Rep. Charlie Rangel, the politically embattled one himself, looks very bad these days as he clings to his tenuous position. In fact, HE LOOKS TERRIBLE.
It's tough for him right now, I'm sure, but Rangel needs to let go of his once-powerful position in the political spotlight and just, as the saying goes, keep it moving.
This is an excerpt from an article published by Huffington Post:
A House panel on Thursday made public for the first time 13 charges of misusing his office and tax and disclosure violations against Rangel, 80, as it opened the trial phase of the ethics proceedings against him. If Rangel and the ethics committee do not settle the case, it goes to a public trial this fall, at the height of an election season in which every member of the House, 36 in the Senate and the Democratic majorities of both chambers are on the line.We can't lie to ourselves: It's bad ... VERY BAD! Increasingly, it seems like Charlie is hanging onto something that has long since been lost.
His position as a powerful man, one who has served 20 terms, has been severely damaged - irreparably damaged.
His credibility is mortally wounded and each day he grabs a headline it adds another bruise to a battered political reputation. It all sets up to be a very bad ending for a man who once had the respect of so many.
Even President Obama, speaking to Katie Couric of CBS Evening News, has finally weighed in with a respectful tone, but one that nonetheless revealed how weakened Rangel is these days.
"He's somebody who's at the end of his career. I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens," he said.
What is Rangel hanging onto these days?
Some supporters are still hanging onto him.
Rangel retained many supporters Friday. The New York delegation and the Congressional Black Caucus, which was co-founded by Rangel, urged their colleagues not to rush to judgment. House leaders eager to avoid alienating black voters remained mum on what Rangel should do.
I know the CBC has to remain somewhat loyal to Rangel for obvious reasons, but where does loyalty end and the reality of the mess the congressman has gotten himself in with these charges?
Time is running out for Charlie Rangel, and maybe it's best he step aside.
