July 30, 2010 10:06 PM

Obama: Rangel's Ethics Charges "Very Troubling"

By
Alex Sundby
Topics
Democrats

President Obama called the ethics charges against his fellow Democrat, Rep. Charlie Rangel, "very troubling" and said in an interview with CBS News that he hopes the congressman from Harlem ends "his career with dignity" but didn't specify when that should happen.

Mr. Obama spoke with CBS "Early Show" Anchor Harry Smith in an interview scheduled to be broadcast in parts on Sunday and Monday. (Watch a clip at left)

Rangel was charged with 13 violations of House ethics rules Thursday after his attorneys and lawyers for the House panel investigating the former Ways and Means Committee chairman failed to negotiate a settlement. On Friday, the panel's chairwoman said it would recommend that Rangel be reprimanded by the full House.

The president noted that given Rangel's age, 80, he's at the end of his career anyway.

"I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling, and, you know, he's somebody who is at the end of his career, 80 years old," Mr. Obama said. "I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity, and my hope is that happens."

Rangel is running for his 21st term in House. If he wins his Sept. 14 primary contest, he is expected to easily win the general election in his heavily Democratic district.

The rest of the interview is expected to be broadcast on CBS' "Sunday Morning" Sunday and "The Early Show" Monday.

More Rangel Coverage

Ethics Panel Recommends Charles Rangel Reprimand

Charlie Rangel: List of Charges

Rangel Denies Wrongdoing in Ethics Case

Rangel Faces 13 Ethics Charges

Dem Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick: Rangel Should Resign


  • Alex Sundby

    Alex Sundby is an associate news editor for CBSNews.com

Add a Comment See all 47 Comments
by rocklandpirate September 13, 2010 1:05 PM EDT
Very Troubling? That's It?
He wants him to end his career in dignity?
You have got to be kidding me.

Gotta love the fact that he didn't exactly go against Charlie nor was he for him. Way to go!
Reply to this comment
by P0ST1ING_AWAY August 5, 2010 12:10 PM EDT
by Quantrill13 July 31, 2010 12:12 PM EDT
Obama is the man with no dignity. The man thinks he is a "King Dictator." He will go down in history as the first back Muslim Marxist President of the United States of America. Some "Hope & Change" ea?
============================================================
I do not know why I am asking this but ....
What else is going on in that little imaginary place between
your ears ????
If your mother said it was OK to sniff glue .... BAD NEWS.
IT IS >>>NOT<<< OK.
Reply to this comment
by presclayiii August 1, 2010 1:02 PM EDT
why would the president comment on someone else s political current situation? makes me wonder?
Reply to this comment
by Shocktribe July 31, 2010 6:51 PM EDT
What's up CBS? Why aren't you reporting on California democrat Maxine Water's coming ethics trial? Are you afraid you'll give weak kneed democrats heart attacks at the prospect of having TWO of their lib patronizers go down in flames of corruption at the same time?
Reply to this comment
by jgg000101 July 31, 2010 9:43 PM EDT
I wondered that myself, and I also wondered why cbs doesn't report this.

Dem leaders, donors to hold Rangel birthday bash at The Plaza
By Alexander Bolton - 07/31/10 11:15 AM ET

Democratic leaders and major party donors plan to hold a lavish 80th birthday gala for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan next month, despite 13 ethics charges pending against the veteran lawmaker.

Lobbyists and other party donors received invitations this week to join Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. David Paterson (D) at one of New York?s finest hotels to celebrate Rangel?s birthday.
Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are also listed as featured guests, according to an invitation viewed by The Hill.
Some potential guests received the invitation a day after the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct issued a report accusing Rangel of multiple ethics violations.

While some Democrats think Rangel has become politically radioactive in Washington, the invitation lists a variety of enticements to get people to show up to his birthday bash and contribute to his campaign.

Aretha Franklin, the ?Queen of Soul,? will serenade them and guests who pony up $200, $500, $1,000 or $2,500 for tickets. The funds will go to the Rangel Victory Fund, a campaign account.

The 2010 Rangel Birthday Gala is planned for Aug. 11 despite the fact that Rangel?s actual birthday is June 11.

Black Entertainment Television founder Robert L. Johnson and Ken Raske, president and CEO of the Greater New York Hospital Association, and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a prominent advocate for human rights and religious freedom, are listed among the chairs of the event.

It remains to be seen whether the leaders of the New York Democratic Party will stay in Rangel?s corner when a growing number of Democrats in Washington are backing away from him.

President Obama gave Rangel a nudge toward retirement Friday.

Obama said the ethics charges against Rangel were ?very troubling.?

?He?s somebody who?s at the end of his career,? Obama said in a CBS Evening News interview. ?I?m sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that happens.?

Several House Democrats such as Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) have called on Rangel to resign. Others, such as Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D), who is running for Senate in Indiana, have returned past campaign donations from Rangel.

Schumer and Gillibrand are running for re-election this year but without serious opposition. So far they have not abandoned Rangel.

Schumer gave $10,000 from his leadership political action committee to Rangel?s campaign account at the end of June.

The calls for Rangel?s resignation intensified after the House ethics committee charged Rangel Thursday with 13 counts of ethics violations.

A report from the panel?s investigative subcommittee accused Rangel of seeking contributions from to the Cherles B. Rangel Center for Public Service from lobbyists with business before the Ways and Means Committee when he served as chairman. It also faulted Rangel for accepting a rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan and failing to report rental income on a villa in the Dominican Republic.

A Democratic lobbyist invited to the event said the Democratic political hierarchy in New York is still behind Rangel.

?Charlie Rangel is going to get re-elected, unless he gets expelled from Congress,? said the lobbyist. ?This shows his level of support in New York.?

The hosts of the event include Peter Angelos, a trial lawyer and owner of the Baltimore Orioles; Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and David Boies, who represented Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 Florida recount.

?If three-quarters of the people on the host committee show up, this event is a huge success,? said the Democratic lobbyist.

Rangel is raising the money for New York?s Democratic primary, scheduled for Sept. 14. He is facing four challengers.

A Public Policy Polling survey released earlier this month showed Rangel winning less than 40 percent of the vote in a primary race. It showed his job approval at 49 percent. Adam Clayton Powell IV, Rangel?s closest competitor, drew 21 percent support.
by ken1dall July 31, 2010 6:43 PM EDT
Charlie Rangel is the best reason yet why we should have term limits!!!!
Reply to this comment
by askagain August 1, 2010 1:53 AM EDT
Term limits aren't the answer to this problem. Holding politicians legally responsible is the only thing that will solve this type of problem. As long as politicians are above the law, we will see crooks in office whether they hold one term or twenty terms.
by aubfmet July 31, 2010 1:41 PM EDT
This sounds like an issue that is worthy of debate.
Reply to this comment
by sunday42 July 31, 2010 12:52 PM EDT
Obama acts like this is new behavior for Rangel! This criminal has been committing the same crimes for many years. He should be sent to jail for life!
Reply to this comment
by Quantrill13 July 31, 2010 12:12 PM EDT
Obama is the man with no dignity. The man thinks he is a "King Dictator." He will go down in history as the first back Muslim Marxist President of the United States of America. Some "Hope & Change" ea?
Reply to this comment
by msimamaji July 31, 2010 1:15 PM EDT
Yes. Charlie Rangel is a disgrace. But at least he's been exposed.

Let's look at the Republicans. They voted to kill the DISCOLSE Act. That means they can get an unlimited amount money - including money from foreign governments - and they don't need to reveal who's paying for what.
A good example of how corporate money works is Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul, who wants to eliminate the EPA and restore mountain top mining. He's paid by coal companies, including Massey Energy Company which has an endless strings of safety violations, which result in mine accidents and deaths. As far as Rand Paul is concerned, it okay to destroy the Appalachian Mountains. Mountain top removal also means tailing loaded with toxic chemicals. And as far as Rand Paul is concerned, it's ok to dump these toxic chemicals in the water supply. We don't even have to let people know that their drinking water is being poisoned. And if people get sick and die, that's OK too - as long as Rand Paul gets to keep his Senate seat and as long as he can keep everything covered up.

Were al Qaeda to hire a terrorist to destroy America, they couldn't have chosen a better terrorist than Rand Paul. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Rand Paul got laundered money from Iran.

Remember because of the Citizens'United decisions, neither Rand Paul nor any other GOP candidate needs to reveal who's bribing him or paying his bill.
At least, while Nancy Pelosi is speaker, Congressmen who act badly get caught and public shamed. When the GOP gets control, we'll see nothing but lies and cover ups. I'll vote to keep Nancy Pelosi in power.
by jgg000101 July 31, 2010 3:14 PM EDT
msiamaji, your last sentence made me throw up.
by tsigili July 31, 2010 12:02 PM EDT
There is no dignity, when you have been living a lie.
Reply to this comment
by typeA911 July 31, 2010 11:09 AM EDT
What a joke, DIGNITY, this is not an honorable man, never has been, if he was he wud resign and stop denying. He shud be prosecuted for imcome tax evasion and put in jail, thats where U and me wud be right now.
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