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| In (faint, but damning) praise of Charlie Rangel |
| 2008-07-13 |
| Roger Simon, Pajamas Media Amidst the current brouhaha surrounding Charlie Rangel's cheap rent, it’s worth noting that the veteran congressman (since 1971) has a relatively piddling net worth of "$566,000 to $1.2 million, according to Congressional disclosure records." That's not much on Capitol Hill where Speaker of the House Pelosi is worth well in excess of 25 mill and a whole passel of senators (Kerry, Kohl, Kennedy, Clinton, etc.) are even richer. Hell, Rangel's not even worth half of Ralph Nader. Now I don't mean to justify rent cheating, if that's what he's doing, but the guy's 78-years old with 37 years in Congress and if all he's got to show for it is a million bucks, there's reason to think that, compared to his colleagues, he's a saint. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #7 ... 37 years in Congress and if all he's got to show for it is a million bucks, and a large freezer... |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins 5*** 2008-07-13 21:11 |
| #6 Congressman Charles Rangel was recently seen getting out of his Cadillac DeVille, which he leases for $774 per month. ...and my |
| Posted by: Charlie R 2008-07-13 15:48 |
| #5 Nah. Charlie knows the graft thing, and how to respond when questioned on it... Congressman Charles Rangel was recently seen getting out of his Cadillac DeVille, which he leases for $774 per month. Then there was Congressman Jose Serrano, getting out of his Buick LaCrosse, which he leases for $317 per month. And how about this one: Congressman Gregory Meeks was recently seen waiting for Congressman John Conyers to step out of Meeks' Lexus LS460, which Meeks leases for $998 per month. All those leases are picked up by taxpayers through a little-known program available only to members of the House of Representatives. Rangel: "I could probably find something for ... one of those red cars and then I think my constituents would say, 'With all the money that he gets, this is the respect he shows us?'" "When I'm in New York, my car is my office. I use it to conduct Congressional business. It really pleases me that (my constituents) appreciate driving in a comfortable car, especially the senior citizens," Rangel said. "The car isn't just a vehicle for getting around; it's an important part of doing my job and my constituents appreciate it." |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-13 12:10 |
| #4 And yet it has been long noted that on average, he submits bills to congress just for his tiny New York district, whose annual value would be worth over $500 billion. And even as chairman of the House Appropriations committee, only a tiny fraction have ever passed. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-07-13 09:50 |
| #3 and a damn good pension, courtesy the American taxpayer. |
| Posted by: pacific_waters 2008-07-13 09:44 |
| #2 or his disclosure record didn't disclose everything |
| Posted by: mhw 2008-07-13 08:41 |
| #1 Or too stupid to figure out the whole graft thing. |
| Posted by: jds 2008-07-13 07:50 |