Good Time Charlie

The good times may be nearing the end of the roll for Charlie Rangel, unless he can wrangle himself some kind of deal with the House Ethics Committee. Call me a cynic, but if the Dems are seriously looking into the affairs of one of their own, he’s toast. Many of my apolitical friends say there is no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. In some ways that is true; there seems to be only one species of political animal in Washington these days (with rare, refreshing exceptions.) But when it comes to ethics, the two parties’ behavior is poles apart (pun intended.)

Slap the stink of scandal on a Democrat and his buddies rally round in defense, usually blaming the right wing smear machine (aka those-who-tell-the-truth.) Just picture the way Bill Clinton soldiered on through Travelgate, Whitewater, Lewinski and etc. Or you can recall William (Cold cash) Jefferson, the Louisiana congressman who is still representing, at last notice. One can barely recall all the tax cheats and social misfits President Obama nominated to fill his administration. The scandal du jour is Rangel, whose alleged misdeeds have been public knowledge for almost two years. If he leaves office, I predict it will be by force of law, not of free will.

On the Republican side there may be no fewer allegations, but there is a decidedly different reaction. There was that Senator, a Governor, a Speaker, and that Florida candidate all of whom did less than moral things, although none could hold a candle to Charlie and the gang when it comes to gravity. Yet I struggle to remember their names (do you?) I think it is because they slipped away quietly into the night. Granted, Senator Bridge-to-Nowhere hung around to be ousted by his Alaskan constituency. And poor, hapless Congressman Wide-stance tried to wriggle out of his embarrassing situation in the airport. But by and large, Republicans just resign, perhaps in shame or just out of better political judgment.

I really wish we had more elected officials who could keep their noses clean (and to the grindstone) so that the scandal machine would just run out of steam. I think Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann are the type I mean. I want guys like Norm Coleman and Tom Tancredo not to disappoint me. I really hope that Bill Cooper and Pete Hoekstra will fulfill the promise. And did you vote today? The primaries are such slow news that the predictions are for a twenty percent turnout. This is the beginning of the process to put better people in office. If you didn’t vote today, don’t complain if there is nobody worth electing in November. A participatory democratic government is only as good as the participants. If you want less of Charlie Rangel and more of somebody else, it’s your duty to make it happen. We the people is you and me. Period.