Honesty requires a Congressman who promised to oppose corruption in Washington to stand up to corrupt politicians even if they bankroll his campaign
Dallas, PA – Another day, another Charlie Rangel scandal. Just last week it came out that Rep. Rangel (D-NY) rented four rent controlled apartments including one he used against city regulations as a campaign office (New York Daily News, 7/11/08). Now he’s admitted to breaking House Ethics rules by using official stationary to solicit companies for donations to his $2 million dollar taxpayer funded monument to himself (New York Post, 7/16/08).

Since 2006, Chris Carney has accepted $21,000 in direct contributions from Charlie Rangel or Rangel’s National Leadership PAC. In addition, Rangel hosted a $5,000 per plate Washington, DC fundraiser for Carney on March 13^th, 2008. This comes after Carney voted to spend $1.95 million tax dollars (Roll Call 678) on a widely criticized earmark so that Rangel could name a building after himself in New York (New York Daily News, 4/3/08).

“This is Washington abuse of taxpayers at its worst. Charlie Rangel is knee deep in the corrupt earmarking process and he has brought Chris Carney along with him. It’s bad enough that Carney voted to spend hard working Pennsylvanians’ tax dollars on Rangel’s New York boondoggle. But for Carney to accept thousands in campaign contributions from a congressman who is under ethics investigations is outrageous. Carney should give Rangel’s money back immediately,” said campaign spokesman Mark Harris.

In 2006, Carney said, “It is unfortunate that money and trappings of extreme partisan politics have blinded Don Sherwood to the real concerns and needs of the 10^th District and of America.” (Carney Press Release, 9/28/06) Chris Carney called on Don Sherwood to return the $14,800 he received from Tom DeLay’s PAC. Yet, Carney has received far more money from Rangel both directly and indirectly.

“Again, Chris Carney only likes to talk about ethics not actually enforce them,” said campaign spokesman Mark Harris.

Congressional candidate Chris Hackett has pledged not to participate in the corrupt earmark process that wastes billions in tax dollars annually and his led to the criminal conviction and imprisonment of Members of Congress in recent years.