By Paul Shepard on Aug 19th 2010 3:09PM
Filed under: News, Politics, Race and Civil Rights
Charlie Rangel's opponent in the race for his long-held congressional seat may actually be right.
Perhaps Rangel is being selfish and doing a disservice to his Harlem constituents by clinging to power as charges of serious House ethics violations hang over his head like a dagger.
But doesn't it seem a bit self-serving for Harlem congressional candidate Adam Clayton Powell IV to be the one asking for Rangel to step down?
After all, if a majority of voters agree with Powell in November that Rangel's time in office should come to a close and that the founding Congressional Black Caucus member and former chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee weakens Democrats nationally, then Powell will prevail at the ballot box.
If Powell has connected with Harlem voters and successfully communicated his ideas on how to improve the community that alone should carry him to victory.
Asking Rangel to leave the race, though, reeks of desperation on Powell's part. Perhaps he fears that Harlem residents will rally around their embattled congressman.
Powell should be especially sensitive to that dynamic. His father, Adam Clayton Powell Jr., was voted out of his House seat for improprieties, but Harlem voters re-elected him despite the concerns of officials in Washington.
It seems Powell IV is worried history might repeat itself.
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Comments: (12)
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By: Little Dickie Dydoe on 8/19/2010 4:03PM
Charlie Rangel is typical lowlife DC scum who couldn't care less about the people they represent or the country in general. I don't know Adam Clayton Powell IV, but he couldn't be any worse than the dumbass liberal Rangel.
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By: HELORIS on 8/19/2010 5:03PM
powell is right
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By: Arlene Williams on 8/19/2010 7:02PM
Rangel should step down. Everything has its time and his time is up. He ought to realize he is now too old for the job,if he was not the opposition would not have gotten the chance to take him down. He may still have a little fight left,but it is not enough for this battle. Step down gracefully and let the young bucks fight for the "top dog"place. Wish them well and may the best man win.
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By: You Know Who on 8/21/2010 5:26PM
Thugs , advising thugs, I love it , that is compassion,calm the water down, relax walk out,you stole enough, Jesus Christ what more you want a trophy,and gold watch,dam .Politicians believe everybody in America is retarded.Sure we are, we elected the bastards.Your rectum should be burning and your bank account in poor condition.You figure it out, smart ass.
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By: r9stephe on 8/20/2010 12:20PM
Mr. Rangle deserves the right of due process. He definitely deserves better than to let negative opinion sway wise judgement. All these naysayers who would like for Rep. Rangel to quit are making a mistake.
Quiting isn't solving anything and what are these politicians afraid of by going through the process? Mr. Rangel understands the obvious ploy here is to scapegoat and to blame for not having answers to Conservatives obstructionist attempt at restoring this country back to it's corrupt Bush ways of fleecing the American middle class.
Blaming Charlie Rangel for their ineptitude isn't going to change the fact that the best and the brightest are systematically kept from fixing simple problems caused by dummy Conservative politicians.
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By: Arnold Wray on 8/20/2010 4:26PM
Hey, lets be fair. When anyone is running for office they need all the ammunition they can get. Asking your opponent to quit is totally in line with running for political office. Hey these folks invest a great deal of their time, money and family resources. All is fair in love, war, and poltics.
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By: paul on 8/20/2010 5:52PM
You're carrying some real baggage in the racism department, aren't you? You don't trust someone because of the color of their skin? Doesn't that make you a bigot?
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By: know your your history on 8/22/2010 6:19PM
To: the utter nots
The at the end of slavery only 2% percent of the black population was pure africian. Which means there are really no all black people. Who care if about the color of ones skin. You have some issues you need to address.
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By: jay on 8/23/2010 9:11AM
ithink people are being too pushy about rangle . what he is accused of is small stuff . mostly tax stuff
errors can be make
he is an importat congressman for nyc dont let us loose him
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By: bb on 8/23/2010 1:38AM
You Know Who: i guess it's like the kkk advising the kkk white people kill me
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