SEE THE video of Pres. Obama re Rep. Charlie Rangel...click here
"I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served-- his constituents very well. But these-- allegations are very troubling... And he'll-- he's somebody who's at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I'm sure that-- what he wants is to be able to-- end his career with dignity. And my hope is that-- it happens." — President Obama
See more at the blog on the Congressional Black Caucus
SILENCE ... UNTIL NOW. The President has never said a word on the black farmers settlement or DC voting rights. Silence. He was silent on summer jobs for youth. He was silent when 54 people were shot — ten to death — in his hometown of Chicago on the weekend of June 22. He was silent when nine people were shot in the District of Columbia near day he attended Easter services ... (go read: In a Neighborhood of Dispair, Obama Stays Silent). No bully pulpit used on the subject of youth/gang violence. No words for the Youth PROMISE Act or Every Student Counts. The President was silent on the question of Harvard Law Dean Elena Kagan hiring no blacks or Latinos out of 29 hires. He was silent on Shirley Sherrod. When it comes to certain issues that arise, silence is heard from President Obama.
See more at the blog on the Congressional Black Caucus
Ten years before Barack Obama was born, Charlie Rangel was serving in Korea and earning a Purple Heart and a Bronza Star. Forget everything else: For that reason alone the President should have found a way to keep his mouth shut on Rangel's recent ethics problems. It's called basic respect. And it should have been easy to say nothing as Rangel is a fellow Democrat. Even Sen. Mitch McConnell found a way to say nothing. Whether Rep. Rangel ends up going on trial or not, whether he is guilty or not, whether he is eventually reprimanded or not, shouldn't he have the chance to answer charges that were just made public last Thursday, July 29? The President ran his yap on July 30, the next day. Are we really to believe President Obama had time to read the detailed charges leveled against Rep. Rangel and Rangel's response, released late on July 29?
You'd think this President, whose approvals have dropped from 70% to 42% in less than two years would be sure to understand he needs all the friends he can get. But no, in a completely avoidable set of comments to CBS News he ticks off members of the CBC and any other Dems paying attention. For what? Why do the Republican's work for them?
Saying nothing is a popular fallback at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The President can often be seen departing the room quickly after statements, taking no questions. Press conferences are rare or by surprise if they happen at all. Yet now, the President has something to say? Was there something on the tape we missed during that CBC interview? Nope. We heard it full and in context the first time. As Obama said, Rangel has, "served a very long time..." Yeah he's served a very long time alright. If 40 years of public service comes down to the last few months of your twentieth Congress, anything in this life is possible.
See more at the blog on the Congressional Black Caucus