraordinary challenges and we must be focused on building a sustainable economy that will allow our workers and businesses to flourish."

Sutton has built a reputation as a crusader for congressional ethics. In 2008, she led the fight to pass legislation creating the Office of Congressional Ethics, which now serves as an independent ethics body within the House of Representatives.

Dang women don't know their place anymore...Charlie:pfft:

Wrong Direction
July-23rd-2010, 10:31 PM
I wonder who Rangel pissed off. These accusations sound like business as usual for all elected officials.

A little birdie with knowledge of "stuff" told me that Stanford used to fly Rangel around to the islands all the time.

I have a feeling that Rangel is in deeper than has been made publicly available, and they'd rather he resign than have all of his dealings made public.

Just to clarify, I don't have direct knowledge of the situation, so I'm just passing along what I was told. I don't 100% know the details (e.g., whether he reported the Stanford trips on ethics/campaign finance forms), but I do trust the little birdie.

Predicto
July-23rd-2010, 10:48 PM
As much as I'd like to see it, I doubt he will go quietly. That's just not Charlie's style.

Madison Redskin
July-23rd-2010, 11:16 PM
The House is full of total losers, and Rangel is apparently one of them.

GhostofSparta
July-23rd-2010, 11:48 PM
As much as I'd like to see it, I doubt he will go quietly. That's just not Charlie's style.
After 40 years in the House? Yeah, a "quiet, diginified" exit isn't an option. Let's face it, you don't see too many "lifers" quietly stepping aside when trouble starts brewing, they think they can beat it. I'd be willing to bet Rangel thinks he has a chance to beat this.

Thanos
July-24th-2010, 12:36 AM
Rangel has been there entirely too long. He followed Adam Clayton Powell.