Why won’t the Democrats replace Charles Rangel?

Why won’t the Democrats replace Charles Rangel?
Al Ritter

Why does the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee remain in his post when there is overwhelming evidence that he hid nearly half his personal assets from taxation? Charles Rangel stands accused of trying to hide his ownership of a condo in the Dominican Republic and some $75,000 in rentals from said unit, and then 4 questionable rent controlled apartments in New York.

The answer might just be in the next person in seniority that would assume his position if Rangel were to step down, or removed. This man’s name is Rep Pete Stark (D-CA), and even some of his Democratic peers refer to him as “Crazy Pete.” Here are but just a few of his antics.

In a session of Congress:
You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President’s amusement.
The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up. In Iraq, in the United States and in Congress.

In a House Ways and Means committee meeting:
According to an official committee transcript, Stark physically taunted fellow Ways and Means Committee member Scott McInnis (R-Colorado) while [Chariman Bill] Thomas attempted to hold a voice vote on the bill at hand.

In response to McInnis’ demand that Stark be quiet while the bill was being read, Stark blurted out: “[O]h, you think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come on. Come over here and make me. I dare you.”Further goading McInnis, a married Republican gentleman, Stark lashed out: “You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said you are a fruitcake.”

Witnesses say Stark then hurled a 10-letter homophobic insult (starts with c and ends with r) at McInnis.

Stark himself may be caught up in a bit of a real estate problem of his own in Maryland, as he claims a $1.7 million dollar home as his primary residence and thereby has collected a homestead tax credit amounting to $3900, much in the same way Rangel has done with his home in Washington and apartments in NY.
Maryland law allows the tax break only to those residences used "for the legal purposes of voting, obtaining a driver's license, and filing income tax returns."
This is a real item of contention as the 77 year old Congressman represents the 13th district of California, Bay area. He claims that he is following the law in as “much as he knows.”
This man is nothing more than an out of control cannon with a position of power in a very powerful committee, and he’s next in line!


Interview with reporter that ends up in a profane diatribe.