Two more House Dems demand Rangel step down as panel head

[The Northerner]

Source: The Hill

Two politically vulnerable Democrats on Monday called for Rep. Charles Rangel to step down as Ways and Means Committee chairman.

Reps. Betty Sutton (Ohio) and Harry Mitchell (Ariz.) have joined the ranks of Democrats calling for the New York Democrat to relinquish his gavel in the wake of the ethics committee finding that Rangel violated House rules. 



“I think that in order to preserve the public trust, which is of the highest priority, Rep. Rangel should, at this point, step aside as chair of the Ways and Means Committee,” Sutton said in a statement to The Hill. “Our nation is facing many challenges and we must put all our energy, without distraction or question, into meeting those challenges.” 



Mitchell has notified Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of his concerns on the matter, his spokesman told The Hill on Monday. Mitchell defeated former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) in 2006 after Hayworth took a beating in the press for his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. 



There are now seven Democrats who have publicly called and/or voted to have Rangel give up his chairmanship: Reps. Bobby Bright (Ala.), Travis Childers (Miss.), Paul Hodes (N.H.), Mitchell, Mike Quigley (Ill.), Sutton and Gene Taylor (Miss.).

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/84377-two-more-house-dems-demand-rangel-step-down-as-panel-head

[bluestateguy]

1. I agree with them

Of course I've been mad at him for 5 years now, with that stupid stunt of his to bring back the military draft.

[ro1942]

3. Bringing back the draft

would probably stop all these stupid wars. Rangle needs to go but not for that.

[scottsoperson]

5. bringing back the draft is a brilliant idea which won't happen...

...

[bluestateguy]

6. Nonsense

A draft, no matter how hard the Congress tried, would never work in an equitable way.

And all you would be doing would be feeding the war machine more bodies to go off and fight. A few would dodge the draft, but far more people would just dutifully answer the call to serve and suit up (especially in these economic times; the draft for some people is a job).

[ro1942]

7. Lets agree to disagree

[scottsoperson]

8. a draft would pull in more of the middle class

which would destroy support for the war machine.

[scottsoperson]

9. the draft destroyed support for the vietnam war...

...

[marshall]

10. The draft would be challenged on gender bias grounds

The only reason it's not challenged now is because nobody has standing--no one is harmed by the mere exclusion of women from the registration of the draft. They would actually start having to start drafting men before the women could fight for their part.

[scentopine]

11. Absolutely agree- bringing back the draft is a great idea...

chicken hawks and other republican and democratic cowards need to share the burden of their bloody wars. Also- military is being overrun with white supremacists, christian soldiers and other nut jobs. Draft would insure more balance and drive home the true cost of war. If democrats are going to escalate wars, let them fight and sacrifice. Anything would be more equitable than the these fuckers voting for endless wars.

[demosincebirth]

2. Me too.

[scottsoperson]

4. i like rangel, but i think he messed up

sad

[still_one]

12. I have no problem with that, but why doesn't any Democrat call for lieberman to step aside

from the committee he chairs?

The SOB voted for mccain, voted against the public option, and will not vote for reconiliation

[TacticalPeek]

13. Fucking A.

I blame Connecticut.

[SlingBlade]

14. No Shame, None whatsoever.