When In Doubt, Blame the Media

The hopelessly corrupt Charlie Rangel lashes out at the media for his problems. Well, not all the media, just the NY Post, for exposing all his corrupt shenanigans.

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) was asked about his failure to disclose about $700,000 in assets this weekend in Harlem by my pal Azi Paybarah of PolitickerNY -- and responded by saying he was a victim of a New York Post smear campaign.

The charming, churlish House Ways and Means chairman, who is the subject of several ethics committee probes, blasted away at the Murdoch-owner tab -- even though the disclosure story was reported by POLITICO and other news outlets.

"I think it's totally unfair for the New York Post to send investigative reporters to my family's homes and to do that type of thing," he said during a rally in Harlem over the weekend. "I guess it's all selling papers."

Aides have said it was an oversight that broke no rules, but Rangel wouldn't talk about it.

Rangel is, of course, being highly selective in his shootings of messengers.

True, the Post has been a harsh, harsh critic -- and did snap the infamous photo of him sprawled, belly to the sun, at his Punta Cana beach property, which is now the subject of an ethics committee investigation.

But where were Rangel's harsh words for the New York Times, Washington Post and Buffalo News, whose editorial writers have called for him to step down as chairman? And why not go after the Times for its expose of his sweetheart apartment deal?

Well, it's simple. They for the most part protect Democrats and he probably hopes after their initial reportage that they'll call off the dogs, which they usually do.

The Post responds to his whining.

Obviously, he's miffed -- for starters -- by the paper's pictures and stories of his secret Caribbean rental property, which he failed to disclose to Congress and on which he failed to pay taxes.

But The Post's reporting has proved 100 percent accurate -- buttressed, in fact, by reports from other news outlets.

There have also been reports about his countless other schemes: his four rent-stabilized apartments, for instance, and his apparent pay-to-play deal involving a City College center named for him.

"I want to maintain the good name, honesty and integrity that I've enjoyed for over 50 years," Rangel added.

Fine. Then start living up to that goal.

Alas, Rangel seems likely to pay little price for his sins, The Post's exposés notwithstanding. That's because his cowardly fellow Democrats, who run Congress, refuse to call him on it.

Honesty and integrity. Now that's a hoot.

Meanwhile, I can't help but notice while he's talking you can see the words "Democratic Dick" on the signage behind him.

How appropriate.