Richard Neal (D-MA) Receives Ringing Endorsement – Neal’s Rangel’s Top Choice For Replacement

Richard Neal (D-MA) receives Endosement of Disgraced Charlie Rangel as Replacement - image Washigton Post

Update: Sander Levin (D-MI) will be the "Interim" Chair, giving Michigan the nod . Apparrently, Rangel's ringing endorsement of Neal was even too much for Speaker Pelosi.

There may be several reasonswhy Democrat Richard Neal’s name is being pushed as Rangel’s replacement as the Chairman of House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel, who recently “stepped” down for ethics violations, and who as Chair of this particular committee that oversees taxes, (ironic as Rangel still owes back taxes), wants Neal to replace him. The question is why? Neal, who has held no significant post within the Congress since he began his tenure, has been Rangel’s “guy” for some time.

From the Atlantic online:

Rangel wants Richard Neal, to whom he has already given several key responsibilities, to be his successor. Neal would treat the tax pros and business interests that come before the committee with more respect, in theory.

Rangel, who is one of the most corrupt of the current bunch, endorsing Neal is interesting as it would be outstanding fodder for any of the candidates who are running against Neal in 2010.

Congressional protocol, however, suggests that seniority trumps, and that leaves Neal 3rd in line as Rangel’s successor, unless, of course, Pelosi decides differently.

Why might Nancy give Neal the post? Those aforementioned challengers to Neal, his lackluster, at best, career in the Congress, at a time when each and every Democrat requires as much help as they can get to keep their respective jobs. It is normal for Neal to run completely unopposed, but this year, the climate in Massachusetts has changed, and this was prior to Browns Senate run. Neal is being challenged by two Republican’s: Dr. Jay Flietman of Northampton (Excellent article on Flietman here at the Gazette) and Tom Wesley Tomwesley.com, running as a regular citizen (populist).

It may not have gone unnoticed by Pelosi that Neal’s seat, for the first time in decades is under siege. According to the FEC’s last quarter Report Both Dr. Flietman and Tom Wesley are raising money for their campaign, granted the amounts are not significant in terms of most races, but in terms of most Massachusetts Republican candidates, they are substantial as it is early in the game. Both Flietman and Wesley will face a primary and Neal has little time to convince an already bored constituency that he deserves yet another term.

If Pelosi does appoint Neal, it will be a move designed to lend some credibility to his career, in order to maintain a seat in the Congress, where once upon a time, Nancy would not have given Neal the time of day. Additionally, Neal would hardly have bothered to campaign, rather, just send out his every other year - (at the taxpayers’ expense mind you) – reminder to residents of the District that he’s actually in Congress! He may have to pony up for more than one mailer this time around; depicting Republican’s as most likely to take away one’s social security and Medicare. That ploy might not work this time, specifically given the Medicare cuts in the Health Care Reform Bill that Neal has repeatedly voted for, despite the wishes of his constituents.

Therefore, from this perspective, Pelosi even considering appointing the 3rd tier nominee, one Richard Neal, denotes nothing more than the fact that Neal is in serious danger of losing his seat. Charlie Rangel’s choice as successor may end up being the last endorsement Neal receives in 2010, (outside of local media and the usual Democrat hierarchy in Massachusetts).