Rangel says colleagues who similarly sought donations were not punished

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) has chosen a less-than-collegial defense to charges that he violated House ethics rules when he asked corporate donors with legislative interests to give to an academic center bearing his name.

He was not the only lawmaker to solicit donations in this manner, his lawyers argue, saying that peers who did the same thing were not punished.

With a trial of Rangel by the House ethics committee possible by mid-September, his legal team reached across the Capitol to point a finger at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who helped raise money for a center named for him at the University of Louisville. Rangel's team cited similarities with the recently deceased Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) and with former Republican senators Trent Lott (Miss.) and Jesse Helms (N.C.).

"These activities have never been regarded as creating an improper benefit to a Member," the lawyers said in their 32-page rebuttal. The logic apparently figured heavily in Rangel's reluctance to negotiate a settlement to 13 charges of ethical misconduct, even when colleagues said Friday they had been ready to impose only a reprimand: Why should he be singled out when others haven't?

The practice of influential lawmakers asking monied donors to give to a charity in which they play a key role, which lies at the heart of 10 of the allegations against Rangel, has long troubled ethics advocates. By taking part in fundraising for such charities, they inevitably arouse suspicion that the donor is getting some legislative favor, even when there is no evidence of a quid pro quo.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073006295_pf.html

[Oregone]

1. A culture of corruption abound, such that the corruption begins to seem negligible and permissible

Then, its used to extort people or drive them out of politics when they can no longer be extorted

[No Elephants]

33. Wow. That about says it all from both sides.

[saigon68]

41. Like Delay and his ilk

[Duckhunter935]

2. get them out.

Most are corrupt after they have been there for long.

WELL THEY DID IT.

[nosmokes]

3. We have created a system that requires a politician to be corrupt or at least

compromised to be successful simply due to the vast amounts of money required to run a viable campaign. But the 'they did it too' defense' no matter how valid and how true it may be is never acceptable.I've always admired Rangel and I hate to see him go down like this.Even as the victim of a witch hunt I wish he'd show the class he shown throughout his distinguished career.

[No Elephants]

32. Rangel is not a victim of a system. This was about a school to be named after him, not campaign ads

[notesdev]

4. All of these guys who have stuff named after them

are corrupt egomaniacs who view themselves as an aristocracy.

Name stuff after people when they're dead... or if they're putting up their own money.

Raising money for a politician-named organization/building/whatever is an open invitation to corruption - indeed, it's hard to see how it could be avoided - with no public benefit to compensate for this risk.

If the excuse is "everybody does it", then fine - start rattling off names, Congressman. I want them all out.

We need to get to the point where politicians actually fear even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Our present status is that they'll give the public the middle finger and laugh all the way to the campaign office, so we got a long way to go. Let's get started cleaning out the Augean stables.

[EFerrari]

7. Did you read the article? That's exactly what he's doing, rattling off names. nt

[notesdev]

24. Old names are no surprise

Of the four names given two are dead and the third is long retired.

He can do MUCH better than that.

[quakerboy]

48. Mitch McConnell?

I don't recall him having retired or died.

Though what this looks like to me is a shot across the bow.. "If you take me down, all the dirty laundry is coming out" style. It would be handy if we could get a whole lot more out in the open, and he appears willing to name names if they play hard with him.

That said, of all the charges, the idea that he would use his official letterhead to try to raise money for a school that happens to have his name bothers me the least. In fact, I have a hard time seeing that as an ethical violation, except perhaps in technicality. The idea that a Congressman is using his position to try to help a school, that seems a bit like what I would want a congressman to do with their position of authority.

[No Elephants]

35. that describes almost any politician, whether anything is named after him or her or not.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Normally that is an improper defense outside of the court of public opinion

However, its not a real trial...

[EFerrari]

6. Good. I hope he kicks their @sses.

And wtf is Obama weighing in on this matter? Didn't his White House already have to retract a similar position just a few days ago?

[davidinalameda]

20. you like criminals representing your party?

[aquart]

30. I like Charlie.

My plan is to keep him.

[davidinalameda]

43. keep him far away from Congress

do you have a basement or an attic you could keep him in?

[aquart]

50. So Charlie has some sort of contagious disease?

Which he might spread to the good and saintly members of Congress?

[No Elephants]

34. Most would have refrained from commenting upon a proceeding the House had commenced,

just as people usually don't comment upon a pending legal proceeding.

[SemperEadem]

8. however, Congressman, you're the one whose balls are in the vise

let's sweep all of your corrupt politicians out and replace you with people of the caliber of Grayson and Weiner.

[KoKo]

11. He also votes as a Dem...and so does Maxine Waters...Why are they the two targeted?

:shrug:

[glitch]

15. What else do they have in common, hmmm? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect these dots. nt

[No Elephants]

37. Old school liberals whose constituents are very poor people who are very loyal to them

and would probably re-elect them until they die. Oh, and both are very outspoken.

By naming white Southerners who got away with similar conduct, Rangel is sending a message that his supporters will not miss.

[glitch]

49. Their targeting Rangel and Waters is blatantly racist, I am glad Charlie is calling them on it. nt

[davidinalameda]

21. because they're criminals?

or at least ethically challenged

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

36. Which applies to no one else in Congress?

[Yeahyeah]

9. Ooh.Mitch McConnell.That would be goood.

[onethatcares]

10. face it when a few more than 400 folks make the laws for 350,000,000

those 400plus are gonna feel pretty privledged.

Term limits and public campaign financing is the only way to go. 12 years Senate, 8 years Representative.

They should also have to take a urinalysis at least once every 5 months to prove they have no illegal drugs in their systems.

They should recuse themselves from any votes that have anything to do with their investments, or be forced to have totally blind

investment boards.

Power does nothing but corrupt. Length of power corrupts even more.

[UpInArms]

12. +1

:kick:

edit: can't type

[CreekDog]

13. term limits will put the lobbyists in charge

ultimately, that's what it does.

staff and lobbyists are the ones who can stick around the longest and don't have to worry about petty things like getting elected.

term limits made things far worse in CA than they were before.

[onethatcares]

16. what's to be done then? when it comes to

bankrolling our politicos? when they can avoid taxes on large investments, large properties, and then tell us, "whoops, made a mistake, my bad" and get a slap on the wrist with a wet piece of spagetti and a stern "don't get caught anymore" from their colleagues.

if there is no way to affect (effect) change by limiting terms, how do we the people that don't make 200K a year get representation.

[CreekDog]

25. prohibit the things that you don't want them to do

term limits actually make it worse.

we can pass laws that say if you are in congress, you can't become a lobbyist for 10 years.

if you pass term limits, you just assure they become a lobbyist sooner, rather than later.

[demosincebirth]

14. Term limits is what is partially wrong in California. No timely budget since they were enacted.

[No Elephants]

38. Mixed feelings. I was very happy to have Kennedy in the Senate for over 40 years.

Am relatively happy with my Rep, too.

But, I agree our system is badly broken. I used to oppose term limits out of hand. I don't anymore.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[thereismore]

17. they were not black while doing it? Just a guess. nt

[w4rma]

18. Name names! Name LOTS of them! (nt)

[davidinalameda]

19. and that makes it all better?

kick him out NOW

[woo me with science]

22. So tell us who.

Let's clean house.

[emilyg]

23. Kick them all out.

[bemildred]

26. Good, let's have a knock down drag out fight over this ubiquitous corruption.

I do not care that much for Mr Rangel or Ms Waters, but I don't care much for having them singled out in this way either, and I am quite sure that the whole sorry spectacle has more to do with influencing the coming election and punishing the disobedient than any actual concern about Congress habitual fondness for bribes contributions.

[No Elephants]

39. +1 (But I do enjoy Rangel.)

[russspeakeasy]

27. Charlie...you are a load !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give us the damn names Charlie...May you and yours live long
enough to feel shame......too bad you will do it comfortably
on stolen money.....

[tabasco]

28. Time for buddy-fucker to resign.

This shit is unacceptable.

[McCamy Taylor]

29. Rangel is correct. He stands accused of being Black in the US. McCain's "charity" pays his staff

salaries between campaigns. How come McCain is not up on ethics charges?


And what is that I hear from the Obama White HOuse? Defense of Rangel. No. Deafening silence. Another progressive Dem tossed under the bus. Is it fear or is it their agenda? I am afraid that it is the latter. The corporations that put the Chicago machine in Washington are now using it to silence the opposition.

There is a word for what Obama is and it is not "president."

[No Elephants]

40. No silence from Obama's WH. Obama said he's sure Rangel, at age 80, wants to retire with dignity.

[JVS]

31. It would be sweet if he took everyone down in the process.

[IndianaGreen]

45. It would be sweet indeed!

Only a Bolivarian style Revolution can bring change to America.

[No Elephants]

42. Sadly, accusations against Rangel would, unfortunately, apply to most in the House.

Our Congress has seen to it that its members can accept many goodies, so long as no one says, "Because you gave me this <[fill in the blank>, I will vote as you wish on {House or Senate} #XXXXX, even though I otherwise would have voted against it."

What Rangel did was wrong by layman's standards, yes, but far from unique in Congress. (Abuse of the franking privilege? Give me a break.)

That he and Waters are being targeted for other reasons is obvious.

[IndianaGreen]

44. The DLC wants your seat, Charlie

that's why you and Maxine Waters are the only ones targeted.

[24601]

46. BLUF: It's not surprising that powerful people infer that "the rules"

aren't all that bad when they themselves infer also that they are either exempt or that nothing much will come from violations.

"But officer, other people are speeding too! You have to let me go since you didn't catch everyone." Perhaps, but in the absence of a conspiracy, they don't effect your choices.

So let's start at the top and hold the most powerful the most responsible. Only when the big shots have to live by the same rules as us "little people" will things really start to change.

Is this going to take a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit Congress from exempting themselves from laws that the rest of us have to live with? Here are some examples:

Wouldn't it be great for Congress to have to comply with the Freedom of Information Act - with a specific exemption to shield constituent correspondence.

And this crap about free congressional mail - it's bass-ackwards. It should be postage free for us to contact our Representative and Senators.

And, if I want to run for the House or Senate, I have to first resign. Shouldn't they have the same standard - with an incumbent exception to run for a currently-held position.

How about if the FEC (with a bipartisan 66% vote) could disqualify or remove someone for office based on campaign violations?

A Constitutional Convention sounds like a good idea right about now. That would scare the shit outta everyone in Congress since it would likely result in term limits.

Finally (today anyway) the idea of Congress investigating itself is laughable. I'd propose an independent Congressional IG (who don't rely on Congress for their jobs) with the authority to investigate anything Congress does or fails to do. Their report should be made public and if criminal activity is discovered, a referral made to the Depart of Justice - to an office staffed only with career prosecutors - no political appointees allowed and not even the AG could intervene.

[robcon]

47. I think he thought the rules don't apply to him.

Rangel: nice guy, but ethically blind, IMO.