Democrats Vote Against Accountability
The Democratic majority in the House of Representatives just voted against holding Charlie Rangel accountable for his hiding income, thus giving thoughtful people the ultimate proof that they aren’t serious about corruption.
House Republicans have failed for a third time to oust Rep. Charles Rangel as chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Despite the expected defeat Wednesday, the GOP did keep the spotlight on the New York Democrat’s ethical problems, although the matter will be turned over to the House ethics committee for a long-term investigation. The House voted 246-153 to refer the resolution to remove him to that panel in a partisan vote that had no meaning except to revisit Rangel’s problems.
The Harlem congressman is faced with allegations of financial improprieties, including failure to pay taxes on investment income and neglecting to report assets and income on his congressional financial disclosure forms.
What’s the delay? Rangel has admitted that he didn’t properly disclose important details about his financial situation by filing an adjustment to financial disclosure forms. This isn’t a case of he said, she said. This isn’t an instance of allegation competing with counterallegation.
If he wasn’t an important ally of Speker Pelosi and President Obama, Charlie Rangel would be facing some serious penalties from the IRS. That’s undeniable fact. For that matter, if he were a corrupt Republican, it’s a safe bet that Charlie Rangel would’ve faced harsh House sanctions and rightfully so.
Nobody with an ounce of intellectual integrity thinks that Charlie Rangel didn’t try hiding income from the IRS. Nobody with an ounce of intellectual integrity thinks that Charlie Rangel didn’t doctor his financial disclosure statements to hide his hiding of income.
“We cannot tolerate a double standard in this country, one for the common man and another for the rich and powerful,” says Carter, a former state judge for over 20 years. “To allow Mr. Rangel to continue to serve as Chairman of the very committee with IRS oversight, without paying a nickel in penalties, and with no end in sight to his ethics investigation, sends a clear message to the American public that this government refuses to abide by the same laws they impose on the working people of this country. With this vote, those people can see exactly where their representative stands on the issue of equality under the law.”
Speaker Pelosi said before becoming speaker that that congress would be the most ethical, the most transparent congress in history. It’s ironic that she won’t even live by the rules that they subject We The People to, something that Speaker-Elect Gingrich insisted on in the Contract With America.
This proves that the Democrats are arrogant, that they think they shouldn’t have to live by the same rules that they impose on others. Especially in a TEA Party world, that isn’t acceptable. In this TEA Party environment, we expect all corruption to be punished. In fact, it’s a demandment.
It’s long past time where elites live by one set of rules and the rest of us are forced to live by the laws on the books. NO MORE will this double standard be tolerated.
Technorati Tags: Ethics, Charlie Rangel, Tax Returns, IRS, Corruption, Transparency, Oversight, Speaker Pelosi, Double Standard, Democrats, John Carter, Rule Of Law, Republicans
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
October 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
3-7-77. It is now the only recourse short of armed insurrection and as one who has really served this country, I cannot rule it out.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Gary, there isn’t a law written that members of Congress are subject to unless specifically included, and you can bet your neighbor’s farm the donks will never, ever punish one of their own as long as Nazi Pelousy is speaker and that member is at least a nominal supporter of full government takeover as envisioned by Pelousy, Dingy Harry and Duh-1.
It all comes down to the old joke: How can you tell if a Democrat congressperson is lying? They’re breathing, aren’t they?
October 7th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Theses democrats and their Acorn fagot allies are all a bunch of crooks and deserve to be put in front of a firing squad for the criminal actions take to destroy this country.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
John Adams would agree with you, AMH1.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Nigel Farage berates the Eurocrats over the Irish referendum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCGNT_FgNW0