Embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) Says Obama Can't Make Determination on His "Dignity"

Rep. Charlie Rangel says President Obama hasn't "been around long enough to determine what my dignity is" over the end of his political career due to ethics violations.

Charlie Rangel (D-NY) recently commented on President Obama's statement that he should "end his career with dignity," in response to the ethics violations he was slapped with. Well, Rangel shot back by saying the president hasn’t "been around long enough to determine what my dignity is." According to CBS NY, he also said it was more likely that he would protect Obama’s dignity over the next two years.This is funny and Rangel is technically right. Notwithstanding his avarice, he worked hard for the people of his district and though I think he should step down, he should have a hearing to address these violations.

President Obama seems to have a lot of free time on his hands because he manages to get involved in trivial controversies. He should have left this matter of Charlie Rangel's ethics violations to Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner or even to Rahm Emmanuel. You will recall that Rangel, the former House Ways and Means Committee chairman, was accused of using official stationary to raise money for a college center bearing his name; delaying tax payments on income on a rental unit in the Dominican Republic; failing to file his financial disclosure statements on time; and operating four rent-stabilized apartments in New York, including one he used as a campaign office, put quite succinctly by CBS NY.

As much as I wish Charlie Rangel would resign, he should have a chance to explain what happened, though we know he will come up with total BS. So, the best we can all hope for is that the voters in his district recall him from Washington by voting for his opponent, Adam Clayton Powell IV.