Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) has "temporarily" stepped down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee after a House ethics committee found that he violated House gift rules when he accepted reimbursement for two trips to the Caribbean that were sponsored by corporations. Bookeristas discuss the issue:
Clifton B.: "Charlie Rangel Steps Down 'Temporarily'"
The conservative Republican blogger in New Jersey opines: "After last night’s confusion about whether or not Rangel would step down from his role as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Rangel officially requested 'a temporary leave of absence'."
He continues his commentary: "This dude has some nerve. With all the shenanigans under his belt, he pulls this 'temporary leave crap' and 'no questions' nonsense. The truth of the matter is his leave is permanent. There is no way, Rangel is coming by before November and after November Democrat most likely will not control the House. Nancy has filled Rangel’s spot with another hard lefty from California, Pete Stark. That ought to tell you which type of Democrat is running the show these days. The fact that Democrats could not come together to save Rangel is very telling when it comes to health care. Saving Rangel would have been unpopular with the electorate, but not nearly as unpopular as foisting ObamaCare on us. If the Dems have no stomach to save Rangel, ramming though ObamaCare must be impossible."
Project 21: "Rep. Charlie Rangel's Removal From The House Ways & Means Chairmanship"
Members of the black conservative group opine about the move:
Bishop Council Nedd II (Episcopal bishop and conservative Republican): "If even just for now, Rangel stepping aside will help restore some public confidence in the idea that Congress can police itself. The question remains why it took so long to do the right thing. Rangel should actually resign from Congress entirely. It's been clear thus far that he hasn't had an appreciation of the gravity of his situation, and stepping back from it all is likely the only way he can truly realize the magnitude of the mess he's placed himself and his colleagues."
Deneen Borelli (Project 21 fellow & GOP conservative): "Because of the serious allegations surrounding Rangel's unethical behavior, the question of whether or not he should step down has gone on far too long. Unfortunately, elected officials such as Charlie Rangel have operated under a sense of entitlement and represented their interests and not those of their constituents. During his reign, Rangel has profited while his constituents in Harlem, NY have suffered."
R. Dozier Gray (advisory council member and conservative): "What does Charlie Rangel need to do to incur the wrath of Speaker Pelosi? Rob a bank? Hold Barbara Streisand for ransom? Pelosi assumed her leadership position saying she would clean up the ethical mess in Congress, but she's been remarkably lenient on Rangel. And it's not just him. There are a number of ethical lapses that seem to be brushed under the rug. This is hypocritical."
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Bookeristas on Charlie Rangel
