Bill Kristol ‘Not Overwhelmed’ By Rangel Ethics Scandal, Doesn’t Think Americans Care
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It’s been a tough week for Congressman Charlie Rangel, who is facing a series of major ethical violations that are making for some embarrassing media coverage. But there is at least one major TV pundit willing to stand by Rep. Rangel’s side: Fox News contributor and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol.
In the “All-Star Panel” segment of Special Report tonight, Kristol tried hard to express enthusiasm about the case, but could only muster listing the violations as “charged with tax fraud, or not declaring income, or whatever,” until finally admitting that he is “not actually overwhelmed by the severity of these charges.”
Describing them as the product of “a little bit of vanity” and some “sloppy” bookkeeping, among other things, he argued that the Rep. Rangel case was not so bad “compared to what happens in Congress all the time.” “I hope he fights,” he noted, “he stands up for himself.”
As for anyone who thinks the Rangel case will be a negative for the Democrats come November? Kristol argues that anyone who thinks so “thinks that voters are idiots,” adding that “there’s zero empirical evidence of this.”
Video from Fox News this evening below:
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15 comments
When the Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee — which oversees our tax laws — blatantly breaks the tax laws, and hides huge amounts of income from the IRS, this is not a small thing. The fact that people aren’t very surprised when a prominent Democrat shows such deep-seated corruption tells you how little people expect from career leftwing hacks like Rangel. And also tells voters that they need to clear these self-serving con artists out of office, and probably (in Rangel’s case) into a prison cell.
More evidence that the longer you hang around Washington the dumber you get. There have been a number of Republicans that have expressed remorse for poor old Charley. Rangle was glad hander and a phony. Some repubs fell for his “charm”. Rangle was a crook and a liar. Black politicians get the “black pass”. We can’t blame Charlie because he is black and we need to give a break. LOL.
In light of the possibility of a lawsuit ruperts lawyers apparently told him to send word to his minions to act like they have some sense for a minute, HA, HA
Kristol (and the Weekly Standard) appear to have adopted a very RINO-esque mentality.
@felixw: The rule used to be that Republicans were often brought down on corruption involving money, while Democrats were usually tossed for sex. Sure, Democrat/Republican isn’t the same as left/right, but just like those subjective ideological descriptors, the politician’s Achilles Heels have been getting fuzzier over the years.
It’s not that we don’t care, it’s that we expect it. These politicians are crooks. I really don’t understand how people defend them.
Well, the Dems get a pass on all future sexual escapades after Clenis. He singlehandedly made “blow job” a household word and the equivalent of holding hands for an entire generation of teenagers. As for the financial shenanigins, both parties are equally as quick to steal from all of us.
Rangel is a cartoon character . He does not seem evil and demented , as Pelosi and Reid do , just kind of a character .
Yep, the Republicans know that if they go after Rangel, who really is one of their own, after all, then the shoe could easily be on the other foot, at any time.
Maybe the GOP and people like Kristol aren’t being hard on Rangel because they know corruption and ethics scandals are not partisan. Not defending Rangel but, you know, don’t throw stones in a glass house.
And let’s be honest here. Most Americans do not know who Charlie Rangel is or what the House Ways and Means Committee is or does.
Are you serious? Please at least try to justify this statement. He is rated as being the 350th most conservative representative in Congress, and the 80th most liberal in congress. He’s a far cry from a Republican. Although, I will admit that most of these politicians are the same card, just different corrupt sides.
Yes, Congress itself is a club.
The Ethics committee is about to announce a decision on Maxine Waters. She is even more corrupt than Rangle.
View my video on racist Maxine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHUGwL2uec
he is right….americans care about the economy and jobs………..Crooked politicians are on both sides. (much to the dismay of Fuks news)
grubbyburnoutsham: Can you EVER comment on a person of color without injecting your blatant, smarmy racism?
If Rangel had gotten your mythical, race-baiting “black pass” – which you both create and disprove with your own words – he wouldn’t be in his current predicament.
Hatred has destroyed whatever passed for logic in the decayed gray matter that used to occupy your skull.
Your “show” was cancelled. Your listener died of boredom.
If Rangel committed serious crimes, he should be punished – and I don’t give a good goddamn WHAT color he is. That goes for Waters, too.
“Throwing stones” never bothered sleazeball Kristol or his hypocritical ilk before. Why he would hold his fire this time is odd. Maybe he’s waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop on a “neocon man.” That’s unlikely, since forethought isn’t his best attribute.
Come to think of it, neither is “AFTER-thought.”
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