In the Palin Derangement Syndrome parade, this one has to be at or near the front.
It comes courtesy of tax scofflaw, financial-disclosure report fudger, rent-controlled apartment hoarder -- Harlem's one, and only, Charles Rangel (D-NY). When asked Friday why Democrats are so afraid of Sarah Palin and her popularity, he answered:
You got to be kind to the disabled.
It's on video here at Breitbart (HT Palinmania via Maggie Thurber).
Here's the related report from CBS2 in New York (note that this is not a transcript of the video report; the full vid has reax from Congressman Peter King of New York, a spokesman for the disabled who points out that FDR was "disabled," and the McCain campaign):
Already under fire for his tax troubles, Manhattan Congressman Charles Rangel really put his foot in his mouth on Friday.
In a CBS 2 HD exclusive interview, Rep. Rangel called Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin "disabled."
The question was simple: Why are the Democrats so afraid of Palin and her popularity?
The answer was astonishing.
"You got to be kind to the disabled," Rangel said.
That's right. The chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee called Palin disabled -- even when CBS 2 HD called him on it.
CBS 2 HD: "You got to be kind to the disabled?"
Rangel: "Yes."
CBS 2 HD: "She's disabled?"
Rangel: "There's no question about it politically. It's a nightmare to think that a person's foreign policy is based on their ability to look at Russia from where they live."
Later Friday, Rangel issued a statement saying "disabled" wasn't the word he meant to use.
"Governor Palin is an obviously healthy person who in no way fits the description of disabled. I meant to say then, and I am saying now, that she entered the campaign with a disadvantage in the area of foreign policy," Rangel said in a statement.
"Any inference that my words were in any connected to her son, Trig, who was born with Down syndrome, is a real stretch -- and, I would have to think -- a way to make political points out of my poor choice of words," he added.
I don't recall Rangel expressing any concern 16 years ago when his party's presidential candidate was widely, and correctly, derided for having no foreign policy experience. In fact, a New York Times reporter wrote of Bill Clinton that "his experience in world affairs is limited to breakfast at the International House of Pancakes."
Though Drudge has linked to it, I suspect Rangel's outrage will be ignored by traditional media "because he apologized." Give. Me. A. Break.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters




















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Rangel
September 20, 2008 - 09:27 ET by iveseenitallA tax cheat in charge of a powerful Congressional tax committee. If you're a "liberal" Dimo that makes perfect sense. Don't fire him. We only fire "politically incorrect" Republicans.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
isia, I don't think she
September 20, 2008 - 10:41 ET by motherbeltisia, I don't think she ever even asked him to step down. This is the NY Daily News story from 9/16. The money quote from Her Speakerness:
"I see no reason why Mr. Rangel should step down,"
Now, she may have made a half-hearted suggestion since then that he step aside, but why would he, when she made it plain that she doesn't really think it's necessary.
Then they left town
September 20, 2008 - 09:31 ET by NortoPelosi asked him to step aside(Right!) and then left town. The double standard is underwhelming.
Rangel is another who should be so "over" by now...
September 20, 2008 - 09:32 ET by Indiana JoeThe idea that this unprincipled hack is Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is a blight on America. Race-baiting got him there, and will unfortunately keep him there. Unless...
I'm really hoping that the McCain/Palin ticket has some long coattails. I think the absolute horror and venom expressed by the Left will cause an enormous back-lash, causing many who would have stayed home to vote the straight Republican ticket.
If we can retake the House along with the WH, we can send worthless scum like Rangel and Pelosi back to the foot of the Hill, which is still too good for them. But it could be even better. Senate, maybe? Hey, I can dream, can't I? A month ago, who'd have given McCain a snowball's chance?
"Remember Tom Daschle!"
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
»→ Most ethical Congress
September 20, 2008 - 09:34 ET by Cool ArrowNancy Pelosi is lying again. What's new.
Pitchforks & Torches all around.
"Us white folk will take care of you" - Barbara Walters
You're Kidding, Right?
September 20, 2008 - 09:36 ET by NoMoreClintons"You got to be kind to the disabled."
Then I guess we should all be very kind to ol' Charlie, who is obviously mentally disabled.
How stupid does he think we are?
September 20, 2008 - 09:56 ET by WingletDriver"You got to be kind to the disabled," Rangel said.
+
"I meant to say then, and I am saying now, that she entered the campaign with a disadvantage in the area of foreign policy."
= "You got to be kind to the foreign policy disadvantaged." Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Really, how stupid do they think we are?
Unfortunately WingleDriver, it really doesn't matter,,,
September 20, 2008 - 10:16 ET by ThalpyUnfortunately WingleDriver, it really doesn't matter what he thinks. Rangel remains unassailable, remote from all of us. His constituency would return him to office even if he were an axe murderer, and he would have Pelosi's undying support.
They break all the rules with impunity--for now.
Yeah, but if the Dems lose
September 20, 2008 - 10:33 ET by Indiana JoeYeah, but if the Dems lose the House, he at least will lose his Chairmanship.
Vote the ticket. Send Pelosi and Rangel back to the AAA.
"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall
At the moment, he IS
September 20, 2008 - 19:44 ET by celatorAt the moment, he IS unassailable. And the reason? He knows where all the skeletons are hidden in the Congress--both House and Senate.
He's radioactive right now, but they aren't going to push him very hard to resign from the committee chairmanship. The MSM certainly aren't going to push on him to resign. He knows where their skeletons are hidden also.
The guy has made a career of backroom deals and "You do me a favor and I'll do you a favor" politics. It's payback time for him now. He's safe.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
ALSO....
September 20, 2008 - 19:50 ET by MrShyThe MSM certainly aren't going to push on him to resign. He knows where their skeletons are hidden also.
Rangel is smack-dab in my little town here, New York City, so he probably has dirt on both politicians AND media people/organizations, most of which are headquartered here, of course.
He's a sleaze, indeed, and being from here I've always smelled something rotten with him, so none of this comes as a surprise to me at all.
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
Yup. People say Chicago
September 20, 2008 - 19:51 ET by celatorYup. People say Chicago politics is rough and tumble, and it is. But NYC is more so.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
celator
September 20, 2008 - 19:54 ET by MrShyI'd like to think it's not as rampant here, as it's been notorious in Chi-town for forever. But there's been a lot of sleazy/stinky politicians running things of late around here, from Rangel to Spitzer, and of course Sharpton, who's a NY'er, though not technically in the political system.
NOW PLAYING:
Governor Palin Get Your Gun
I went to school in Syracuse
September 20, 2008 - 20:03 ET by celatorI went to school in Syracuse and I remember talking to other students from the City, and learning how "things were done" politically there. And that was a long time ago. I also noted that there were differences in "upstate" and NYC kids. Each viewed the other as weird LOL. Same everywhere, I suppose.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
I chuckled a bit when I saw
September 20, 2008 - 10:14 ET by Dan The Man 2I chuckled a bit when I saw that. "You got to be kind to the disabled" It reminds me of the quip I used a lot. I would have a battle of wits with you, but I am loath to fight an unarmed opponent. I think Rangle just wanted to say she was stupid and he is scared but said what he said instead.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Term Limits
September 20, 2008 - 10:23 ET by iveseenitallRangel, Kennedy et. al. make the case for term limits. Unfortunately, the issue is hardly ever mentioned. It's like questioning tenure for the teachers and administrators in our "outstanding" public schools. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
ive, I totally
September 20, 2008 - 11:33 ET by msh1973ive,
I totally agree....look at Biden, he got elected while in his 20's and he has been there since. Biden has no idea what the real world is about, I can't believe the people of Delaware keep electing him. It is so crazy.
Rangel talks
September 20, 2008 - 10:17 ET by TheAssessorRangel is a talker.. out of both sides of his mouth
Rangel is a smiler.. all the way to the bank
So he considers a politician who has a reputation for honesty, integrity and dignity "disabled"?
Makes perfect sense to me.
Shameful........
September 20, 2008 - 10:19 ET by DanoThese types of people that are in Washington running our government and affairs is absolutely shameful. Are the people of the United States so stupid as to keep voting these arrogant and ignorant types of representatives in office ? Well, I quess they (we) are. God , please help us all.
Oh, brother
September 20, 2008 - 10:24 ET by ClericalGalThe reporter twice repeated the "disabled" remark to Rangel, and he still did not correct himself. He meant what he said. I am beside myself with anger at all this venom spewed at Sarah Palin.
Rangel
September 20, 2008 - 10:46 ET by jaywlRangel will join the Democrats roster of thieves and worse they allow to lead the party. These guys pay little price for violations of law and decency standards, they get instead increased influence. The Media allows this for democrats, while forbidding it for Republicans, even if that party would want it. Once a Republican crosses the line, that is pretty much the end of his career; witness Cunnigham, Stevens, Delay even on phony charges, Craig, and Foley. But! The Dems just keep 'em coming back for more. Alcee Hasting, impeached judge, now a respected leader. Big Dan Rosti made more money after jail than while in Congress. Jefferson is still around. Joe Biden lies, embellishes, plagiarizes, and is such a hypocrite about "giving' that I really don't understand how the media can possibly give him a pass. And of course, even negligent Homicide and cowardice is no failing for a Senator of the right mind. Rangel will join the group and go on to better things.
You want Equal Rights?
September 20, 2008 - 10:49 ET by ChasvsHey Charlie.
You've got the equal rights you've been crying about so then let's get it on and perp-walk your fuzzy ass to jail for your CRIMES!
Oh, I forgot, it's not nice to be harsh on you poor unfortunate Minorities.
If ever there was a bigger display of EVIl it hasn't been since 9/11!
Get Out And Vote
September 20, 2008 - 11:11 ET by JoelCTFolks,
We have got to get these horrible people out of power. They are beyond despicable.
Get out and vote. I know we're mad about the drunken-sailor-spending the Republicans did while in power, but now we know it was small potatoes compared to the last 20 months of the spending by the Democrats. At least the Republicans blew it on prescription medicine for the elderly and on defense. The Democrats are flat-out redistributing it from the people who work for a living to those who don't, and have promised to increase it to unheard-of levels!
So swallow your desire to "teach the Republicans a lesson". Tell everyone you know to get out and vote the straight Republican ticket. Even if you may not care for the GOP candidate, we have to do whatever it takes to get Commie Pelosi, Red Reid, and Disabled Rangel back into the minority!! Please, I am begging you!
Stay classy, Charlie
September 20, 2008 - 11:30 ET by wiwfStay classy, Charlie Pro-Draft Rangel
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Back Handed Apologies
September 20, 2008 - 11:59 ET by Chris NormanI wonder how Rangel would feel if some Republican said, "We must be kind to Rangel because he is of color." And later issued a statement saying, "I meant that he was colorful - I should have picked a better word. Still, any criticism of me inferring that by the use 'of color', that I meant that we must be kind towards Rangel because he's African American is a real stretch - and, I would have to think -- a way to make political points out of my poor choice of words."
Oh, that's right. Only Democrats are allowed to use their "apologies" as a way to turn themselves from the offender into the victim.
McNotObama '08
A 9% club member.
September 20, 2008 - 12:54 ET by CrashIf this is the best the Dems can do to represent ALL of the people ... just Damn! Who need's friends?
and Rangel does not know how to spell "disabled"
September 20, 2008 - 12:56 ET by wdhorningRangel has more to answer for than the average Congressman.
Opposite of a NewsBusters - type story
September 20, 2008 - 13:06 ET by DanSchwartzActually, since NewsBusters criticizes MSM bias, we should be complimenting WCBS (CBS2) for airing Rangel's interview exposing his PDS -- and, posting it to their website for posterity with a tough headline, instead of spiking it as many others in the MSM would have done... And none of us would have known about it.
Please visit my Home Page at
http://users.snip.ne...
The question ....
September 20, 2008 - 13:19 ET by Tom Blumer.... is whether you'll see AP, NYT, WaPo, LAT, CBS national, NBC, the cable shows, or ABC touch this.
I'm predicting that far more won't than will -- and if they do, they will not put it in print editions.
Rangel - Dishonest
September 20, 2008 - 13:09 ET by BW222And I would call Rangel dishonest. No, make thay a crook.
BW222
Rangel
September 20, 2008 - 13:17 ET by thomaspIf Rangle was a republican, all of the democrats would be demanding that he step down. Once again we see selective outrage from the liberals. Just picture what Keith "Tokyo Rose" Olbermann would be saying. it might haven even gotten a special comment!
T
Palin had more to say - besides 'living next door.'
September 20, 2008 - 13:29 ET by Gary HallTom, Rep. Charles Rangel (D) is using the MSM's pathetic mantra gleaned from the heavily edited Gibson/Palin "interview:" "There's no question about it politically. It's a nightmare to think that a person's foreign policy is based on their ability to look at Russia from where they live."
I see that the nasty ill-informed "On the Media" James Rainey of the LA Times is at it again today as well, in promoting the same shallow out of context and incomplete view of Palin.
Well, still apparently unknown to most of the MSM, itself, (even Bill O'Reilly was unaware) and these powerful Democrat leaders, Gov. Palin, as was documented on NB, had a lot more to say on the topic of Russia and US/ Russian relations than ABC wanted voters to hear. She also said (bold was edited out):
Thanks ....
September 20, 2008 - 14:22 ET by Tom Blumer.... for reminding everyone.
Story was indeed picked up by some in the MSM
September 20, 2008 - 14:13 ET by DanSchwartzA quick search of news.google.com with the search terms "Rangel Palin Disabled"
http://news.google.c...
produced quite a few hits; but not enough.
Please visit my Home Page at http://users.snip.ne...
Now THIS is biased Rangel coverage...
September 20, 2008 - 14:33 ET by DanSchwartzNow here's a bias by omission story from ABC News:
Charlie Rangel: Will He Stay or Will He Go?
http://abcnews.go.co...
Three pages of copy about his scandals... Not a single mention of his latest PDS scandal, however.
Please visit my Home Page at http://users.snip.ne...
Disabled eh...the only
September 20, 2008 - 16:47 ET by bigtimerDisabled eh...the only thing I want to see disabled is Rangel.
He's got away with crap for years....from the looks of things, he still may.
No hypocrisy here now is there in the msm...
Tom Delay... just one example.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Yo momma...
September 20, 2008 - 18:09 ET by RackieWhat, no "cracker"? No "honky"?
.
More Democrap Comedy Hour
September 20, 2008 - 18:12 ET by SquonkamaticIf Charlie Rangle was a Republican he would be gone by now goes without saying. But he seriously appears to be losing his grip here this week and it is time for whatever political machine that keeps him in power to be unplugged. The expression TERM LIMITS comes to mind, though I do appreciate all of the big belly laughs that Charlie Rangle has provided me with over the past couple of weeks.
Seriously though, this idea of a person being able to run for the senate until they wheel him out on a gurney has got to go. I think a nice round number like 30 years should be the maximum amount of time that anybody should be able to stay in congress just to make sure that fresh ideas are inevitable, and that old cabbages like Charlie Rangle will eventually be recycled into Soylent Green.
This is also the 3rd time in as many days that I have either heard or read someone mocking Sarah Palin for being able to "see Russia" from her house, which not only isn't possible & doesn't have anything to do with the issues at hand, but represents a grave disrespect for those Americans who don't happen to live in New York or Los Angeles that should surely be exploited by the McCain campaign to demonstrate what a bunch of elitist, idiotic mungers the liberals are -- and what life will be like if we get stuck with one leading the goat cart here. Who cares which direction her house faces or what comprises the view from her living room? Only a liberal would to use it as a way to foster hatred, resentment and hard feelings.
Charlie Rangel shows his A$$ one more time.
September 20, 2008 - 23:36 ET by CTThe good news is this creep is on his way out, maybe kicking and screaming, but out none the less.
Uh, Charlie Rangel is an
September 20, 2008 - 23:39 ET by Clear thinkerUh, Charlie Rangel is an ass!
Democrats Energy Plan - Breaking News
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
»→ Maybe so, Clear
September 20, 2008 - 23:46 ET by Cool ArrowBut he's an ass in the most ethical Congress in History.
"Us white folk will take care of you" - Barbara Walters
Yikes... On that comment I
September 20, 2008 - 23:50 ET by Clear thinkerYikes... On that comment I will bid everyone farewell for the evening.
Democrats Energy Plan - Breaking News
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Taxes are not for black people?
September 21, 2008 - 07:25 ET by Shooter1002Why didn't anybody tell me? Cheat on your taxes until you get caught. Then hem and haw, blame somebody else, minimize the whole thing and then just pay only if you absolutely have to and move on as if nothing happened.
Hell, if I knew that I never would have paid those gov't a-holes a nickel!
Is it just me?
September 21, 2008 - 19:18 ET by allahallahoxenfreeOr does this congressional leach look like a dirty old pedophile to anyone else?
CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS!!!
»→ Rangel
September 22, 2008 - 10:58 ET by Cool ArrowI think he's a Vietnam veteran. He may be a worthless thief, but I wouldn't call him a pedophile.
"Don't taze me bro" - Joe Biden
Can you say "Macaca"
September 22, 2008 - 10:52 ET by TheDeuceI knew that you could.