Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel Ethics Charges – Politico Runs with Race Card

Both Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel have come under the cloud of ethics charges from within Congress – a body of their peers, for allegations with legs. In both cases, months have gone by, and yet nothing came out of hearings until recently, unfortunately for the House Democrats, less than 100 days before a mid-term election, where they are trailing in polls. The committee that oversees house ethics is made up of equal parts Democrats and Republicans, and has brought ethics charges against peers, most often, with punishment no worse than a public (inside Congress) admonishment from their peers. That said, since the two national figures, Rangel and Waters have been brought up on charges, within a week of each other – over at Politicoit must be about race. The article, entitled: “Ethics Cases Raise Racial Questions”, points out the fact that both Maxine and Charlie are African-American – and that the last time anyone (they can recall) who was brought up on ethics charges, was New Gingrich (who was cleared of all wrong-doing, but not before he resigned).

Apparently, Politico has forgotten about Tom Delay , who faced ethics charges and was also cleared of any wrong-doing, but none-the-less resigned.
Could it be, that rather than Maxine and Charlie sharing a common background – that both have made errors in judgment that would be considered somewhat unethical – regardless of whether they are black, white, Asian or “other”. The article by Politico continues to name other recent cases where African-American’s got their hands caught in the proverbial “cookie jar” – most recent was Jesse Jackson Junior who was found to be less than truthful when it came to an Illinois Senate Seat for Sale.

The problem lays not with the fact that they are African American, (or any other racial or ethnic background) - the problem lays with the fact that they got caught – Timing in life being everything – the press is growing concerned that ethics violations by Waters and Rangel might, in some way, affect the outcome of the 2010 elections – that, according to polls taken over the past year, ship has sailed – the Democrats are trailing on Generic Congressional Ballots by an average of 4.8 points, with the latest polls shown an 11 point deficit (Real Clear Politics). It is obvious, therefore, that regardless of what charges may come down the pike for both Waters and Rangel, it would have little if any impact, as the general public appears to have made up its collective mind. It may be worth noting in specific races, as both Rangel and Waters face reelection in 2010 - but ethics charges do not necessarily equate, in Democrat terms, with a loss of one’s seat (See Barney Frank (D-MA).

It has become increasingly popular by both the media and the political class to charge “race” as soon as something that may impact public opinion rears its ugly head – unfortunately, calling “wolf” one time too many, has unintended consequences. The country now is more divided than at any other time in history – not only politically but racially and ethnically – with the daily media drumbeat of separatism rather than inclusion. It is articles such as this, which pulls American’s further apart, pits one group against another and does no good what-so-ever. Herein lays a fresh approach, both Rangel and Waters, being American Citizens, have allegations and charges pending regarding ethics violations – it is personal responsibility rather than any other lesson that should be brought to the public, specifically by the media.

Health Care Stalled Until Fall in Both House and Senate – Obama continues to Blame “Republican’s”, Democrats control the vote.

The Senate and the House have declined to vote on the Administration’s Health Care plan until after the fall recess. This despite a visit to the Congress from Rham Emanuel, who failed to deliver – Emanuel is being criticized by left of center, Maxine Waters (D-CA), for recruiting the Blue Dog Democrats responsible for stalling the bill in committee. Therefore, Rham is caught between a rock and a hard place – the left (which is pushing this legislation), would not be in a position to do so had Emanuel found more like-minded socialist-progressive Democrats, who would have lost in 2008, leaving the Democrats without a majority.

Now Obama is faced with a major defeat for his administration yet continues to take to the road, hawking a plan that is far from perfected, and one which the majority of American’s now feel the nation could do without. In order to gain sympathy from the general public, Obama continues to blame “Republican’s” and go with the “Sky is Falling” approach. In a recent press conference, he insisted that without his health care plan, premiums would skyrocket, while in town hall meetings with Seniors (AARP), he had this to say to those who depend on Medicare: “As costs balloon, so does Medicare's budget. And unless we act within a decade -- within a decade -- the Medicare trust fund will be in the red.” He is also blaming “Republican’s” for derailing his plans , specifically, Senator Jim DeMint (R) who, spoke about the possibility of this particular plan being Obama’s political Waterloo. This later transformed into his recent mantra of, “Republican’s who want this to fail for political reasons”, which the nation, apparently is not buying.

It's about Freedom of Choice.

From the leftist blog the “Daily Kos” come the final blow in the article “The Dems lost this debate once Single Payer became Public Option”. Understanding from a progressive point of view, that private health insurance should be eliminated in favor of a government run universal health care plan, this article is interesting in that choice is viewed by Progressives (the President , Obama, is a Progressive), as unhealthy, that the American people (i.e. “masses), don’t know what’s good for them.”

Obviously, when the extremist Daily Kos is throwing in the proverbial towel, there is “trouble in River City.”
With the 2010 elections taking the stage and Obama’s poll numbers continuing to slide south,( Gallop’s latest has him at a has him at a 53% approval, while Rasmussen has him hovering at 50% (note these approval ratings include those who “somewhat approve”.) the Democrats most likely to retain their jobs are those same “Blue Dogs” who are centric. With the Stimulus failing to provide much needed jobs, rising State Taxes, and one more “rush” this program though without reading it because the sky is falling” bill, the President has lost credibility, and those numbers have nowhere to go but down. This will, of course, cause a “Bush effect” for those who were in lockstep with the Democrat party.