Pelosi loath to drop hammer on Rangel (Democrat Corruption Alert!)

Politico
By: Glenn Thrush
September 5, 2009 06:47 PM EST

Why is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refusing a growing chorus of calls to drop the hammer on ethics-challenged Charlie Rangel?

Because, at the moment, doing nothing creates a lot less trouble for Pelosi than doing anything, current and former House aides tell POLITICO.

Stripping the Harlem Democrat of his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee would force Pelosi to make a series of unpalatable decisions about Rangel’s successor that would create a ruckus in the Democratic caucus.

It would also infuriate the Congressional Black Caucus, which is still sore over Pelosi’s decision to strip committees from former Louisiana Rep. Bill Jefferson – even after Jefferson had been found with a wad of tainted cash in his kitchen.

“Unless they find $90,000 in his freezer, like they did with Jefferson, we’re going to wait [for the outcome of a House ethics probe],” said a Democratic aide familiar with Pelosi’s thinking on the matter.

Staffers say the speaker has been so focused on the health care battle that she simply hasn’t devoted much time to Rangel’s recent troubles – and there’s no push among House Democrats to heed the fire-Rangel cries of Republicans, the New York Times, Washington Post and Buffalo News.

“She hasn’t even spoken to the congressman about this latest episode,” said a close Rangel associate, referring to recent published reports that the 78-year-old Rangel underreported his assets by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The speaker is totally behind him, and she told him that the last few times they have spoken,” the person added.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...

Comment: Let's get this straight. If you are member of the Black Caucus in the House, you don't have to follow the law or ethics because no one will do anything to you. Former Congressman Jefferson was found guilty on numerous counts (11 counts), yet, before the trial even after they found all the money, the Black Caucus stood behind him. What if that was a white Republican? Wait, we had that and the Democrats called for removal immediately, but then so did the Republicans when it came Duke Cunningham. Double standard at play. It seems if you are black, you can do anything in the House now and get away with it, but watch out if you are a white Republican. This is the same Black Caucus that didn't want Republican JC Watts to be member.