To Give Respect When It's Due: Charles Rangel
Author: Charles Sumpter

No one currently in the United States Congress has the guts and
might to say what is truly on his mind except Harlem's own
Charles B. Rangel. A member of Congress since 1971, he unseated
the legendary Adam Clayton Powell to represent Harlem in
Washington D.C. Charles Rangel, the heart and soul of the United
States Congress stated in August 2006, that he will resign his
seat if the Democrats did not take the House in November. The
mid-term elections in November are so important to our country.
The elections have been termed as a "cleaning of house" in which
many hope that the Democrats will regain seats lost in Congress
back in 1994. Well they did and the Dems came back with a
vengeance passing important policies within the first 100 days
of the 110th Congress.

As a native New Yorker, and as a past member of Mr. Rangel's
office, I feel a personal obligation to talk about him with the
dignity and respect that he deserves. He taught me a lot, and
his teachings have carried me to my present situation in life.
When the Democrats took control of Congress in the election,
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) became Chairman of the
powerful Ways and Means Committee. There was no way we could
have possibly lost him without having felt his absence across
the nation. No one has spoke out so adamantly against the
miscalculations in Iraq or the Bush Administration's economic
policies, which he feels favor the rich over the poor.

Mr. Rangel is not afraid of saying what he feels is important
and necessary. In response to remarks made by Venezuelan
President, Hugo Chavez at the UN general assembly on September
20, 2006 and implying that Bush was the devil, Rangel said, "I
want President Chavez to please understand that even though many
people in the United States are critical of our president that
we resent the fact that he would come to the United States and
criticize President Bush... you don't come into my country, you
don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn
my president."

Do not get the impression that Mr. Rangel is strong supporter
of our President or his policies, but he values a certain thing
called respect. In 2005, Rangel compared the President to Bull
Connor, the former Public Safety Commissioner for Birmingham,
AL, "George Bush is our Bull Connor." In response, Vice
President Dick Cheney during an interview said "I'm frankly
surprised at his comments. It almost struck me; they were so out
of line, Charlie was having some problem.

Charlie is losing it, I guess." Rangel shot back, "The fact
that he would make a crack at my age, he ought to be ashamed of
himself...He should look so good at 75." That tenacity and
energy is what we need on Capitol Hill and our country is in a
better position now that Mr. Rangel runs at least some of the
show.

Mr. Rangel is needed in the Congress, a champion of the people
he is fourth in Seniority in the House only after Rep. John
Dingell, Rep. John Conyers, and Rep. Dave Obey. The Co-Founder
of the Congressional Black Caucus, he has been fighting for many
years and his absence would have been felt across this country.
Let's take the time to appreciate this fighter and to make sure
he sticks around for many more years to come.


About The Author: Todd A. Smith is the Publisher of
http://www.regalmag.com, the preeminent online magazine for
African American men. The magazine focuses on social and
political issues, sports, relationships, health, entertainment
and business issues affecting Black men.