Ethics Schmethics: Rangel Using Campaign Cash to Pay for Defense

Gee, this all seems a bit unethical, no?

Charles Rangel's legal bills are piling up as high as the campaign cash he's raking in to pay for his ethics defense.

That leaves the Harlem Democrat with no choice but to run for, and win, a 21st term in the House to keep raising campaign money to pay legal fees - which top $1.7 million, records show.

"It's perverse - he's got to keep doing it," said Solomon Wisenberg, a former independent counsel who probed ex-President Bill Clinton's sex scandal.

If Rangel wins reelection he can continue dialing for dollars to pay D.C.'s primo law firms.

If he loses or resigns, the House probe would end but he might have to dig into his own pockets to pay his legal debts.

God forbid a corrupt hack like Rangel digs into his own pocket to defend himself. Can a bailout be far behind?

Meanwhile, the Good Ship Chuckles is springing a leak.

In a major development, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) on Friday night called on beleaguered Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to resign.

Sutton's statement comes one day after the House ethics committee charged the 80-year-old Democrat with multiple violations.

In a statement to The Hill, Sutton stated, "It is regrettable, but Charlie Rangel needs to resign from his seat in Congress. This isn’t about being a Democrat or Republican, this is about preserving the public trust. Our nation is facing extraordinary challenges and must be focused on building a sustainable economy that will allow our workers and businesses to flourish."

There's that annoying term again: sustainable. Well, it appears Rangel's sustainability is just about nil.

Why it was less than three weeks ago the AP desperately tried to prop up Rangel by telling us how much everyone loved him.

"When the venom is out of the air, Charlie will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary political leaders in the history of this country."

Reallly? And what venom is that, exactly?

Oh yeah, maybe they can still play the race card to salvage Rangel. That can't be far off.

Where's the JournoList when you need it? Is Spency Ackerman still alive?

Thanks to Hot Air for the link.