Target Dems' Campaign Coffers Still Dirty With Embattled Rangel’s Campaign Cash

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following incumbent and challenger districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04); John Barrow (GA-12); Melissa Bean (IL-08); Sanford Bishop (GA-02); Tim Bishop (NY-01); John Boccieri (OH-16); Leonard Boswell (IA-03); Allen Boyd (FL-02); Bruce Braley (IA-01); Ben Chandler (KY-06); Jim Costa (CA-20); Lincoln Davis (TN-04); Steve Driehaus (OH-01); Chet Edwards (TX-17); Joe Garcia (FL-25); Debbie Halvorson (IL-11); Martin Heinrich (NM-01); Brian Higgins (NY-27); Baron Hill (IN-09); Tim Holden (PA-17); Steve Kagen (WI-08); Paul Kanjorski (PA-11); Larry Kissell (NC-08); Rick Larsen (WA-02); Dan Maffei (NY-25); Jim Marshall (GA-08); Jim Matheson (UT-02); Michael McMahon (NY-13); Michael Michaud (ME-02); Walt Minnick (ID-01); Patrick Murphy (PA-08); Ed Perlmutter (CO-07); Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL); Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23); Mike Ross (AR-04); John Salazar (CO-03); Kurt Schrader (OR-05); Dan Seals (IL-10); Heath Shuler (NC-11); John Spratt (SC-05); Harry Teague (NM-02) and David Wu (OR-01).

Washington– With the recent news that notoriously corrupt Charlie Rangel has been charged with violations by a House ethics panel, Democrats are bracing for big losses in November as their mounting corruption problem threatens their current majority. While some Democrats have fled from the embattled former Ways and Means Chairman and rid themselves of his tainted campaign cash, John Boccieri is still tightly clinging to $68,829 for his uphill re-election battle. And as Rangel’s ethical lapses threaten to bring down the out-of-touch Democrat majority, it appears Boccieri will voluntarily be one of November’s many casualties.

“Despite recent charges by the House Ethics Committee against notoriously corrupt Charlie Rangel, John Boccieri continues to hang on to his dirty campaign contributions,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Boccieri’s adamant refusal to relinquish the tainted money is evidence that he plans on standing by the embattled former Ways and Means Chairman as he prepares to face a jury of his peers. And now that any chance to convince voters that they will ‘drain the swamp’ and ‘sweep corruption out of Washington’ is gone, the out-of-touch Democrat majority will face angry voters and big losses in November’s election.”

“The news that New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel violated House ethics rules and could be subject to a Congressional trial — likely in September — has party strategists panicked at what such a spectacle might do to an already difficult election climate for their side… The image of Rangel as symbolic of a broader out-of-touchness pervading Congress, which many voters believe to their core, is a dangerous one for Democrats.”

“For a party trying to desperately to turn the election into a choice between the two parties rather than a referendum on President Obama and Democratic majorities in Congress, the Rangel allegations — and his combative approach to fighting them — is an unwelcome headache that could further complicate its efforts to keep the majority on Nov. 2.” (Chris Cillizza, “Democrats’ Charlie Rangel problem,” Washington Post, 07/23/2010)

After hitting middle-class families with additional taxes over the past two years, the fact that the nation’s chief tax writer may be found guilty of failing to report his own taxes is infuriating:

“The prospects of a public trial, perhaps beginning in September, are excruciating for Democrats. They won the House in 2006 in part by running against the corruption of GOP Members, and now one of their own barons is in the dock. The charges appear to be the kind that would cost any normal citizen a big fine if not jail time, and the spectacle of the nation’s chief tax writer not reporting all of his income and half his assets will infuriate voters who know their own taxes are going up.” (“The Rangel Standard,” Wall Street Journal, Editorial, 07/24/2010)

Now, as Democrats quickly rid themselves of Rangel’s tainted cash in hopes of distancing themselves from the corrupt former Ways and Means Chairman, will Boccieri be next?

“Rep. Betsy Markey’s campaign is poised to donate $7,000 to charities if, as expected, fellow Rep. Charles Rangel formally faces ethics charges this week.” (Robert Moore, “Markey ready to donate $7,000 linked to Rangel,” Coloradoan, 7/27/2010)

“Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.) said Monday that she will donate to charity $14,000 in contributions she received from beleaguered Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.)…Late Friday, Indiana Senate candidate and Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D) announced that he would donate to charity the $12,000 he received from Rangel.” (Shane D’Aprile, “Following the Rangel cash,” The Hill, 7/26/2010)