Rep. Charlie Rangel Wins Democratic Primary

[sabrina 1]

Congressman Charlie Rangel Wins the Democratic Primary

Charlie Rangel Hangs On To Dem Nomination For His House Seat

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) has won the Democratic nomination for his NY-15 congressional seat, beating state Rep. Adam Clayton Powell IV, the Associated Press reports.

With 59% of precincts reporting, Rangel leads Powell 53%-25%.

Powell put up a strong fight against Rangel, who was somewhat damaged by his 13 ethics charges. And for Powell it was personal — Rangel had beaten his father in 1970 under similar circumstances, as the senior Powell was forced out of Congress because of ethics violations.

But the bitter rivalry didn’t make up for Rangel’s early lead, his strong fundraising, and his support from bigwig New York Democrats like Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

From TPM:

Powell put up a strong fight against Rangel, who was somewhat damaged by his 13 ethics charges. And for Powell it was personal -- Rangel had beaten his father in 1970 under similar circumstances, as the senior Powell was forced out of Congress because of ethics violations.

But the bitter rivalry didn't make up for Rangel's early lead, his strong fundraising, and his support from bigwig New York Democrats like Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

He wiped the floor with his opponent. I wouldn't call 53%-25% 'hanging on'.

Congrats to Charlie. He's a fighter who stood up for us during the worst of the Bush years, one of the few who did.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R!

:applause:

[sabrina 1]

3. Lol, I agree. Republican heads will be exploding tonight.

They've been after him forever but he is loved in that district. Hope they aren't too disappointed :rofl:

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I can't help but feel affection for Charlie Rangel.

I was disappointed when people were urging him to step down because I would have missed him. Not only do people love him, but he's entertaining, as well... The exploding heads are just icing on the cake... LOL. :D

[sabrina 1]

9. War Hero Charlie Rangel V Draft Dodger Dick Cheney!

Cheney, warmongering criminal, is living in luxury, exhonerated for crimes against humanity! As long as he and his ilk are roaming free, it is the height of hypocrisy for anyone in Congress who refused to hold the Bush War Criminals accountable, to ask Rangel to step down over allegations that do not even compare. No rule of law for War Criminals! I agree, it was more than disappointing.

And yes, those exploding freeper heads are definitely icing on the cake. I hope Cheney was informed also! :-)

[Rhiannon12866]

20. You make an excellent point.

But you know how the RW operates. John Kerry was a genuine war hero, while Bush* was a draft dodger, like Cheney, but the RW spin machine somehow managed to flip it, with Bush* in his flight suit, declaring "Mission Accomplished," vs. the "swift boaters" hatchet job on John Kerry... It's all spin in this political climate and the uninformed seem to swallow it whole... :banghead:

So I'm glad that Charlie Rangel was vindicated by his constituents. That's one for us... As for Dick Cheney, who knows what he's hearing in that underground lair? Somehow, I can't imagine we'll be hearing from him again... x(

[usregimechange]

2. yuck

[aquart]

4. He gloatingly booted Cheney from his fancy office.

That gesture alone is worth six rent-controlled apartments to me.

[sabrina 1]

8. Lol, yes, that and the time he called Cheney

a 'son-of-a-bitch' and 'insane'! Anyone who stood up to Cheney especially during that awful period of time when most people were afraid to say anything about him, has a lot of credit coming their way as far as I am concerned. Charlie never hid his absolute disdain for Cheney, the real criminal. For that alone he deserves to stay in Congress.

[Swamp Rat]

10. Yeah you right!

:kick:

[Cleita]

6. I'm happy for Charlie.

At least the witch hunt after him got taken down a notch.

[sabrina 1]

11. Yes, I am happy for him also and it is a witch hunt.

A rightwing 'charity' is among those who have targeted Rangel. Why they still have their non-profit status is a mystery



Inflated Charges Hound Politicians

The charges, under consideration by the House ethics committee, are far less grave than the outright criminality alleged in the cases of Blagojevich, DeLay and Stevens, all of which wilted considerably under close scrutiny.

Rangel has contended, to no avail, that he is the target of a far right-wing think tank called the National Legal and Policy Center, which has been openly gunning for him for years. Exhibit A, says Rangel, is an extraordinary fund-raising letter, dated May 18, 2009, by the policy center's president, Peter Flaherty, boasting about the group's intention to "take out Rangel and fan the flames of opposition to massive tax hikes planned by Obama and Rangel."

You can see the letter for yourself on my website, www.errollouis.com. In my opinion, it violates the spirit, if not the letter, of prohibitions on open campaigning by tax-exempt organizations like the National Legal and Policy Center. "The media is hungry. Please help us bring them fresh meat," Flaherty writes, seeking charitable dollars. "We have the expertise and audacity to take down Rangel."

Most charities wouldn't dream of using such nakedly political partisan language for fear of violating IRS rules. But when I interviewed him, Flaherty made no apology for his hardball tactics or for manufacturing the Rangel media frenzy, which he calls a public service.

Charlie is warrior, in the real sense of the word. If Tom Delay can get away with what he has done, I don't have any doubt that Rangel will defeat these charges also.

[Hannah Bell]

12. "massive tax hikes planned by Obama and Rangel" - do they mean the repeal of bush's

tax breaks for billionaires?

[sabrina 1]

13. I don't know. But what they wanted to do was

tie Rangel to Obama on the issue hoping to discredit any effort to raise taxes on the rich, and/or let the Bush tax cuts expire.

They should lose THEIR tax-exempt status over this. They seem to believe they are immune for some reason.

[Hannah Bell]

14. advocacy groups can be non-profits. they just can't give political contributions or do

lobbying, i believe is the dividing line.

i think that's right, correct me if not.

[sabrina 1]

17. I don't know, you may be right

Since they don't seem to be worried about involving themselves in politics, you probably are. It's a shame though that politics is so littered with these kind of people. They are corrupting the process and as the article says, causing the public to be so cynical about politics in general.

[Echotrail]

7. K&R! Congrats to Charlie.

:)

[Skip Intro]

15. Good news!

I'm just waitin' on the paper boy to bring me some good neeewws...

(Family Guy humor, sorry. I'm not really sorry...)

[sabrina 1]

19. Lol ~

[itsrobert]

16. "and his support from bigwig New York Democrats like Mayor Michael Bloomberg."

When did Bloomberg become a Democrat?

[sabrina 1]

18. Bloomberg is an Independent now

He's been a Democrat, a Republican and now he's an Independent.

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is the current Mayor of New York City, and the 8th richest person in the United States, having net worth of US$18 billion in 2010.<2> He is the founder and 88% owner of Bloomberg L.P., a financial news and information services media company.<3><4><5>

A lifelong Democrat before seeking elective office, Bloomberg switched his registration in 2001 and ran for mayor as a Republican, winning the election that year and a second term in 2005. He was frequently mentioned as a possible independent candidate for the 2008 presidential election and fueled that speculation when he left the Republican Party in June 2007 to become an independent.<6> There was also speculation that he would run as a vice-presidential candidate.<7> Bloomberg did not, however, seek the presidency nor was he selected as a running mate by any of the presidential candidates.