Home > Opinion > Michael Barone > Despite Charlie Rangel's Tax Problems, He Might Help Republicans Keep Bush's Tax Cuts

Despite Charlie Rangel's Tax Problems, He Might Help Republicans Keep Bush's Tax Cuts

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Obama made a campaign promise to close tax loopholes, I guess he meant after he picked his cabinet and gave praise to Charlie Rangel.
He was a bit more careful when he picked his Green Jobs Czar Van Jones, His only problem is that he’s an admitted Black Nationalist and Communist, at least he was while he was in jail, hey maybe Hillary will resign and obama can get ex-Governor Blagojevich to be our Secretary of State.
Why are we giving free passes to tax cheats, racists and comunists?
Richard Nixon did a lot of good things. Does that mean that we should have forgiven him and left him in office or let him run for another term?

Don Sullivan of CA 12:20AM July 19, 2009

Why is the number one retort to a politician's wrong doings always all the other good stuff they did. Barone is nothing more than an apologist and is basically saying that unethical behavior is the cost of doing business. You don't get to be where he is by not knowing the rules you get there with knowledge of working around them along with PR and kickbacks. Rangel needs to get on Obama's transparency bandwagon oh wait he already seems to be.

Rob of NE 10:57PM February 02, 2009

Michael,
I'm disturbed by your characterization of the 'sins' of Rangel and Rosty as somehow forgivable for reasons of larger importance.
Is it too much to ask, for this ordinary citizen, that his representatives in government be ethical in matters big and small? If Rosty is so tempted to cheat in the small areas, surely there are extant examples of it in his larger works too, that we simply don't know about; ethics are a matter of the character, and one does not call it into service one day and ignore it the next.
Charlie Rangel served his country no more or less than any of those hundreds of thousands who suffered in Korea, or the Pacific earlier, or Vietnam later. What troubles me is that for his entire life he has carried a GRUDGE over it, and DEMANDS that others suffer like he did, so he can somehow get revenge on-- who? why? It's just UGLY. And in his own character, Rangel is as slippery and weasel-like as anyone else on Cap Hill and does NOT deserve any special credit for his service, any more than any other congressman who did the same. To answer the call, even under the duress of the draft, was the right thing to do. Since then, for the wrong reasons, he has often done the wrong thing. This is NOT made right by his service, any more than Duke Cunningham's sins or Jack Murtha's sins or any other rep who served.
THis disturbs me, Michael, that you want to cut these men so much slack when you should be holding them up as bad examples instead.

Dave in Texas of TX 10:26AM December 04, 2008

I question the integrity of people like Michael Barone who seem to think that just about anything is excusable as long as it's done by someone on his side of the political fence. We're all supposed to give Charlie a free pass, because his leftist horde says it's okay. Meanwhile they'd have to lie to say that in the exact same situation they wouldn't crucify a republican without hesitation.
It's high time we take out the bad apples on both sides and eliminate the notion that it's acceptable as long as your side is in power. Wrong is wrong and that's all that needs to be considered here, not a person's military history. So what if Rangel was a vet? So was my father and several of my uncles and they all accept the fact that they are accountable for what they do wrong. Nobody should be above the law or held to different standard. Thank Mr. Rangel for his service to his country and help him carry his junk to his car on his way out of Capitol Hill.

Verlyn Severson of MN 6:55PM December 01, 2008

Here's the full report on Rangel. He's an embarrassment to U.S. Veterans and doesn't deserve a pass just because he was in the military.
http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/node/432

Blue of MO 11:03PM November 30, 2008

This article is just rubbish - he is supposed to set an example and no matter how brave his service was - he MUST resign or be fired if the allegations are true.
Additionally - his published salary is circa 250 K.
Mine is DOUBLE this - there is no way I will ever be able to sensibly afford a villa like his in Punta Cana.
How did he pay for it?

Suspiciousjohn 5:48PM November 29, 2008

in view of the enormous wealth destruction of retirement plans from the fall out of the mess created on wall street should not some consideration be given to helping the retired and soon to be retired citizens of the us? how about abolishing the income tax on the social security payments that are sent monthly? how about exempting from the federal income tax on $50,000 from retirement plans? Our IRA and other retirement vehicles will never achieve the value they had before the sub prime fall out and it's effect on wall street. Is there someone out there that can promote the above ideas? george best
age 73 and unable to afford to retire.

george best of AZ 4:17PM November 29, 2008

I have a concern about ignoring Rangel's tax cheating, "since he's done so good work...". But if that's the criteria, I have help TWO old ladies cross the street this week. Does that get me a small fudging on this year's taxes? Ya know, just to be fair?

bubba of 3:10PM November 29, 2008

There are a lot of people in this country who pay their taxes full and honestly, and with great difficulty. Rangel did not fall into some misunderstanding or gray area; he purposefully broke the law by evading many thousands of dollars in tax. I'd also be very interested in adding up all his expenditures (four apartments in NYC and a place in DC to start with) and seeing how a man with his income could possibly pay them.
Not only should he not get a pass, he should go to prison. For several years. And I hope he ends up married to the guy with the most cigarettes.

Chester White of IL 2:07PM November 29, 2008

Forget about Rangel's hypocritical (and probabaly illegal)forays into rent fraud and tax evasion while head of a committee that deals with tax issues because you "like" him?! Are you serious? I agree with the "broken windows" poster - tolerating corruption in small things allows corruption in general to flourish.
If the bill is so great, get rid of Rangel and get someone else to introduce it.

inmypajamas of TX 12:52PM November 29, 2008