Rangel’s Problems Dog Democrats

Rep. Charles Rangel, the charismatic, powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, spoke grandly at a news conference this week about the need to fund urban projects and keep the nation competitive.

Then the New York Democrat was chased down the hall by reporters demanding to know whether he was going to temporarily give up his chairmanship over ethics allegations.”I don’t see what purpose that would serve,” Rep. Rangel said. “I don’t think reporters should be in the position to remove chairmen, not even temporarily, especially when the reporting is false.”

The exchange highlighted the danger for congressional Democrats that Rep. Rangel’s problems could be a distraction as they return to Washington this week and prepare for a bigger majority. Rep. Rangel’s plight creates a discordant note as the party seeks to enact sweeping overhauls.

Read more: (Naftali Bendavid, “Rangel’s Problems Dog Democrats,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/10/08)