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Obama hopes Rep. Rangel can leave "with dignity"
Rep. Charles Rangel (R) stands in front of the media after meeting of the Congessional Black Caucus with President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, March 11, 2010. From L-R are: Rep. Hank Johnson and Rangel.
Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama called ethics charges against Representative Charles Rangel "very troubling" on Friday and said he hoped the lawmaker could end his career "with dignity."
Democrats have urged the New York lawmaker, one of the most senior members of Congress and its former chief tax writer, to settle the charges to avoid a trial they fear could hurt them in congressional elections in November.
Obama's comments may be seen as indirect encouragement for Rangel to cut a deal or step down for the good of the Democratic Party. If he resigned, that would effectively end the congressional investigation.
"I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling," Obama said in an interview with CBS television.
"He is somebody who is at the end of his career, 80 years old. I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity, and my hope is that happens," Obama said.
Rangel faces 13 counts of violating House of Representatives ethics rules, including failure to report rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic and use of a rent-stabilized apartment for his campaign committee.
He stepped down in March as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee after an ethics panel, in a separate case, admonished him for corporate-sponsored trips in 2007 and 2008 in violation of House gifts rules.
Rangel reached a tentative plea agreement on ethics charges on Thursday, but Republicans may block the proposed deal and demand a trial.
Democrats won control of the House in 2006, promising to rid the chamber of corruption after a series of Republican ethical problems, including an influence-peddling scandal that resulted in prison time for a top Capitol Hill lobbyist.
Republicans have seized on the charges against Rangel as evidence that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats failed to follow through on their promise.
(Editing by Xavier Briand.)
The notion that any member of Congress is willing or able to put an end to corruption is laughable.
I don’t see any evidence at all that a single one of these monsters is clean in any way. Not one of them deserves our vote. NOT ONE.
Perhaps he should leave in handcuffs. Of course, followed by many other dems too numerous to name here.
Actually, perhaps Obama could leave “with dignity” as well. Ah heck, who cares how he leaves — just get him to leave!!!
corruption among politicians is a bipartisan problem, and anyone who tries to frame it as a republican issue or a democratic issue utterly lacks sincerity.
rangel should be forced to account to the american public; no politician that engages in corrupt dealings should be given any leniency.
I more often vote for Democrats, but the Republicans are right about the Democrats not living up to their promises regarding corruption in Congress.
To be fair, the Republicans weren’t any better about corruption when they were in power.
Rangel shouldn’t be allowed to leave with dignity. His misdeeds should be prosecuted vigorously. I have a hard time believing that voters would vote against a party that actually held their members accountable.
I would be more inclined to vote for Democrats if they actually proved to be serious about ethics/conflict of interest violations.
“Leaving with Dignity” is laughable. Rangel is as corrupt as most members by the criteria of normal citizens. Even if he had the good sense to resign, which he does not, he would receive the typical huge, excessive Congressional pension, which is only surpassed by the Golden Parachutes of big corporate officers.
How does a Congressman become wealthy on their salary? Not by saving and living frugally.
It is an uncomfortable task but somebody has to say it: Mister president, it is time for you to go!
We are used to bad american politics, but we are not used to a complete failure.
1)The unfair invasion in Haiti after the earthquake, and the delay of lifesaving support for the victims;
2)The delay and complete failure in organizing the stop of the Gulf oil spill, which most likely will have for consequence the irreversible strike of climate change;
3)The financial crisis and obvious problem of corruption;
4)The non-acceptance of UN-assembly´s vote for water as a human right, what puts your friendship to several African nations into question;
5)The leak of secret documents about the Afghan war; it endangers your troups and the publishing happened under your governing!
And FINALLY,
5)Putting us all to the brink of a
Nuclear War with Pyöngyang. And it seems you do not even know the meaning of these words.
Mister President, it is time!
Dignity is not a word in Rangel’s vocabulary. He is a crook, tax evader, criminal and a person who sacrificed his responsibilty to a sworn oath. If term limits were in effect, it would be far more difficult for corrupt politicians to take advantage of their positions for personal gain. Out with them all! I am tired of the corrupt politicians. To think that we run around the world chastizing other countries and their corruption, while our government is just, if not more, corrupt is really sad!
