Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
The upcoming double trial of Democrat Congressional Representatives Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters are “racist” in their tone, whines an anonymous member of the Black Congressional Caucus.
There’s a “dual standard, one for most members and one for African-Americans,” the Congressional Black Caucus told Politico.com on the condition of anonymity.
The BCC member added that it’s too easy for an outside group to damage a person’s reputation by filing a claim with the Office of Congressional Ethics.
“This is stacked against you once an accusation is made,” the Congressperson added. “You’re guilty until proven otherwise.”
Charlie Rangel
Politico notes that Charlie Rangel started the ethics investigation into his business dealings after reports of his violating New York City rent-control laws made headlines in 2008. That investigation spiraled into the slew of charges the Democrat faces in a trial this fall.
“A lot of people have been raising concerns [about the OCE], and I support them,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) told The Hill in October. “At some point in the not-so-distant future, these concerns will have to be addressed.”
In May, Rep. Marcia Fudge, a black Democrat from Ohio, and 19 additional members of the CBC introduced a resolution to rein in the office, which said the OCE is “currently the accuser, judge and jury. This isn’t the case in the American justice system, and it shouldn’t be so in Congress.”
In addition to Rangel and Waters, other Black representatives investigated by the OCE include New York Democrat Gregory Meeks, Jesse Jackson Jr., Frank Ballance of North Carolina, Corrine Brown of Florida, and former Rep. Earl Hilliard Jr. of Alabama.
Roland Burris
Roland Burris, the only African-American Senator, was also admonished by the OCE last November for “incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information” over his appointment by Blagojevich to Obama’s seat.
However, the OCE has also gone after White lawmakers, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) are currently under investigation, and Reps. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) and Mark Souder (R-Ind.), resigned this year under ethical clouds.
The racism charge, though, was rejected by Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, an ethics watchdog group, even as she acknowledged the current situation is bound to anger black lawmakers.
“There are ethics problems within the CBC,” she said. “They have to acknowledge that.”
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here we go again
The boy who cried “racist” is about to get eaten by the wolves.
If Waters and Rangel were white people and they cried racism do you think that the congressional black caucus would care ? I don’t.
It amuses me that people think racists are stupid and a dying breed, but they seem to have such a huge impact.
Things that make you say BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dazz Rite!!
It is racism and there is a duel standard. Do you think a white man could get away with boo-hooing just because he got caught? They seem to think they should just cry racism and get away with anything.
I see mud-hut mentality is now taking USA by storm…
It be a conspiracy, that’s what it be!
No surprise at all that they would say this. The only question is how much impact does it still have?