For anyone wishing to understand some of the rancor in the town hall meetings, all one need do is pick up the editorial section of today’s Wall Street Journal which features the happy face of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. The paper reports that under a cloud of ethics investigations, he recently “amended” his 2007 tax returns to include an extra $780,000 in assets and income. Oops.
I just want you to imagine sitting across from an IRS auditor trying to explain how you failed to report: credit union balances, several investment accounts, vacant properties in New Jersey, stocks in your portfolio, rental income from a Costa Rican villa, etc. I dare say you and I would be treated slightly different than has this U.S. Congressman.
This man who has consistently underreported his own income to avoid taxation is not only pushing for a 5.6% tax surcharge on the wealthiest of us but even declares that paying more is “the moral thing to do.” He is a leading figure in a government hell bent on expanding into many aspects of our lives, yet going out of its way to exempt itself both from the programs themselves as well as having to pay for said expansion. He is, to me at least, a personification of a permanent political class that leverages its influence to get rich while many Americans scramble to find work. Mr. Rangel’s new and improved net worth may now exceed $2 million.
A Rangel spokesperson has declined to answer media inquiries until the Ethics Committee completed its work but did offer that the congressman is now “confident that his records have been subjected to an exhaustive and complete review, and that the amendments now reflect his financial interests.”
Well, it looks like I have an email from my CFO entitled “tax liability notice.” I wonder what this could be about. Something tells me it will cost my firm some money. But maybe if I tell the IRS that if there’s been a mistake, I can just “amend” our books, and they’ll leave me alone. What do you think?
9 responses so far
1 barker13 // Aug 28, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I called my congressman – John Hall – and spoke to an “adult” member of his staff.
I told him that if the Democrats had a brain in their collective Party’s head they’d tell Rangel point blank that either he resigns (resigns from Congress – period!) or else they’ll throw him out.
Talk about “Culture of Corruption…” (*SNORT*)
I’ve been saying this for YEARS – definitely since day one of my “residence” here at NM – as long as we have people like Charlie Rangel running our government…
(*SIGH*)
Seriously. How can ANYONE defend the presence of a crook like Rangel in Congress…?!?!
Put the partisanship away, folks – just for once! All of you should call your own Members of Congress first thing Monday morning and demand that they seek the removal of Charlie Rangel from the House of Representatives.
BILL
2 He Could Go Work With Geithner « Grandich’s Blog // Aug 29, 2009 at 12:08 pm
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3 barker13 // Aug 29, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Wow… a day later… still my post stands alone.
(*SHRUG*)
Brad. There’s no hope.
The Dems don’t CARE that Rangel is a crooks and… apparently… neither do the Republicans.
Once again I have to say… in all seriousness… absent a military coup – and a quick one at that – I see little hope for this once great nation’s continued existence past 30 or 40 years down the road.
It’s not the enemy without that’s taking us down… (*SIGH*)… it’s the enemy within.
BILL
4 liv&win // Aug 29, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Well Bill, I just got here. As I posted somewhere else, stop identifying as democrat or republican when it comes to issues of corruption. Power is equally abused on both sides of the aisle. these are not political differences we are talking about here with Rangle. This is out and out abuse of power.
I think the first shot of the revolution has already been fired.
5 barker13 // Aug 29, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Re: Liv&Win // Aug 29, 2009 at 2:34 pm (#4)
“As I posted somewhere else, stop identifying as democrat or republican when it comes to issues of corruption.”
(*ROLLING MY EYES*) (But in a friendly, amused sort of way!) (*GRIN*)
L&W. We’re talking SPECIFICALLY about Charlie Rangel. There’s just no way around the fact that Charlie Rangel is a Democrat, a powerful Democrat, a powerful Democrat in a House of Representatives that Democrats presently control.
(*SHRUG*)
Keep on point! (*WINK*)
“Power is equally abused on both sides of the aisle.”
Actually it’s not. (*SHRUG*)
Back when Republicans controlled the White House (& DOJ), Senate, and House of Representatives the buck stopped at their desk. Now that Democrats control the White House (& DOJ), Senate, and House of Representatives the buck stops with them.
(*SHRUG*)
“These are not political differences we are talking about here with Rangel. This is out and out abuse of power.”
No, L&W, Rangel’s dishonesty doesn’t come out of liberal or Democratic ideology nor did Duke Cunningham’s come out of conservative or Democratic ideology. Yet… look where Rangel presently sits and look where Cunningham presently sits.
Anyway, L&W, I’ll continue to identify and rail against corruption individual case by individual case playing no “partisan favorites” and no “ideological favorites.” But when it’s the Democrats who control the House and the crook in question is a Democrat House Member… SENIOR, POWERFUL House Member… there’s really no way around acknowledging that and no way to avoid laying the blame at the feet of the Party in power when only they have the power to throw the bastard out or (via DOJ) charge him with the crimes he’s so clearly committed and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
Are we in accord?
BILL
6 Raider1 // Sep 1, 2009 at 8:41 am
This man Rangel is a walking ad for term limits.
7 barker13 // Sep 1, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Well… we’re now up to three and a half (Brad, myself, and Raider with L&W being counted as “partial”) of us who are visibly offended that Charles Rangel is still a Member of Congress – let alone Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
So much for a mass movement based upon the sentiment “Don’t Tread On Me.”
(*SHRUG*) (*FROWN*)
It’s so disheartening.
BILL
8 Raider1 // Sep 2, 2009 at 8:34 am
Barker. Check out the new story on the right. Looks like you and I and Schaeffer are not the only ones tired of Rangels corruption. A special prosecutor is being called for by a watchdog group now.
9 September 11 roundup // Sep 11, 2009 at 9:13 am
[...] Ways & Means — yep, Charlie Rangel’s own — passes bill slamming taxpayers for innocent errors [James Peaslee, WSJ, [...]
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