Pelosi Not Happy With Rangel’s Rant

Shortly after Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) took to the House floor yesterday to defend himself against charges that he violated several congressional ethics rules, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a shrill statement suggesting the Harlem Democrat had breached protocol.

“As I have repeatedly stated, the independent, bipartisan Ethics Committee is the proper arena for ethics matters to be discussed,” said Pelosi.

During the course of his nearly-30-minute-long tirade, the embattled Rangel addressed a few of the key charges against him, such as securing multiple rent-controlled apartments in New York City, and failing to pay taxes on a vacation property he owned in the Dominican Republic. He defiantly challenged his fellow House colleagues to expel him from Congress, telling them he has no plans to resign, and complained about the pace of the Ethics Committee’s investigation into his alleged misdoings.

“Don’t leave me swinging in the wind until November,” he said. “If you want me to resign, tell me now!”

The response from Democrats to the unannounced speech was likely not what Rangel had hoped it would be.

“Rambling, rambling…Why in the world would he think this would help his cause?” said one Democratic aide to reporters. The Hill newspaper cited another Democratic lawmaker who called Rangel’s remarks a “train wreck.”

Republicans, meanwhile, quickly pounced on the opportunity to focus on the continued scandal that has engulfed the 80-year-old lawmaker.

“If the American people needed any more evidence that Speaker Pelosi’s party is in complete chaos, today they found it,” said Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

“Democrats would rather talk about anything other than Charlie Rangel,” Mazzola added.

Peace Activist Challenges Gibbs To A "Pee-Off"

While White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs’ recent comments decrying “the professional left” have ruffled progressive feathers, perhaps the most interesting response thus far has come from peace activist Cindy Sheehan.

During an interview with the Hill, Gibbs remarked “I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested.” Sheehan announced Tuesday evening that she’s willing to take the Press Secretary’s suggestion at face value.

“I will put my urine up against Gibbs’ any day, and in fact, will travel to Washington, DC to give him a fresh and warm sample,” Sheehan said in a statement. “I will challenge him to a pee-off.”

Sheehan, who in 2005 entered the national spotlight for staging a nearly five-week long protest outside of President Bush’s Texas ranch, added that liberals who continue to support Obama should be tested for “hopium.”

Gibbs’ interview has received equally charged, albeit less colorful, responses from members of the House Progressive Caucus and the heads of liberal groups. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Mo.) has suggested the Press Secretary resign. 

Sheehan became a prominent voice in the peace movement in 2004, following her son’s death in Iraq. She was a third party candidate against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) in the 2008 race.