Are House Ethics Charges Racist?

As Speaker Pelosi's newly created bi-partisan ethics committee finds two prominent members of the Congressional Black Caucus at odds with the rules of the House of Representatives, the panic has set in at the White House. Already facing a very bad night in November, the majority party now has to beat back the flames of outright corruption within its ranks. The process with Rangel took more than two years, but, hey, they've been busy in the House. What with ramming through wildly unpopular legislation and painting the growing Tea Party as racists and Nazi astroturf, there are only so many hours in the day.

This is the response from President Obama when asked his thoughts on the mess Rep Charlie Rangel finds himself in: "I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling, and, you know, he's somebody who is at the end of his career, 80 years old.
"I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity, and my hope is that happens."

Well, now. How's that for support? Obama refers to Rangel in the past tense and all but says "he's outta here". No one was particularly surprised by the statement. Barack Obama is not known for his loyalty traits.

Now, there is the case against Rep Maxine Waters hitting the headlines. She was only looking out for minority-owned banks in the TARP bailout days, you know. One of those minority-owned banks happens to use her husband on its board of directors and he holds stock in the bank, but never mind. She might have forgotten to mention that while she lobbied to include that particular minority-owned bank in the TARP disbursements.

To add more to the narrative, on Fox News Sunday, Juan Williams mentioned that it is a case of racism that these two high profile members of the Congressional Black Caucus are now readying for Congressional public trials. Yeah, the predictable charge of racism has entered the fray. When fellow panel member Liz Cheney asked Williams if he himself believed that this was racism, he replied, "no". But, he said, the case will be made.

Interesting. It is the same as any other thorny issue concerning the majority party since the election of Barack Obama. Any dissension at all, any reprimand at all, is, in the minds of the irrational, racist. The term has been so completely diluted by the constant use that it no longer hold much of a sting. The post-racial presidency of Barack Obama never materialized.

The time nears when the term will no longer hold attention grabbing ability at all.