Censure Vote Looming, Rangel Asks Supporters For Help

Rep. Rangel at his office yesterday (AP)

The House of Representatives is expected to vote today on whether Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan) should be censured for his ethics violations, prompting the 80-year-old lawmaker to reach out to his supporters. In an e-mail, he wrote, "Can you make a call for me?" asking them to call the House switchboard and "urge your member of Congress to speak against the sanction resolution and encourage them to vote against the censure on the House floor."

The e-mail, which also referenced Rangel's Korean War service, left some of his colleagues annoyed. Rep. Bobby Bright (D-Alabama) said, "When you get caught and you're found guilty, you should be willing to stand up and take your punishment, however severe it is," and therefore Rangel "stand up and take [his] punishment like a leader should."

According to Politico, Rangel has also been "circulat[ing] a memo to colleagues, arguing that censure is not the appropriate sanction for his violations, at least based on past cases." Politico also says, "Barring a dramatic reversal, the New York Democrat will be forced to stand in the well of the House as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reads a public condemnation of his actions."

Donald Trump, that sympathetic guy, told Fox & Friends today, “I feel badly for Charlie Rangel. It’s too bad what’s happened to him. In certain ways he’s very lucky. If it happened to you, you, or you, it’s called jail time."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 2, 2010 9:59 AM

Comments [rss]

Reflect

he will soon im sure.. just give it a few... bloomgergs lease is almost up too. lets get these old capitalist crows outta here

Stevennnn

Why hasn't he drop dead by now?

capitalist

The mindset of those like Pedro Espada & Charlie Rangel (& many others - both Democrats & Republicans) simply astound me.

They seemingly exhibit no shame, and are bullish on what they feel is their entitlement to grandeur.

They are not leaders, they are leaches.

Spirit of 76

If he keeps this up, he may annoy the Democrats so much that they postpone the censure until next year. I'm sure the incoming Republican majority would take it much easier on Rangel.

ktinnyc

If I knew I could break the law by not paying taxes on income and having mutliple rent controlled apartments, among other transgression, and the only punishment be having Nancy Pelosi rebuke me on the floor of the senate I would break those laws every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

JimboGold853OKG

As the tuna commercial used to say, "Sorry Charlie." Man up - you play, you pay -- quit your whining, take your punishment and go slither off.