House censures Rangel (what a joke)

[tsetsefly]

And they call this a severe penalty

I wonder if a unprivileged citizen where to make the same "mistakes"charlie made if he would only get reprimanded by the judge? me thinks not...

Washington (CNN) -- The House of Representatives censured veteran New York Rep. Charlie Rangel on Thursday -- a stunning downfall for a congressman once considered one of the most powerful members of Congress.
The 333-79 vote required Rangel to stand in the well of the House as a formal censure resolution was read aloud by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.


The House ethics committee recently recently found the 20-term Harlem Democrat guilty on 11 counts of violating House rules, including failing to pay taxes on a vacation home in the Dominican Republic and improperly using his office to raise money for an educational center bearing his name.


On November 18, the committee voted 9-1 to recommend that the House censure Rangel and that he pay restitution for any unpaid taxes. The committee's rules require that its report be presented to the House for a vote.
"It is painful to sit in judgment of our colleague" but the punishment is appropriate, said California Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the Democratic head of the ethics committee.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/...pt=T1&iref=BN1

[doom&gloom]

Re: House censures Rangel (what a joke)

The political aristocracy felt the need to "punish" one of their own to the most severe possible, doncha know? Anyone else would get a full-blown IRS audit for the last 10 years and possibly lose their job for violating "ethihical standards". but of course we know they do not exist in the public sector...

[don]

Re: House censures Rangel (what a joke)

Don't overlook the chocolate frosting...on the cake. Somethings never change.

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: House censures Rangel (what a joke)

The most important failures and fault are with we, the people.

The founders wrote explicitly that their trust was in the people to never re-elect a dishonorable politician. If we become weak, disinterested or blindly partisan, we’ll build for ourselves a corrupt government.

A reprimand or censure is strong public notice to us, the people, that the official cannot be trusted. The Congress has faithfully discharged its duty to investigate, decide, and announce. I think they did that job well. Now it’s up to the voters.

[ViC78]

Re: House censures Rangel (what a joke)

The Congress has faithfully discharged its duty to investigate, decide, and announce. I think they did that job well. Now it’s up to the voters.

We get the government that we deserve.

Charlie Rangel, convicted of 11 ethics violations – the most ever found against any member of Congress – was resoundingly re-elected Nov. 2, getting 80 percent of his district's vote.
After 40 years representing these folks, you can't conclude he was an unknown commodity. Granted, the conviction occurred after the election, but the charges were well-publicized.
Has Charlie Rangel's leadership produced life so grand in Harlem that flagrant and persistent unethical behavior by their congressman means nothing to its residents?
The national poverty rate is around 14 percent. In the 15th District of New York, Charlie Rangel's district, it's 24.3 percent. The child poverty rate is 30.9 percent.
Whatever it is that Harlem voters find so attractive about Mr. Rangel, it's hard to conclude that quality of life is something they feel they owe to him.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=230457