Obama: Time for Rangel to go

by Nathan Empsall, Fri Jul 30, 2010 at 08:27:27 PM EDT

The two Blue Dogs who have called for Charlie Rangel's resignation got a big boost today. A really big boost.

President Barack Obama gave ethics-embattled Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel a forceful shove towards the exit tonight, telling the 80-year-old dean of New York’s congressional delegation that the time has come to end his career “with dignity.” ...

After days of administration officials dodging questions about Rangel, Obama took on the issue with devastating bluntness in a interview with Harry Smith of the CBS “Early Show” – repeatedly referring to Rangel, who backed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential primary, in the past tense.

“I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served-- his constituents very well but these-- allegations are very troubling,” th epresidrnt [sic] told Smith, in an interviewed aired Friday night on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

“And he'll-- he's somebody who's at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I'm sure that-- what he wants is to be able to-- end his career with dignity. And my hope is that-- it happens,” he added.

This comes across more as a call for Rangel to make a deal that includes retirement than for him to resign.

Sweet.

Tags: Charlie Rangel, Barack Obama, Ethics (all tags)

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No Shame

Power is hard to give up but I don't think there is any shame in retiring at 80.  It is a shame its under these circumstances.

by howardpark 2010-07-30 10:12PM | 0 recs
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Are black democrats just not networked well enough?

First of all, Rangel must go. I agree with that. It is troubling that even MAxine Waters has come under the microscope. When I see the crimes of these black lawmakers who get caught, the conflict of interest items are troubling  , but are they ethically any worse than former administration officials who go into private industry and capitalize on their former positions for access to contracts? How did Dodd get away with his controversy? Or have their kids or spouses get employed by "friendly" private entities at well above market value salaries? DO you think Lieberman's wife could get such a nice salary if she was never married to Lieberman? Or Cheney's daughter when he was in government?

 

 But more importantly, why is it tough for the Democratic Party to have an internal police to warn

by Pravin 2010-07-31 05:18PM | 0 recs

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