Dem Rep: Hey, sorry for letting the cat out of the bag on the Rangel reprimand
posted at 4:30 pm on August 1, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Someone must have finally explained to Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) that his subcommittee’s recommendation for punishment against Charles Rangel (D-NY) for 13 counts of ethics violations looked a little … weak. Accordingly, Green is now walking back his written recommendation and apologizing for stepping on the full committee’s toes:
Rep. Gene Green has apologized to the chairwoman of the House ethics panel for revealing how the committee wants to punish Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Green, the chairman of the ethics investigative panel looking into charges against Rangel, told The Hill that he “screwed up” on Friday when revealing that his panel wanted to reprimand Rangel.
The Texas Democrat said he intended to call the head of the full ethics committee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), to apologize for telling reporters that the subcommittee recommended reprimanding Rangel for allegedly breaking House ethics rules. The revelation was not included in the lengthy documents on the charges faced by Rangel that were released on Thursday.
Green explained that the four-person investigative panel’s recommended punishment “wasn’t supposed to be included” in the 13-count ethics indictment.
Gosh darn it, it was supposed to be a surprise! Perhaps a nice surprise, tied up in a little bow, and delivered on August 11th when Democratic Party leaders throw a big birthday fundraiser — er, party — for the man whose birthday passed two months earlier. Who knows? The combination celebratory good feelings, hard campaign cash, and the softball reprimand might have convinced Charlie to shut the hell up and take a pass on the ethics trial slated now for the middle of the campaign season.
Now Green ruined the surprise. Ah, well. Now they’ll just have to rely on the campaign cash to change Charlie’s mind.
Blowback
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I wonder if this forces their hand to pursue a full trial now?….
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 4:35 PM
This whole thing is disgusting…Democrats really have no shame…
CCRWM on August 1, 2010 at 4:35 PM
With both Rangel and Waters – both of these corrupt scumbag CBC dimbulbs know that they will get off scot-free with the current congress in place, no matter what they have done or are currently doing. That’s why they’re pushing to get their ethics trials done before the election.
I’ve considered some other theories of why these two are “inciting and inviting” old hatreds amid the nation’s already-smoldering racial tensions, right before the most divisive midterm election in history. These theories, however pose grave consequences, too terrible to contemplate, at least just yet. Don’t put anything past these people. They’re about to lose their power, and they know it.
Fishoutofwater on August 1, 2010 at 4:37 PM
And…their constituents have no shame either and so we find ourselves in a very dangerous place now in America because letting Democrats get away with these violations of the law means we on the Right have to give up our values our money and our freedom to unethical and foul people..are we going to do that? I don’t think so…
CCRWM on August 1, 2010 at 4:42 PM
In other words, their swamp draining policy isn’t as robust as they’d like us to think that it is….
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 4:42 PM
You see, he’s corrupt, but he’s not corrupt corrupt…like a Republican would be. Don’t forget skin color. That’s always a mitigating factor (thanks, OJ), again, unless you’re a Republican. Then you’re not black black, you’re black but with a marshmallow filling or something. You just need your entitlement goggles to see it clearly.
Extrafishy on August 1, 2010 at 4:43 PM
“Screwed up,” heh?
BS. Dollars to donuts, it was a deliberate leak.
GrannyDee on August 1, 2010 at 4:43 PM
Ed,
I’ll bet that’s exactly what happened, Rep. Green let the cat out of the bag early.
Ain’t no way, the Dems are putting two leading lights of the CBC on trial.
patch on August 1, 2010 at 4:47 PM
It sure does pay to be black these days.
Tim Zank on August 1, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Bovine excrement!
They were just ‘running it up the flag pole’ to see how the public would react.
GarandFan on August 1, 2010 at 4:49 PM
huh…..a trial balloon, perhaps.
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 4:51 PM
It looks like Royal Prince Rangel’s “punishment” is going to be a whole lot closer to three lashes with a wet noodle than to water boarding. I suppose if he had committed murder his “punishment” would be 40 hours of “community service”.
Tav on August 1, 2010 at 4:51 PM
huh! a good call by garandfan. A trial balloon perhaps? Dems are testing the public to see what they can get away with….
we are living a pavlovian experiment.
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Wait you mean we weren’t supposed to give a slap on the wrist to one of our best fundraisers and one of our most authentic allies in the black community?
Don’t you know strong punishment is only reserved if the person is on the OTHER side of the aisle AND it helps our party win an election?
Defector01 on August 1, 2010 at 4:54 PM
The walkback on the weak punishment was only necessary because Wangle’s check bounced.
pedestrian on August 1, 2010 at 5:03 PM
they’re triangulating perhaps?
by leaking the “wrist slap plan” they can easily make anything besides that plan look harsh in comparison. This is weak tea politics. In the words of Anthony Weiner, “DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE YES” and sink this guy….
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 5:07 PM
At some point we will probably need capital punishment to end corruption.
Perhaps Sharia will take care of it?
Lonetown on August 1, 2010 at 5:11 PM
A trial balloon for the October surprise where they do even less than this, i.e. nothing.
Valiant on August 1, 2010 at 5:12 PM
what a bonehead…
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:18 PM
They’ll end up giving him a wrist slap in the end…it doesn’t matter…they won’t be able to get anything more harsh with the CBC looming behind them
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:20 PM
Why won’t the Democrats be tougher on Rangel?
Really
About
Circumspect
Evidence
albill on August 1, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Culture of corruption? Can’t you hear the gurgle of the swamp draining?
Speakup on August 1, 2010 at 5:21 PM
I won’t say trial balloon again; I’ll just say punchbowl turd.
Tennman on August 1, 2010 at 5:22 PM
good one
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:22 PM
In the olden days they used the term show trial./
CWforFreedom on August 1, 2010 at 5:23 PM
Maybe Major Garrett can make Gibbsy squirm from his new front row seat….
http://dailycaller.com/2010/08/01/fox-news-to-get-front-row-seat-in-white-house-briefing-room/
ted c on August 1, 2010 at 5:23 PM
MOST excellent news on this fine sunday afternoon….
glad they made the right decision
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Maybe they can get Rush there too. That would be awesome.
CWforFreedom on August 1, 2010 at 5:31 PM
Geez Ed, Allahpundit’s snarkyness has begun to rub off on you. What next, exit questions? LOL
Seriously though, does anyone really expect anything more than a slap on the wrist for Charlie? He’s been in Congress for 40 years, has the goods on everyone who is anyone, and would likely spill the beans if strong action were to be taken against him. Oh yeah, one final thought, does anyone thing that Charlie would not through out the race card if he were actually to be censured or expelled?
simkeith on August 1, 2010 at 5:31 PM
I think the drain has been clogged by Pelosi’s BS.
CWforFreedom on August 1, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Major Garrett is far too classy to take cheap shots, but Gibbs will sweat when having to call on him because Garrett won’t suffer a fool, either.
As for our representatives who stray, if they’re not going to make tax cheats and lawbreakers pay, could we at least have some stocks set up in front of Congress, out by the sidewalk, with baskets of rotten fruit, for the citizenry to at least get an opportunity to express their displeasure? Videotape the proceedings and put it up on YouTube and C-SPAN.
tpitman on August 1, 2010 at 5:33 PM
he already started with his use of ‘lynching’…it will just be turned up a few notches
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:35 PM
I can see Gibbsy being a total a$$ and not even call on Garrett…
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 5:37 PM
cnn bringing up the race card for rangel with the Rev Al…
predictable…
cmsinaz on August 1, 2010 at 6:16 PM
Does Rankels get to keep this campaign cash if he resigns after the fundraiser… er, ah.. 2 month late Birthday Party?
So they are gonna tell Cholly he was a bad boy, don’t do it again, keep the cash and raise taxes on the rest of us.
He will say OK but get me enough campaign …er birthday party cash and I will resign and not spill the beans on the rest of you corruptocrats and yes I will help raise the taxes, I would not pay, on the rest of those fools who do still pay taxes as they should close the deficit hole that us ,,,holes created!
These guys are really, really, really askin for it!
dhunter on August 1, 2010 at 6:31 PM
Gene Green is about a half notch brighter than
Queen Sheila ( Jackson Lee )
We got some real doozys here in the Lone Star State.
Bill White is a prime example.
Texyank on August 1, 2010 at 6:37 PM
That will be too obvious.
ladyingray on August 1, 2010 at 6:48 PM
I hate to say I told ya so, but I told ya so……slap on the wrist and a new chairmanship…..oh yeah and another rent controlled apartment.
Vntnrse on August 1, 2010 at 6:56 PM
I think the apocolypse will have to happen, before we see the day Dems hold up their own to the same scrutiny they hold others to.
capejasmine on August 1, 2010 at 6:58 PM
I wonder if either party realize how foolish and corrupt the white wash ethics committee make all of them look. The entire system is broken and they proceed as if nobody notices. Humm, maybe nobody does?
whbates on August 1, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Guess that ‘leaking’ stuff doesn’t qualify as an ethics faux-pas, eh ?
/.
CaveatEmpty on August 1, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Mr. Green Jeans ain’t looking to well in the polls in the Houston area. He represents a largely Latino population, so the Arizona law could be a rallying point for him. Beyond that, he’s got no new messaging.
Houston is turning into a real litter box,and he’s one of the ones leading the charge.
madmonkphotog on August 1, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Stop and think about your life and all the things that cause problems in it. Most of them will revolve around money either a lack of or protection of it.
This idiot is in charge of everything that affects your money! He sets the tax rates, he determines how much of your money goes to deadbeats that refuse to pay their mortgages. He determines where your tax money goes and to whom. In other words he spends as much of your money as he can get his hands on. Except he hasn’t been subjected to those same rules that you and I have been subjected to. He and a lot of the administration have ignored those tax rules and our wishes on spending. He decided that his fellow CBC friends get more than their fair share. and then if it comes to light they can all scream racism! The fool and his ugly partner in crime, the Maxine, should go to prision for their misuse of their power. Don’t hold your breath.
inspectorudy on August 1, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Helen Thomas’ seat?
Will he get her inflatable butt donut, too?
Black Adam on August 1, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Wrong thread.
Black Adam on August 1, 2010 at 9:23 PM
I think it is pretty obvious that the dems have decided to attack the blacks. They know they don’t have the power or the numbers to stop them, so they “pick” off the easy pick’ens.
They didn’t go after Dodd, or Frank, they are going after just two African American’s…they didn’t go after Murtha or Reid, and they didn’t go after Feinstein when her husband received sweet heart contracts from the commission that Feinstein headed up.
Nope, they took two African Americans, who have been around too long, who have embarrassed them, and are now sacrificing them.
right2bright on August 1, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Anything less than expulsion is a big victory for Charlie. he is going no where. That is the repugnicans punishment for grandstanding.
borntoraisehogs on August 1, 2010 at 11:00 PM
OK, let me see if I’ve got this right: Trent Lott makes a comment at Strom Thurmond’s birthday party and loses the Senate Majority Leader’s position.
Newt Gingerich has a slew of ethics charges thrown at him (all but one were laughed out of committee. The last one was dropped three years later) and he was put in the political graveyard.
Charlie Rangel cheats every which way, is investigated for two years, and he gets a stern talking to.
Sounds fair and equitable to me!
Charlie’s body is probably plugging the hose Nancy Pelosi was using to drain the swamp called The House.
Yah, that explains it.
Amendment X on August 1, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Any day now, the race card will be played and that card will be as big as a billboard. The CBC is complaining that its members are always being investigated by the Ethics committee. Maybe if they were moral and ethical they would not be investigated. Actually I don’t think any democrat knows the meaning of ethical. Anybody remember Congressman William Jefferson,Democrat, and prominent member of the CBC. Hid 100 grand in his freezer. Now doing 13 years in Federal Prison for bribery
flintstone on August 2, 2010 at 12:17 AM
I know the opinions of us little people don’t count for much, but I called Green’s DC office on Thursday to politely share my disappointment regarding the rumors of a mere reprimand.
I was very likely politely ignored, but so it goes.
Extra Special Prosecutor on August 2, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Does George Michael chair this committee or what?
Mojave Mark on August 2, 2010 at 1:19 AM
First of all, I do not believe it was a mistake that Rep. Green released the “reprimand” punishment prematurely. I come from the standard that everything provided to the public by Democrats (and Republicans too, but more so by the former) is a calculated decision. This “punishment” was released for two reasons both entirely tactical in nature:
a) The first reason is a lead balloon. The Democrats release the punishment ahead of time to see how the public mood will react and then modify their decision based on the reaction by the public.
b) The second reason is to give an initial light punishment, but deliver a more harsh sentence (whatever that means) later on at the end of the hearing so as to give the appearance of being tough on their own members. “See! We got tough on one of our own members because we care so much about ethics, as opposed to those Republicans, blah blah blah…”
In either case, the objective is to present the appearance of being serious about ethics among not only Congress itself, but their own Democrat members. When in actuality, it’s business as usual: The powerful protecting the powerful.
I think it would have been much more damaging to the Democrats if the idea of a reprimand during the actual ethics hearing however many weeks from now, than it would be to get it out now and then deal with it later. I think the Democrats know it would have been more damaging as well, which is why we got what we got about Rangel and the Ethics Committee. But it really doesn’t matter what will happen, as in the end, the Dems will very likely lose their power as majority in just a few months. So they might as well get all the gravy they can get now!
Weebork on August 2, 2010 at 1:28 AM
Rangel would get a light rap on the limp wrist and the rest of us would do time was we to pull some Rangels.
Or some Lohans too . . . .
Sherman1864 on August 2, 2010 at 5:18 AM
simple
trent and newt have an (R) and charlie has a (D)…
gop scandal=ouster
dem scandal=enjoy more benes/accolades (little wrist slap)
cmsinaz on August 2, 2010 at 6:47 AM
and in more important news—j.lo is replacing ellen on…dang it…whatever that show is
devadevadasa on August 2, 2010 at 9:06 AM