Patterico's Pontifications

3/2/2010

Rangel Steps Down?

Filed under: Government,Politics — DRJ @ 6:56 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Rich Lowry says NBC is reporting Charles Rangel will step down as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee. But The Hill reports otherwise:

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday night told The Hill that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is still chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

After huddling with Rangel for 45 minutes, Pelosi initially said, “No comment” when asked if Rangel remains panel chairman.

She later added, “I guess he is still chair of Ways and Means…”

Pelosi spoke to The Hill after Rangel denied reports he would leave his perch at the top of one of the House’s most powerful committees.

As he emerged from the meeting, Rangel was asked whether he is still chairman. His response: “You bet your sweet life!”

He then said Pelosi told him not to say “a damn thing” about the meeting.

When asked whether he would be chairman tomorrow or the next day, Rangel demurred.

“I’m 79 years old,” he said. “At that age, you can’t be sure about anything.”

And in what could be the final word, Hot Air says Rangel may be taking a leave of absence.

— DRJ

12 Responses to “Rangel Steps Down?”

  1. One which precludes him voting for Obama”care”?

    BD57 (172980)

  2. The ineptitude … it burns, it burns.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  3. I think they mean taking a leave of absence from his chairmanship, not from the House.

    DRJ (daa62a)

  4. “Leave of absence” seems like parsing words to me. He’s either stepping down or he’s not, i.e., he will either be Chairman going forward or he won’t. Even if they master plan is that Rangel gives up the chairmanship only until after the August recess or the 2010 election or whatever, the point is that a “leave of absence” is the same as “stepping down” and we ought not to let him get away with trying to hide that fact.

    JVW (fd30ab)

  5. They ain’t gonna kick him out … they can only hope that he does the right thing, eventually.

    JD (0f9c01)

  6. If the country is fortunate Rangel, like Pelosi won’t be a problem next January.

    cubanbob (409ac2)

  7. “I’m 79 years old,” he said. “At that age, you can’t be sure about anything.”

    his lips to G*d’s ears….

    redc1c4 (fb8750)

  8. So addicted to power and corruption that they can’t wrench the gavel from his hands.

    This is our political class today.

    Jayc (b6d730)

  9. Where Rangel ought to be heading is jail for not paying his taxes.

    PCD (1d8b6d)

  10. Rangel took leave of his senses decades ago.

    GeneralMalaise (2e0f70)

  11. […] reading here: Rangel Steps Down? […]

    Rangel Steps Down? | Liberal Whoppers (d16888)


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