Rangel stuck in Pelosi's own swamp drain

New York Rep. Charlie Rangel joined an elite fraternity of censured House members Thursday. Everybody but Charlie thinks he deserves it.

We all have it wrong.

In Charlie's mind it was all political, all partisan and totally unfair. It was a new standard applied to him alone in the hyper-partisan political environment that currently pervades Capitol Hill.

The only obnoxious fact he chose to leave out was his fault in the matter. It was his actions and indiscretions which earned him the coveted spot in front of Speaker Pelosi in the well of the House as she read the formal resolution, complete with the fines and requirements now necessary for the 40-year resident of the House, not those of his staff or fellow members. It was Charlie and Charlie alone.

Moments later, Charlie addressed the very colleagues who overwhelmingly (339/79) view the world rather differently than the 80-year-old decorated Korean war hero. Charlie offered words of justification. He didn't enrich himself personally. His actions weren't as bad as others and how a new standard has been set to make an example of poor old Charlie. It was only a matter of seconds, however, before the small pleas of justification gave way to his ever-present, defiant tone of the arrogance.

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Indeed, earlier in the hearing there were small contrite offerings such as, "I have made some serious mistakes, I brought it on myself, but this body has to be guided by fairness." But the humility was rather short lived and desperately void of content. Next came a lengthy diatribe from his defender, Bobby Scott, about how Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay had done far worse and were never censured, so Charlie deserved fairness. Hey, he didn't molest a young page or run a gay brothel out of his office.

However, after the vote tally board showed his peers had offered no mercy, Charlie was on the attack.

"I know in my heart I'm not going to be judged by this Congress," said the 80-year-old former chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Earth to Charlie! You have been judged! And not very favorably, I might add.

So now Charlie joins several interesting fellow congressmen of years' past.

Rep. Charles Rangel, 2010, D-N.Y.
Rep. Daniel Crane, 1983, R-Ill.
Rep. Gerry Studds, 1983, D-Mass.
Rep. Charles Wilson, 1980, D-Calif.
Rep. Charles Diggs, 1979, D-Mich.
Rep Thomas Blanton, 1921, D-Texas

Is it just me or do you see a pattern forming here? Five Democrats and one Republican along with three men named Charles. I am not a numerologist nor do I understand statistical probabilities, but what are the odds of three men named Charles and five Democrats winning such a lovely title?

None of us should take any joy when one of our leaders fail. We are all human. But when Speaker Pelosi vowed to drain the swamp, she had to be aware that certain creatures living in that swamp would be exposed and that some of them just might have a "D" behind their names.

Is Charlie a victim? Ask him, and he will surely say yes. I believe the American people are the victims. How many of our tax dollars went into this whole ordeal? If Charlie alone spent $2 million in legal fees over two-and-a-half years pleading his innocence, how many tax dollars were wasted by the government in a time when each dollar counts?

Charlie should have admitted his mistakes and taken his medicine, but in his mind he didn't do anything wrong. And therein lies the bigger problem. He didn't do anything someone else didn't do before him. Therefore, it would be unfair to censure him. Justifying one's behavior by the behavior of others is a terrible example to set when you are a congressman.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., chairman of the ethics committee, stated, "We need a higher standard." She was correct. We not only need it, we deserve it. We put our trust and faith in elected officials to play by the rules, and they should darn well do so.

I feel sorry for Rep. Rangel. I truly do. He needs to man up. Stop blaming others or the system. He's got to forget about justifying his behavior and own up to his mistakes.

Of course, it doesn't surprise me that Charlie took this approach. The leader of his party is still blaming George W. Bush for all the mistakes current leadership is making in handling the economy. Rookie decisions are being made daily, and to admit to one would be refreshing. Democrats aren't much for taking responsibility. So don't expect Democrats to take any when they can focus our attention on someone or something other than their incompetence.

One can only hope representatives will now see that honesty is the best policy. Doing right is always the right thing to do. And a sincere apology goes a long way in repairing damage. But don't expect any of these ideals to be showcased in D.C. any time soon.

Charlie should now quietly sit back for the next two years or announce he is leaving Congress. No one should be above the law, and to think one can be is the height political arrogance. He has shamed himself and made fools of the constituents in his district who have continually sent him to Congress for the last 40 years. That district could sure use some new thinking – thinking that has the people, not the seat, as its top priority.