Paying tribute to Charlie Rangel

By Thomas Lifson

With impeccable timing, the Democrats' leadership and big donors plan a gala 80^th birthday bash for tax-cheating tax writer Charles Rangel, soon to face an Ethics Committee trial on 13 charges. Alexander Bolton of The Hill writes:

Lobbyists and other party donors received invitations this week to join Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. David Paterson (D) at one of New York's finest hotels to celebrate Rangel's birthday.

Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are also listed as featured guests, according to an invitation viewed by The Hill.

Some guests received the invitation a day after the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct issued a report accusing Rangel of 13 ethics violations.

I strongly encourage Democrats to whoop it up. For one thing, Charlie may not have another birthday left where he can dine at a hostelry other than the Graybar Hotel. For another, we all know that Charlie likes the good life, especially when somebody else is picking up the bill. And don't forget that we all want to see how well Nancy Pelosi has drained the swamp.

Remember the advice of Max Bialystock in The Producers: "When you've got it, flaunt it." The ruling class knows how the have a good time, and the rest of us peons deserve a good show, so don't forget to invite the C-SPAN cameras.