Congressmen Rangel and Wilson: A Tale of Two Charlies

In A Tale of Two Cities, author Charles DickensCharles Dickens started the book with these words:

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

This could also describe the current situation in the United States.

It was the best of times for liberal Washington congressmen. It was the worst of times for loyal American citizens.

Ever since he voted “Yea” on health care, Rep. Charlie Wilson, from Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District, has been deliberately hiding from his constituents.

Charlie only goes to Democratic-sponsored dinners or events. Charlie’s only appearances are limited to venues that he is able to control. He mails clearly-partisan campaign literature at taxpayer expense. His latest specialty seems to be phone teleconferences, where Charlie’s staff can control the questions and who asks them.

In fact, Charlie’s appearances have recently become more scripted than those of President Obama, America’s latest health care guru.

In addition, Charlie and his helpful staff will have you arrested by the police, should you dare to videotape one of his appearances.

In fairness to Charlie, the congressman is not alone. Many of his fellow Democrats are also hiding from the voters they deliberately ignored and betrayed during the health care debate. Many of them also share the same level of disdain for their constituents.

Obviously, Charlie has become a good and loyal Democrat, following every demand of his Speaker, Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi.

Like many other junior Congressmen in Washington, Charlie has become a good soldier in Nancy Pelosi’s salvation army. It is also apparent that Mother Nancy has told little Charlie that he is too big to answer to the voters of Ohio’s Sixth District.

Go ahead, Charlie. Continue to hide in your ivory tower. Like the CEO of British Petroleum, you shouldn’t have to rub elbows with all the “small people” out there.

Your constituents in the Sixth District want you to have a pampered life. They want you to live a life of privilege. They want you to sip Champagne and dine on caviar with shady lobbyists and fawning journalists, as a valued member of the Washington social scene.

That’s how dishonest, Charlie Rangel got his start.

Charlie Rangel wasn’t always the unrepentant tax cheat he is now; it took him a while. In fact, we know Charlie was once a brave and honorable man, when he selflessly served our country in Korea.

However, the shivering young man who fought the Chinese in Korea isn’t the same man who warmly embraced Fidel CastroFidel Castro in New York.

I’m not suggesting that Rep. Charlie Wilson has done anything like Charlie Rangel, yet. But this sort of behavior from the Congressman will undoubtedly take him down the same road as Charlie Rangel.

Charlie Wilson’s unrepentant displays of arrogance and entitlement are the exact same qualities which eventually led Charlie Rangel to self-destruct.

Now, Rangel thinks he is untouchable. This eighty-year-old Congressman is intoxicated by his own lust for power and a compulsive desire to hold onto it.

Moreover, Charlie Wilson’s obstinate refusal to face the people who pay his salary is a clear indication that he will eventually become the man Charlie Rangel is now.

It may not happen tomorrow; it may not happen next year. But it will happen!

Since you think you are too powerful or too important to answer to the voters, it won’t be hard to convince yourself, like Charlie Rangel, you also deserve a villa in the Dominican Republic.

After all, you are a Congressman, Charlie. You have a right to it.

For the promise of wealth and power, Charlie Rangel willingly agreed to sell his soul. Charlie Wilson’s refusal to face the voters is sufficient proof to everyone that he has willingly chosen to follow Rangel’s example.

As soon as you learn to ignore that thing you once called your conscience, Charlie Wilson, it will suddenly become easy for you…

Just like Charlie Rangel.