Reply #42: Being in a position of power in Washington D.C... [View All]

[spin]

may infect a person and eventually cause a bad case of corruption.

Perhaps that's why we should have term limits. Here is a man that is a war hero and has a long record of public service and yet a House panel of other members of the House of Representatives has found him guilty of 11 counts of violating ethics.

Rangel was born in Harlem in New York City and had a somewhat troubled childhood. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the United States Army during the Korean War, where he led a group of soldiers out of a deadly Chinese Army encirclement during the Battle of Kunu-ri in 1950. Rangel graduated from New York University in 1957 and St. John's University School of Law in 1960, then worked as a private lawyer, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and legal counsel during the early-mid 1960s. He served two terms in the New York State Assembly from 1967 to 1970, then defeated longtime incumbent Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in a primary challenge on his way to being elected to the House of Representatives.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_B._Rangel

I personally like Rep Rangel and I hope all turns out well for him.

I suspect it's the environment that cause politicians to leave the straight and narrow path and wander off on the side roads. It's like they are bitten by the god of power and influence and see no problem with enjoying misusing their position to violate the rules. Perhaps they believe that they are above the rules. It happens far too often. Good men go to Washington with the best intentions and the corruption that surrounds them eats into their soul.