I'll repost this for whoever missed it and wonders why people still vote for Rangel.

I'll reserve judgement until the trial because, to be honest, for a man who's been in office for forty years these allegations seem minuscule. This is a man who has devoted his life to public service and earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the United States Army during the Korean War. So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

About the rent stabilized apartments, the fact that "three of the apartments were combined to make one 2,500 square foot apartment on the 16th floor, while a fourth apartment serves as his campaign office" and Rangel pays $3,264; market-rate rate would be at least $5,765" that may be wrong but how big of a deal is it, really? At least he lives in his district. As of January 2009, the annual salary of each Representative is $174,000 and he pays, according to this data, $43,488 a year in rent, that's more than 25% of his salary, is that so bad? If he accepted outside employment from firms doing business with the city and then paid market value for his rent, would that be better or more ethical?

Then there's the property in the Dominican Republic. According to sources "he failed to report $75,000 in income since 1988" if this is true, this is troubling but I find it much more troubling that Bloomberg has offshore accounts, that go into the millions, he refuses to discuss and some of these politicians who also work for law firms that deal with the city (a clear conflict of interest) and (the perfectly legal practice) of politicians who have family members working as paid lobbyists on issues they are deciding.

The letterhead thing deserves nothing more than a reprimand. He used his office's letterhead to raise money for a CUNY school, in his district. The fact that the school will bear his name may say something about his ego but the fact remains that a college and it's students in his district will benefit from this. It's not like he was stealing the money.

The most serious charge, in my opinion, seems to be the "tax loophole worth half a billion dollars" and as disgusted as I am by the very notion of this, I can't imagine that almost every politician in office today is not guilty of doing things like this. Isn't this why wealthy individuals and companies pay for lobbyists? Isn't this how our current state of politics works? It's not right but if we're going to prosecute Rangel for this then a lot of politicians should also be prosecuted. Let's start with all the politicians in BP's pockets that enabled and even defended them after this oil spill. Then let's go after all the politicians who allowed the financial industry to run rampant. Let's go after whatever politician or politicians are holding up the reinstatement of the inheritance tax, with Steinbrenner's death alone it cost us about half a billion dollars.

As sad as it may seem I consider all politicians to be crooked in one way or another. I think even the most well-intentioned politician will soon realize that to get things done he/she will have to "play the game." I think they all should be held accountable for their actions but unfortunately very few are and when those few get singled out, I can't help but wonder why. I'd like to see ALL politicians scrutinized the way Rangel was, now that would be interesting!

I think Rangel has some explaining to do and apparently some taxes and penalties to pay. But throughout this whole investigation, and it's obvious they but him under a microscope to find anything they could on him, I don't see one evidence of stealing or where he, personally, profited from these transgressions. We really have to take into account that if he was a thief, after 40 years in office they would have found much more damaging proof. Maybe he was a little overzealous in trying to solicit donations for a college because they put his name on the building, but that still benefits poor college students in his district, even if he did it to boost his ego.

After forty years of service and highly decorated military record I feel he deserves his day in court before I rush to judge him.

You really need to call Rangel and tell him about your love. He might feel the same way! Quick!

I live in his district... and can only assume the people in my neighborhood simply don't watch the news, or don't care that he's a completely corrupt fool.

I predict he won't make it through another full term if/when he gets reelected. He looks quite unhealthy to me.

Who are the retards who keep nominating this jerk?

He's just postponing the inevitable. Even assuming he beats the ethics probe, he doesn't have many years left.

We are all postponing the inevitable.

BTW, 80 is the new 65. With the best in healthcare, Rangel could be around another generation.

Uh, plenty of 80 and even 65-year-olds dying nowadays. Rangel's not in the best shape, either.

He moves pretty well here. I call it the crook dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0s-4j-UvOA

Have to remember Adam Clayton Powell wasn't any different than Rangel.

If the GOP had a good strong candidate Rangel would have lost.

It will be a cold day in hell before anyone other than a democrat wins in that district, or most NYC districts.

OK, I get it. The only way you get New York politicians out of office is through a criminal conviction.

What is the average age of those pictured here? About 85? Some people desperately cling to power until the bitter end. And their sheep keep sending them back.

(sigh)

Look, just like Mayor Daley in Chicago: As far as they know, he took care of his constituents. Frankly, that's all they care about and this is hardly a surprise.

Winning or not, if he's nailed on the charges, he's out.

As long as he's Chair of Ways and Means I'll keep voting for him. If he loses that then forget it.

You exactly the reason scum like Rangel are reelected: An uninformed, ignorant electorate.

He's no longer the Chair. He stepped down and and will never hold that position again.

Just like Marion Barry.

Dopes.

The morons that voted for him totally deserve him. Enjoy the screwing lemmings!

This really isn't a surprise. This guy had multiple rent stabilized apts, which hurts the people of his district, as well as cheating on his taxes, which also helps the people of his district, but they re-elect him w/o a second thought. Nothing but a lifetime corrupt politician.