Charles B. Rangel

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Charles Rangel
Charles B. Rangel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1971
Preceded by Adam Clayton Powell
Born June 11, 1930 (1930-06-11) (age 78)
New York City, New York
Political party Democratic
Spouse Alma Rangel
Residence Manhattan, New York City, New York
Alma mater New York University, St. John's University
Occupation attorney
Religion Roman Catholic

Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel[1] (born June 11, 1930) is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1971, representing the Fifteenth Congressional District of New York. Rangel's district, the smallest in the country in geographic size, encompasses Upper Manhattan and includes such neighborhoods as Harlem, Spanish Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, and part of the Upper West Side, as well as a small portion of Queens in the neighborhood of Astoria. In January 2007, he became chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is the first African-American to chair the committee. Rangel earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the Korean War.

On September 24, 2008 the House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Rangel's alleged use of congressional stationery to solicit donors for a public policy institute in his name at City College, and other questionable activities.


Contents

[edit] Early life

Charles Rangel was born in New York City, the second of three children.[2] His family was Roman Catholic. His father Ralph Rangel, Sr. (January 6, 1900–?) was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico.[3][4] He left the family when he was six years old; his mother Blanche Mary Wharton (March 20, 1904–March 6, 1995)[5] worked as a maid and as a seamstress in a factory. Rangel attended DeWitt Clinton High School but dropped out at age 16 during his junior year and worked in various jobs.[6]

Rangel then enlisted in the United States Army, and served from 1948 to 1952. During the Korean War, he was a Sergeant in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division. In late November 1950, this unit was caught up in heavy fighting in North Korea as part of the U.N. forces retreat from the Yalu River. In the Battle of Kunu-Ri, Rangel led some 40 men from his unit, during three days of freezing weather, out of a Chinese Army encirclement; nearly half of the battalion was killed in the overall battle.[7] Rangel was awarded a Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound to his foot and the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in the face of death. In 2000, Rangel reflected with CBS News that "Since Kunu Ri — and I mean it with all my heart, I have never, never had a bad day."[8]

After an honorable discharge from the Army, Rangel returned to finish high school, completing two years of studies in one year and graduating in 1953. Rangel then received a B.S. from the New York University School of Commerce in 1957 and, on full scholarship, obtained a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in 1960.[9]

Rangel is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans. He is a member of the fraternity's World Policy Council, a think tank whose purpose is to expand Alpha Phi Alpha's involvement in politics and social and current policy to encompass international concerns.[10]

After graduating law school, Rangel passed the state bar exam and worked in private practice for a year. Rangel was then appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York working under then U.S. Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

[edit] Political career

Rangel was elected to and served in the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1970, representing the 72nd Legislative District in Central Harlem. In 1970 he ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating long-time Congressman Adam Clayton Powell in the Democratic primary and then winning the general election. He has won re-election every two years since, often with over 90% of the vote.[11] His district was numbered the Eighteenth District from 1971 to 1973; the Nineteenth District from 1973 to 1983; and the Sixteenth District from 1983 to 1993.

In Congress, Rangel's first committee assignment was on the House Judiciary Committee where he participated in the impeachment hearings against President Richard Nixon.

Rangel co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, where he has also served as chairman, and of which he continues to be a member.

In late 1998, when longtime New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan announced his retirement, Rangel was one of the first to advocate that then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton move to New York and run for the seat, which she did successfully.

In August 2006, Rangel had stated he would resign his seat if the Democrats did not take the House that November, which they did.[12]

As of January 2007, Rangel is the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means and Chairman of the Board of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He is currently the fourth-longest serving Democratic House member, behind John Dingell, John Conyers and Dave Obey.

Rangel and his wife Alma live in Harlem. They have two children, Steven and Alicia, and at least one grandchild.

[edit] Political views

Rangel is generally thought of as an ideologically committed liberal, but also someone who can be a pragmatic deal-maker. In particular, he is known for support of free trade agreements.[11]

[edit] The draft

Rangel has repeatedly called for the government to bring back the draft. According to Rangel, "There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way."[13]

He has also argued that reinstating the draft is a way to make the military more representative of the American public at large. "A disproportionate number of the poor and members of minority groups make up the enlisted ranks of the military, while most priv­ileged Americans are underrepresented or absent."[14] In 2003, Rangel introduced HR 163; legislation that would draft both men and women between the ages of 18-26 starting as early as June 2005. It was defeated 402-2 the following year in the House of Representatives, with Rangel voting against his own bill.[15]

In November 2006, he outlined his proposed bill to reinstate the draft. The bill, H.R. 393 (2007), if passed, would require a draft of all men and women in the United States between the ages of 18-42. Polls show 70% of Americans oppose a reinstatement of the draft.[16] In an interview on Face the Nation, Rangel emphasized that people could fulfill their draft obligations through non-military services, such as port and airline security.[17]

[edit] Foreign policy

Rangel was instrumental in securing American materiel support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. According to fellow Congressman Jerrold Nadler D-NY, who worked on Rangel's first campaign in 1970 and who credited Rangel with helping to save Israel in 1973:

Before the Six Day War in 1967, the United States was not an arms supplier to Israel. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, people said not to supply Israel. Charlie insisted that we have to. If not for those Phantom jets, the war might have turned out different.[18]

[edit] Human and civil rights actions

In the 1980s, Rangel was arrested for participating in an anti-apartheid rally in front of the South African Embassy in Washington.[19]

On March 15, 1999, the Congressman was arrested along with two other prominent African-American leaders (civil rights activist Al Sharpton and former Mayor David Dinkins), for protesting the fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old immigrant to the United States from Guinea, by four white New York City police officers.[20]

On July 13, 2004, he was the first of three sitting US House members to be arrested on trespassing charges, for protesting alleged human rights abuses in Sudan in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. Later in the week of July 13, 2004, Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois and Congressman Joe Hoeffel of Pennsylvania were also arrested there.

[edit] Controversies

On September 22, 2005, Rangel compared Republican President George W. Bush to Bull Connor, the former Public Safety Commissioner of Birmingham, Alabama, stating: "George Bush is our Bull Connor." In response, Vice President Dick Cheney, during an interview on the Rush Limbaugh radio program on October 3, 2005, stated: "I'm frankly surprised at his comments. It almost struck me — they were so out of line, it almost struck me that there was some — Charlie was having some problem. Charlie is losing it, I guess." Rangel responded by saying, "The fact that he would make a crack at my age, he ought to be ashamed of himself...He should look so good at 75."[21]

Along with John Conyers, in April 2006 Rangel brought an action against George W. Bush and others alleging violations of the Constitution in the passing of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.[22] The case (Conyers v. Bush) was ultimately dismissed.[23]

In response to Hugo Chávez addressing the UN General Assembly on September 20, 2006 and implying that Bush was the devil, Rangel said, "I want President Chávez to please understand that even though many people in the United States are critical of our president that we resent the fact that he would come to the United States and criticize President Bush... you don't come into my country, you don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn my president."[24]

Rangel again expressed his displeasure with Vice President Cheney on October 30, 2006, by opining that Cheney is "a real son of a bitch" who "enjoys a confrontation." He also suggested that Cheney requires professional treatment for mental defects.[25]

On November 9, 2006, Rangel, in announcing some of his plans as new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he planned to push more funds into his home state of New York. He added to this, "Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?" Mississippi Rep. Chip Pickering demanded an apology and Rangel issued a statement declaring: "I certainly don't mean to offend anyone. I just love New York so much that I can't understand why everyone wouldn't want to live here."[26]

On November 26, 2006, appearing on the television show Fox News Sunday, Rangel stated: "If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career, or joining the Army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq".[27]

During the China-U.S trade talks of March 2007, Rangel and Louisiana Republican Jim McCrery committed a gaffe when they accidentally insulted the Republic of China by referring to the People's Republic of China's Vice Premier, Wu Yi, as the Vice Premier of The Republic of China in a letter. The Republic of China is a name for the self-ruling government on the island of Taiwan, which the PRC considers a rogue province.[28]

Rangel has been harshly criticized by free trade opponents for his support of the Peru and Panama Free Trade Agreements negotiated by the United States Trade Representative under President Bush. On October 1, 2007, the New York City People's Referendum on Free Trade held a protest at his Harlem office, accusing him of killing people with AIDS, displacing small farmers and indigenous people, increasing cocaine production, driving forced immigration, destroying the Peruvian Amazon, and promoting factory farm expansion with this support of the Peru agreement.

In October 2007, Rangel criticized Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani's personal life during an interview from Wolf Blitzer on CNN. Rangel stated "Two people, six spouses. It's a little complicated if you're not religious, especially if you're running against a Mormon,". Rangel's comment was perceived by some[citation needed] as an attack on the Mormon religion, hinting that they still practice polygamy (which has not been a mainstream Mormon practice for over 100 years), and brought about criticism and demands for an apology. Rangel apologized for his statement. According to a congressional press release, he said "I was recently quoted being very critical of Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s personal life. I wish I could say those comments were taken out of context, but I cannot. I apologize to him and his family.”[29]

[edit] Ethics investigation

In July 2008, Rangel asked the House Ethics Committee to determine if his use of Congressional letterhead seeking to arrange meetings in which recipients of the letters would be solicited for contributions for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York had violated any House rules.[30]

On September 24, the Ethics Committee announced that it would start the investigation, stating that it would determine whether Rangel "violated the Code of Official Conduct, or any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct applicable to his conduct in the performance of his duties." CBS 2 News reported that the investigation would also explore "Rangel's use of four rent-stabilized apartments leased in the Lenox Terrace apartment complex in Harlem, the financing of the beachfront villa leased in the Dominican Republic, and his questionable storage of a late-model Mercedes Benz in the House garage."[31]

[edit] Financial controversies

The New York Times reported on July 10, 2008, that Rangel rents four apartments in the Lenox Terrace complex in Harlem at below-market rates. The newspaper reported that Rangel paid $3,894 monthly for all four apartments in 2007, but that the going rate for similar apartments offered by the landlord in that building would be as high as $8,125 monthly. Three adjacent apartments on the 16th floor were combined to make up his 2,500-square-foot home; a fourth unit on the 10th floor is used as a campaign office, even though that violates city and state regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence. The apartments are in a building owned by the Olnick Organization. Rangel received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from one of the company’s owners, according to The Times. Rangel told the newspaper his rent does not affect his representation of his constituents.

Congressional ethics experts cited by the Times indicated that the difference in rent between what Rangel was paying and market rates on the second, third and fourth apartments he rented, an estimated $30,000 per year, could be construed as a gift as the savings is granted at the discretion of the landlord and is not offered to the public at large; if this should be treated as a gift, it would exceed the $100 limit established by the House of Representatives.[32] In late July, the House voted 254 to 138 to table a resolution submitted by Minority Leader John Boehner that would have censured Rangel for having "dishonored himself and brought discredit to the House" by occupying the four apartments.[33]

Rangel had been accused of failing to report income from the rental of a villa he owns in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, a three-bedroom, three-bath unit that has been rented out for as much as $1,100 per night in the busiest tourist season, from mid-December to mid-April.[34] Labor lawyer Theodore Kheel, one of the principal investors in the resort development company and a frequent campaign contributor to Rangel, had encouraged the congressman to the purchase the beachside villa. Rangel had purchased the unit in 1988 for $82,750 and financed $53,737.50 of the purchase price for seven years at a rate of 10.5%, but was one of several early investors who had interest payments waived in 1990.[35] In September 2008, Lanny Davis, Rangel's attorney, disclosed that Rangel had failed to report $75,000 in income he had received for renting the condo on his tax returns or in congressional disclosure forms. His accountants were calculating the amounts owed and would be filing amended city, state and federal tax returns to cover the liability for back taxes.[36].

A September 14, 2008 editorial in The New York Times called for Rangel to temporarily step down from his chairmanship, stating that "Mounting embarrassment for taxpayers and Congress makes it imperative that Representative Charles Rangel step aside as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee while his ethical problems are investigated."[37]

Additional accounting discrepancies were disclosed on September 15, 2008, including omission in Rangel's financial reports of details regarding the sale of a home he once owned on Colorado Avenue in Washington, D. C., discrepancies in the value listed for a property he owns in Sunny Isles, Florida (varying from $50,000 to $100,000 all the way up to $500,000) and inconsistencies in investment fund reporting. While Republican leaders have called for his removal from his role as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee which plays a pivotal role in shaping tax law, Rangel has stated that there is no justification for his removal. "I owed my colleagues and the public adherence to a higher standard of care not only as a member of Congress but even more as the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee," he said. He also stated that the mistakes were errors of omission that would not justify loss of his position.[38]

An article in the September 18, 2008 New York Post states, "Rep. Charles Rangel has been using a House of Representatives parking garage for years as free storage space for his old Mercedes-Benz - a violation of congressional rules and a potential new tax woe for the embattled lawmaker... House rules forbid use of the garage for long-term storage more than 45 days - and congressional aides told The Post that Rangel's car has been sitting there for years... A House Web site on parking regulations informs anyone with a space that, under IRS regulations, the benefit of the free parking is considered 'imputed income' and must be declared to the government. The spaces are valued by the House at $290 per month... In addition to the storage issue, the vehicle... runs afoul of other rules set forth on the House Web site because it does not have license plates and does not display a current House parking permit." [39]

In September, 2008 Charles Rangel has spent an amount, totaling $10,800, to pay the back taxes he owes from rental income on his Dominican villa.[40] Rangel acknowledged that he had failed to declare $75,000 in rental income from his beachfront villa on his tax returns he owed back taxes for at least three years. Rangel is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the United States tax code and as such his failure to pay taxes himself came under heavy criticism.[41]

[edit] Legislation sponsored by Rangel

HR 6331

[edit] References

  1. ^ Charles B. Rangel bio from Project VoteSmart
  2. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (1974-12-12). "New York Congressman on the Move; Charles Bernard Rangel Series of Victories St. John's Law Degree", The New York Times, p. 38. 
  3. ^ "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network (1942-03-12). Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  4. ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network (1920-04-22). Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  5. ^ "Social Security Death Index [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. Retrieved on 2008-07-20.
  6. ^ U.S. News & World Report: "Rep. Charles Rangel (New York)–Ways and Means Committee." Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  7. ^ Audrey Hudson, "Veterans on Hill support Iraq hit", The Washington Times, October 3, 2002
  8. ^ CBS News: "Honoring Black Korean War Troops." Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  9. ^ HometoHarlem.com: "Charles Rangel / Politician, social activist." Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  10. ^ Alpha Phi Alpha.net: "World Policy Council Statement on the Middle East Conflict." Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  11. ^ a b Currie, Duncan (2006-11-30). "Harlem Globetrotter: Will Charlie Rangel help salvage a free trade agenda?", Weekly Standard. Retrieved on 2007-04-07. 
  12. ^ Devlin Barrett (2006-08-02). "Rangel: I'll quit Congress if Democrats lose", Associated Press. Retrieved on 2006-11-20. 
  13. ^ Rep. Rangel Will Seek to Reinstate Draft - washingtonpost.com
  14. ^ "Bring Back the Draft", New York Times (2002-12-31). Retrieved on 2006-11-21. 
  15. ^ John Heilprin (2006-11-19). "Rep. Rangel Will Seek to Reinstate Draft". Forbes.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  16. ^ "Top Democrat: Bring back the draft". CNN.com (2006-11-19). Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  17. ^ Schieffer, Bob (2006-11-20). "Rangel Will Push To Bring Back The Draft", CBS News/Face the Nation. Retrieved on 2007-04-07. 
  18. ^ "Time For Celebration", The Jewish Week (2007-02-23). 
  19. ^ Barrett, Devlin (2004-07-13). "Rep. Rangel arrested in protest outside Sudanese embassy", AP. Retrieved on 2006-11-20. 
  20. ^ Ikimulisa Sockwell (1999-03-16). "Dinkins, Rangel busted at Diallo protest", New York Post, p. 4. 
  21. ^ Sara Kugler (2005-10-05). "Rangel: Cheney should be 'ashamed' for age remark", Associated Press. Retrieved on 2006-11-20. 
  22. ^ Associated Press (2006-04-27). "11 House Members to Sue Over Budget Bill", ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-02-20. 
  23. ^ Associated Press (2006-11-06). "Judge Dismisses Budget Bill Lawsuit", ABC News. Retrieved on 2006-11-28. 
  24. ^ James, Ian (2006-09-22). "Bush critics condemn Chavez reference to Bush as 'The devil'", AP. Retrieved on 2006-11-20. 
  25. ^ "Kerry Reloads in Dogfight Over Snipe at Troops in Iraq" (2006-10-31). Retrieved on 2006-11-20.
  26. ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (2006-11-10). "Miss. Congressman Wants Rangel Apology", Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-04-07. 
  27. ^ Gerstein, Josh (2006-11-27). "Rangel Adopts the Logic of Kerry's ‘Joke'", NY Sun. Retrieved on 2007-04-07. 
  28. ^ Buckley, Chris (2007-05-26). "China, U.S. face bumpy road after trade talks", Reuters. Retrieved on 2007-05-26. 
  29. ^ RANGEL APOLOGIZES FOR GIULIANI COMMENTS, Charles Rangel press release, issued October 22, 2007. Accessed September 10, 2008.
  30. ^ Hernandez, Raymond. "Rangel to Ask Ethics Panel for Inquiry to Clear Him", The New York Times, July 18, 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
  31. ^ Kramer, Marcia. "House To Launch Investigation Into Rep. Rangel." CBS 2 News, September 24, 2008.
  32. ^ Kocieniewski, David. "For Rangel, Four Rent-Stabilized Apartments", The New York Times, July 11, 2008. Accessed September 8, 2008.
  33. ^ Chan, Sewell. "House Tables Censure Resolution on Rangel", The New York Times, August 1, 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
  34. ^ Vincent, Isabel; and Edelman, Susan. "TRICKY CHARLIE'S CARIB 'HIDEAWAY': SHADY FILINGS ON BEACH-VILLA RENTAL INCOME", August 31, 2008. Accessed September 10, 2008.
  35. ^ Kocieniewski, David; and Halbfinger, David M. "Interest Was Waived for Rangel on Loan for Villa", The New York Times, September 5, 2008. Accessed September 10, 2008.
  36. ^ Kocieniewski, David. "Rangel Owes U.S. Back Taxes, Lawyer Says ", The New York Times, September 9, 2008. Accessed September 10, 2008.
  37. ^ Editorial. "Chairman Rangel", The New York Times, September 14, 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
  38. ^ "More Errors For Rep. Rangel; Hires New Account: Financial Paper's Problems Prompts Hiring Of Forensic Accounting Expert", WCBS-TV, September 15, 2008. Accessed September 15, 2008
  39. ^ Big Wheel Benz The Rules, New York Post, September 18, 2008
  40. ^ Congressman Pays Back Tax on Dominican Republic Villa The New York Times, Published: September 19, 2008
  41. ^ Congressman Pays Back Tax on Dominican Republic Villa The New York Times, Published: September 19, 2008

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/580663.aspx

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