WOW…I am the first ‘civilian’ WoWer to post on this subject.

 Madame Speaker Pelosi NEEDED to address the Rangel mess months ago…but, apparently political pandering (with a willing to look the other way media) prohibited that…is Rangel ‘too big’ to fail?  Or just too well connected?

Maybe Nance can pow-wow with Harry Reid…and will the Pelosi can lament her having to deal with Rangel, Reid can school her on how he has ALSO OVERLOOKED the ‘wonky’ mortgage dealings of Chris Dodd and CountryWide. 

 Hmmmm…I see a pattern here…anyone else see it?  As millions of Americans LOSE THEIR HOMES (for what…tax troubles and mortgage issues)…well connected House and Senate Democrats skate on tax troubles and mortgages issues (with a wink and a nod from their Democratic leadership).

But the really, really BIG story in DC is Fox News is just sooo mean to the Administration. 

Personally, I believe Nancy Pelosi has already been judged by the American people.   Her ratings are low but not because of Charlie Rangel.

Here’s the story according to WCBS TV, a New York CBS affiliate:

CBS 2 HD has learned of more alleged back-door dealings and political power peddling by Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel. The reigning member of Congress’ top tax committee is apparently "wrangling" other politicos to get him out of his own financial and tax troubles.

…Since ethics probes began last year the 79-year-old congressman has given campaign donations to 119 members of Congress, including three of the five Democrats on the House Ethics Committee who are charged with investigating him.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/weeklyupdate/2009/36-why-nancy-pelosi-protecting-charlie-rangel

Charlie Rangel lied and has been exposed.   This is a serious matter and I agree with Whoopi…"he has to go!"    The American people do not want people in the White House who are not vetted.   The czars are a good example.   Even though presidents before Obama had their czars it is today that we find it necessary to know the backgrounds of those in positions of power in the White House.

Nancy Pelosi, at times, is like a possessed woman tenacious and unyielding.   She also appears fraile at times.  For some reason, I never realized before how far left she swings.    Her ratings will more than likely improve once she deals with this scoundrel.    She needs to clean her house now!

I believe in accountability. I spent eight long years feeling that the Bush administration needed to be accountable for many decisions and policies, and spoke out loud and often. Well, the pump is on the other foot, and I want it even more. At first, when the rumors started to trickle in, I felt it might be a small issue that could be handled in a way that Rangel could remain to do the generally fine job he has done for many years. But then the floodgates opened, and now it seems we have been inundated. For Pelosi to stonewall on this issue is shortsighted and just plain irresponsible. Were this a Republican, I know what would be happening, and to treat a Democratic colleague any differently is a bonehead move. Rangel has served with honor for many years, but he has issues now that must be addressed fully and openly. He should go. And Pelosi needs to follow up impartially and quickly. Otherwise she simply adds to a growing perception of her as a biased and difficult leader. We need her to be strong, decisive and even handed.

And THIS is why hypocrisy reigns supreme in the capital.

Speaker Pelosi should (if I were in her shoes) oust Rangel. His offense couple with the chair he holds is a toxic combination and sends the wrong signal to our nation.

However, Timothy Geitner who owed far more in back taxes than Rangel’s $10K is still operating as our head of Treasury. He is Secretary of Treasury - didn’t pay taxes for whatever reason it may be - and yet we are entrusting him to oversee ALL of our monies?

The hypocrisy of this abounds in my opinion. When Geitner passed the Senate Finance Committee and was appointed, the excuse was made that "if we deny everyone nominated for positions in the administration for tax issues, no one would pass" Well doesn’t that tell you something? Doesn’t that mean that people are behaving in a manner because they know they can get away with it without repercussions? Why not start holding their feet to the fire and (I know this is a radical thought) but call them on their actions?

And I don’t know if Rangel even knows what the WoW site is, but if he does and is reading this…..

I have heard what you have had to say as of late in this regard and you and I both know the card you are slowly pulling out of your vest. Put it back Rangel, you have no one to blame for this mess than yourself! Do not try to deflect culpability away from your actions by attempting to turn this into something it’s not. You know what I am talking about.

I believe we need much more accountability and real consequences for all of the moral and legal misdeeds and ethics infractions of all of our legislators and government appointees no matter what party, branch of government or government agency with which they are affiliated.

I work in law enforcement and right now, even with the unemployment in this area in double digits, we’re having trouble filling some job openings because of the high legal, moral, and ethical standards to which we hold our applicants. I dare say that most of our congress and many in the White House and Justice Departments wouldn’t measure up to our standards of behavior.

We do complete background and financial investigations then back them up with a polygraph on everybody who is considered for a position here, whether it’s a law enforcement officer or records clerk. We all have to take the oath and nobody who isn’t up to the standards required by that oath is ever allowed to take it.

Isn’t it about time we started demanding the same for our elected and appointed government officials before they are allowed to run for office? That way maybe the government won’t have to spend so much time cleaning up their own backyards rather than keeping the American citizens from losing theirs. 

We won’t have the kind of complete waste of government funds that we had with all of the billions spent persecuting the Clintons for the non-existent White Water. We wouldn’t have all of the doubt that Faux News is trying to stir up about the new White Water (Acorn) and get this congress to spend billions investigating. Not to mention not having the embarrassment of having so many members of the "Family Values Party" caught with their pants down (literally).

Pelosi can’t remove him before the bipartisan House Ethics Committee finishes its investigation.  That would flout our bedrock American principle of innocence until proven guilty.

However, she can have him resign as chair of Ways and Means, and if she were a more powerful Speaker and a stronger person, she would have accomplished this already.

It is so disappointing when someone you grow to depend on for moral and ethical leadership turns out to be corrupt.  Just how wealthy is Rangel that he could have a bookeeping oversight to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars?  If we are to believe that he is capable of such an oversight could we even trust him to walk the dog on time?  Nevermind what Pelosi ought to do - Rangel needs to do the right thing for his nation, constituents, party, family and himself by gathering up his courage, stepping out into the light of truth and resign.