Are Black Democratic Lawmakers Held to a Higher Standard & Face Increased Scrutiny than White Counterparts?

Are black lawmakers such as Maxine Waters & Charles Rangel, held to a higher standard and face increased scrutiny than their white counterparts in Congress?

Are black legislators being held to a higher standard by Congress? Reps. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) are forcing public trials by the House ethics committee and their actions have raised questions about race and whether black lawmakers face more scrutiny over allegations of ethical or even criminal wrongdoing that their white counterparts. If you ask me, Charlie Rangel's problems were caused by his actions to game the system -- four rent stablized apartments in New York City, for example. I do find it a little disturbing that Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters are being thrown under a bus, while Sen. Mark Ensign's (R-NV) numerous violations are largely ignored by the MSM and Republican lawmakers. It seems that at one point earlier this year, the Office of Congressional Ethics launched investigations that concerned only black lawmakers -- eight to be exact.

The other black lawmakers who appeared on the OCE radar include: Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), who has been caught up in a Department of  Justice criminal probe, plus accusations of shady loans and grants made to an not-for-profit entity to which he has ties; and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) over his role in the Rod Blagojevich scandal. Additionally, Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee last year for making "incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information" over his appointment by Blagojevich to Obama's seat." Former Rep. Frank Ballance (D-NC), was sent to federal prison in 2005 after being convicted on federal fraud and money laundering charges; former Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-AL), in 2002, the ethics committee found he had improperly used campaign funds; and lastly, Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), was cleared of impropriety in 2000 after an investigation over the gift of a car to her daughter and other allegations. (h/t Politico)

Sorry, if you break the rules you shouldn't just get a slap on the wrist. You should be held accountable, but it does raise red flags when black lawmakers are being held to a higher standard and singled out for their so-called improprieties when their white counterparts fly under the OCE radar.