Rangel has no credibility as Ways and Means chairman
Nancy Pelosi has enough problems trying to keep her undisciplined caucus in line. She’s doesn’t need the additional headache of stripping Charlie Rangel, the long-serving Harlem Democrat, of his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means committee.
So Rangel ought to do the honorable thing and step down.
Given the continuing lapses in his personal finances, Rangel doesn’t have the credibility to serve as chair of Ways and Means, the committee charged with, among other things, setting tax policy. Over the last few years, Rangel has “forgotten” how much money he has —— several times —- and neglected to account for his wealth in required House financial disclosure forms. He has also failed to pay taxes on quite a bit of that income.
Just last week, he amended financial disclosure forms to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income he earned between 2002 and 2006. He forgot a Merrill Lynch account valued between $250,000 and $500,000. He neglected to mention tens of thousands in rent from a New York brownstone he once owned. His ownership of tens of thousands of dollars in municipal bonds also slipped his mind.
Even if he didn’t have major credibility problems, all that forgetfulness would raise significant questions about whether Rangel, 79, retains the mental acuity to run a committee that deals with such complex issues.
He’s already the subject of ethics investigations by two House subcommittees. One subcommittee is investigating his use of four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem for thousands of dollars per month below market value. Not only does that appear to violate House ethics rules, but it’s also an egregious misuse of real estate that supposed to help those who cannot afford to pay New York’s high market-rate rents.
Like several veteran Democrats, Rangel, who has served in the House since 1971, was looking forward to seeing Democrats regain control of the House, as they did in 2006, because his seniority finally gave him the chairmanship. It’s too bad his wretched accounting practices have rendered him unfit for the post.
Given the fact that Republicans are leading the attacks on him, it’s unlikely that he’ll see the need to step down. But just because your enemies are out to get you doesn’t mean they don’t have a point. If he doesn’t see that, one of his good friends ought to tap him on the shoulder and tell him it’s time for him to step aside. For the good of the agenda he supports. For the good of his district. For the good of the country.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
30 comments Add your comment
Eddy
September 4th, 2009
7:09 am
He should step down but he won’t. He’s entitled, you know. Of course, the Dems will not apply pressure to do the right thing and strip him of his chairmanship. Only Repubs are required to do the right thing.
Maxwell Snark
September 4th, 2009
7:12 am
You are right, he needs to go.
SouthernGal
September 4th, 2009
7:34 am
I agree Rangel needs to do the honorable and step down. What bothers me is that the Dem leadership is afraid to tell him it is time to go.
jt
September 4th, 2009
7:46 am
Cynthia-
You show courage and credibility in admitting the truth about one of your fellow democrats.
I am sure Tim Geinthner and Charlie Rangel will work things out.
Peadawg
September 4th, 2009
7:48 am
And you have no credibility as a columnist. There…y’all are even.
Kevin
September 4th, 2009
8:11 am
Sweet Jesus. This must be a sign of the second coming. Cynthia was critical of a Democrat, and a black one at that?
Call the police. Someone has kidnapped Cynthia and is writing under her name!
TnGelding
September 4th, 2009
8:11 am
Maybe he is getting senile. I’m certainly disappointed, he was one of the good guys in my book. He should step down and so should Pelosi and Reid. We need young, dynamic leadership in Congress.
bob
September 4th, 2009
8:28 am
Hes another do as I say and not as I do liberal that think taxes are fine for other people. He writes tax law and the says he did not know he was supposed to pay taxes on his rental income.
Gerald
September 4th, 2009
8:31 am
jt:
Please. This took no courage at all. Cynthia Tucker has been bashing heterosexual black Democrats for years. It’s her claim to being “moderate.” But this same Tucker NEVER bashes white Democrats or gay Democrats. Look, Charlie Rangel is small potatoes compared to the corruption of leading white national Democrats, just as these black Atlanta politicians are only pennies to the white Georgia Democrats’ dollars. But the day that Tucker goes after a leading white Georgia or national Democrat or a leader in the gay rights movement will be the day that pigs fly, cows jump over the moon, and turtles outrun jackrabbits. The great irony is that Cynthia Tucker despises black conservatives like Clarence Thomas when the truth is that she is just as bad as they are, if not worse. Case in point: when was the last time you saw Tucker criticize Bill and Hillary Clinton for their MANY financial scandals? Didn’t happen. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has been dogged by several financial scandals for years, and so has Nancy Pelosi, yet you’d never know it from reading her column. And yes, Tucker was covering Georgia politics back when Democrats ruled the legislature, the governor’s office, and all of the executive positions with an iron fist, yet couldn’t find a thing wrong with what those people were up to.
Tucker is smart. She knows that white Democrats are actually the key to power. Even Obama was only elected because he got in early with Howard Dean, Tom Daschle, and the DailyKos/Moveon.org crowd … there are actually fewer blacks in Obama’s inner circle than there was in George W. Bush’s! So, she knows that black Democrats are a dime a dozen, easy come, easy go. Knock down Charlie Rangel, and simply put another black Democrat in his place, preferably one that is female or gay. But it is the white Democrats that wield the real power and are the keys to advancing her agenda, and those are the ones that she covers for tooth and nail.
Gerald
September 4th, 2009
8:35 am
jt:
Best example: Obama’s treasury secretary, who has oversight of the IRS, didn’t pay his taxes. It was even said during his confirmation hearing by a senator on the floor of the senate that had Geithner not been nominated for treasury secretary, he would have NEVER paid his taxes. We are awaiting for Cynthia Tucker’s column criticizing Geithner, the one who is responsible for increasing consumer and investor confidence in our economy, or Kathleen Sebelius, our HHS secretary, and so on.
What They Are Saying: 09.04.09 | AnnotatedOpinions.com
September 4th, 2009
8:39 am
[...] Rangel has no credibility as Ways and Means chairman [Atlanta Journal-Constitution] [...]
Marc
September 4th, 2009
8:43 am
Isn’t it strange in the new post racial transparent Obama Presidency, that this CRAP has not changed, If you belong to the Congressional Black Caucus and do wrong Knowingly, you can always throw that card. Funny if I do wrong I can’t throw the I’m a German American Card. You Have worked very hard for the Civil rights you deserve, QUIT ABUSING THEM!
Rickster
September 4th, 2009
8:44 am
Not only does he have no credibility as chairman of W&M, he has no credibility as a representative – period.
He needs to be booted from office – but the people he represents think he’s doing a great job.
Davo
September 4th, 2009
8:47 am
Wow…I agree with Cynthia Tucker. Could this be the start of the ‘end of days’?
Kidding, of course. Could you please turn that dispassionate eye towards Barney Frank now?
jt
September 4th, 2009
8:55 am
Gerald-
Look up sarcasm please.
Jack
September 4th, 2009
8:56 am
What we have here is the old bait & switch. Tucker would have us believe she’s actually changed from a liberal hack into some sort of responsible reporter. It’s a smoke screen: her next piece will spew the usual communist diversity hogwash. Entitlement for under-achievers is hard-wired in her liberal brain.
Me First
September 4th, 2009
9:13 am
The New York Post has been on this story for two years already. As usual with te AJC, “Yesterday’s news, tomorrow.”
jconservative
September 4th, 2009
9:19 am
The Rangel problem is not Rangel by himself. The senority system in the House would put Stark in the committee chairmanship. His problem is that he is detested by all other 434 members of the house.
Question
September 4th, 2009
9:20 am
Cynthia — I’m also surprised and impressed with your column and position!! However, much more than stepping down is needed, i.e., investigation and prosecution come to mind (what would happen to Joe public if he or she were Rangel??).
Now, for the next step, regarding loss of credibility, outlived their use, and stepping aside for the “good” of many things, let’s talk about the CBC…
John
September 4th, 2009
9:22 am
Ouch! I just fell out of my chair. Cynthia and I agree on an issue.
Sheffield
September 4th, 2009
9:47 am
I agree. Barney Frank is worse and you go after Rangel?
Just because
September 4th, 2009
10:15 am
Let’s see who will be the first (Al Sharpton??? or the left media) to say Rangel is being singled out because he is black?
RealityKing
September 4th, 2009
11:05 am
Nancy drained the republican swamp and now America sees bloated democrat pigs wallowing in the mud..
SOSO
September 4th, 2009
11:20 am
Step down!! He should be prosecuted. I’m sure he’s polishing off his race card.
RealityKing
September 4th, 2009
11:31 am
Charley won’t be presecuted. Obama has already shown that he’s not above killing the criminal investigations of his supporters..
smoochie
September 4th, 2009
2:41 pm
Cynthia, you are correct again. Rangell should be in prison.
Sam H
September 5th, 2009
6:42 pm
For once in your execrable journalistic career, I agree with you.
Who are you and what have you done with Cynthia Tucker?
Ivan Cohen
September 6th, 2009
5:40 pm
Individuals like Rangel don’t give up nothing…..it has to be snatched from them.
Chris Sanchez
September 7th, 2009
10:27 am
It is a rare day indeed when Ms. Tucker and I agree on something. You see Ms. Tucker, when you are intellectually honest, your opinions actually make sense.
Shawny
September 8th, 2009
3:16 pm
Absolutely, he needs to go. What a crook!
I didn’t realize he is so old. Now, he needs to be removed. 79 is too old to be making tax policy.