Rangel’s dodge

Opinion: March 11, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Miami Herald: Rep. Charles Rangel of New York finally quit as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, but his resignation was neither honorable nor graceful.

He was admonished by a congressional inquiry last month for violating House gift rules by accepting free trips to the Caribbean from corporate sponsors in 2007 and 2008. The report found that his staff tried on at least three occasions to warn him that the trips had corporate sponsors, yet he still claimed he didn’t know.

The inquiry concluded that Rangel was responsible for the violation because the actions of his staff are his responsibility. Was Rangel contrite? No way. First the New York Democrat crowed that the inquiry cleared him. Then he had the nerve to blame his staff for getting him in trouble.

‘Staff error’ dodge

What nonsense. Rangel should have owned up to his mistake immediately instead of hiding behind the “staff error” dodge. This newspaper first called on him to give up the gavel nearly 18 months ago, when serious questions arose about possible tax violations. Those are still pending, by the way.

Rangel stalled for as long as he could. What’s worse, House colleagues let him get away with it. He’s become the Democratic Party’s poster boy for low ethical standards.

Even in resignation, Rangel refused to take responsibility. He said he was quitting — temporarily — to avoid embarrassing fellow Democrats in an election year. It’s too late for that.