Franken & Rangel: Birds of a Feather?
Based on this press release, thinking people wonder if Charlie Rangel and Al Franken are birds of a feather. Charlie Rangel and Al Franken have had tax troubles. Now there’s another connection:
Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today called on DFL U.S. Senate Al Franken to immediately return the $10,000 in campaign contributions he has accepted from fellow New York tax cheat Charlie Rangel after it was revealed that Rangel never declared $75,000 in taxes on rental property.
Why would Charlie Rangel’s PAC contribute to Al Franken’s floundering campaign? Here’s more details of Rangel’s contribution:
Al Franken Has Taken $10,000 From New York Congressman Charlie Rangel’s PAC. On June 27, 2008, Al Franken took $10,000 from New York Congressman Charlie Rangel’s National Leadership PAC. (Itemized Receipts, Al Franken For Senate, July 2008 FEC Quarterly Report, June 27, 2008)
That money connection is likely why Mr. Franken hasn’t called for Chairman Rangel’s resignation from the House Ways and Means Committee until the investigation is completed.
Based on Mr. Franken’s actions, he’s a totally self-centered individual. What other explanation is there for a man that negotiated a new contract for himself while the Gloria Wise scandal was making headlines? Mr. Franken knew that Air America wasn’t making money. Mr. Franken knew that Air America wasn’t meeting its payroll obligations to other employees.
That didn’t stop him from negotiating a raise from approximately $1 million to approximately $1.7 million.
It isn’t a stretch to think that Franken won’t return the Rangel contribution because he’s only worried about what he wants and what he needs. Here’s Dictionary.com’s defininition of elitism:
consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group
I’d say that that definition fits Mr. Franken as perfectly as it fits Chairman Rangel. What’s amazing is that neither has an impressive list of accomplishments to justify their thinking that highly of themselves. I’d defy anyone to rattle off the 3 most influential pieces of legislation that Chairman Rangel has passed in his career. Can anyone tell me what exceptional thing Al Franken has done in his lifetime?
Based on their lack of exceptionalism and their penchant of not paying taxes, I’d say ample proof exists that Chairman Rangel and Mr. Franken are birds of a feather.
Technorati Tags: Al Franken, Comedian, Charlie Rangel, Ways And Means Committee, Taxes, Campaign Contributions, Gloria Wise, Scandals, Culture of Corruption, Elitism, Air America, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog