Rangel's dodge
OUR OPINION: Powerful chairman waited too long to step down
Rep. Charles Rangel of New York finally quit as chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee this week, but his resignation was neither
honorable nor graceful.
He was admonished by a congressional inquiry last month for violating
House gift rules by accepting free trips to the Caribbean from corporate
sponsors in 2007 and 2008. The report found that his staff tried on at
least three occasions to warn him that the trips had corporate sponsors,
yet he still claimed he didn't know.
The inquiry concluded that Mr. Rangel was responsible for the violation
because the actions of his staff are his reponsibility. Was Mr. Rangel
contrite? No way. First the New York Democrat crowed that the inquiry
cleared him. Then he had the nerve to blame his staff for getting him in
trouble.
What nonsense. Mr. Rangel should have owned up to his mistake
immediately instead of hiding behind the ``staff error'' dodge. This
newspaper first called on him to give up the gavel nearly 18 months ago,
when serious questions arose about possible tax violations. Those are
still pending, by the way.
Mr. Rangel stalled for as long as he could. What's worse, House
colleagues let him get away with it. He's become the Democratic Party's
poster boy for low ethical standards.
Even in resignation, Mr. Rangel refused to take responsibility. He said
he was quitting -- temporarily -- to avoid embarrassing fellow Democrats
in an election year. It's too late for that, Mr. Rangel. The damage is
done.
--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.
