Party Daze: 'Loyal' Donors Flee Rangel

Maybe Chuckles should accuse them of being racist. That's usually a workable shakedown method for thugs like him.

Rep. Charles Rangel has another bitter pill to swallow - some once-loyal big donors, including drug giant Pfizer, are refusing to cough up cash for his birthday bash next week.

Barbara Kamen, a past regular at the lavish affair, said the party's over for her.

"We just don't think he is such a terrific guy any more," said Kamen, who, together with her husband and former MetLife CEO Harry Kamen, has given $11,600 to Rangel over the years.

"We do think some of the allegations are true. I don't believe in him any more," she said.

The 20-term congressman, who is up for re-election this year, faces a fall House trial on 13 ethics charges and had to give up the Ways and Means Committee chairmanship earlier this year.

That's too much for Pfizer, whose political action committee has coughed up $45,000 for the Harlem Democrat since 1997.

"Due to the pending ethics investigation and hearing we are not making any additional contributions to Rep. Rangel at this time," said Pfizer spokeswoman Kristen Neese.

Felix Rohatyn, a top Democratic figure in financial circles whose family has given Rangel $6,800 in the past decade, isn't ready to open his checkbook again either.

"It's a controversial issue and I'd like to know more before I decide," the former investment banker said yesterday from his Southampton home.

Rangel, who actually turned 80 in June, is hosting a birthday extravaganza Wednesday at The Plaza to raise campaign cash - much of which has gone for his legal fees lately. Tickets go for $200 to $2,500.

Meanwhile, as the big day approaches for the corrupt hack, he's reduced to making automated calls in a desperate attempt to boost attendance.

Lame.

Rep. Charles Rangel is trying to boost turnout at his upcoming birthday party and fund-raiser by blitzing New Yorkers with automated phone calls asking them to show up for the gala event.

"It's going to be a terrific party, and we want you there. Please try to make it. I'll be looking to meet you," Rangel says in the recorded message.

The timing of the Harlem Democrat's fund-raiser couldn't come at a worse time -- just two weeks after the House ethics committee charged him with 13 violations of congressional rules.

Some nervous Democrats are skipping the bash or have refused to say whether they will attend.

The Rangel campaign said it was standard procedure to reach out to people to remind them of the event.

Sure it is.

Other political analysts said Rangel wants to fill The Plaza's Grand Ballroom to avoid media reports that his ethical problems scared people away.

"They want Charlie to appear as strong as possible. If the room is not full, it will appear that Charlie is weak," said consultant Hank Sheinkopf.