Walking Advertisement For Term Limits To Seek Another Term

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Charlie Rangel, whose singular accomplishment in Congress can be summed up in a scandal that led to him being stripped of committee assignments and censured by the House of Representatives, plans to run for a 23rd term:

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday that he will seek a 23rd term in Congress in 2014, putting to rest retirement rumors.

In an op-ed for the New York Daily News, the 83-year-old says he is “fired up” to run again and continue to represent his Harlem-based district.

“I may not be a perfect human being, but I believe I am best equipped — by my experience, my knowledge of Washington, my seniority, my passion for serving the people of our district — to help the President achieve his agenda over the next two years,” Rangel writes. “I still have unfinished business. Charlie Rangel is still fired up. That is why I am running for my 23rd term in office.

Rangel has faced a series of primary challenges in recent years, owing in large part to his ethics problems. The former House Ways and Means Committee chairman in 2010 was censured by the House.

Rangel defeated state Sen. Adriano Espaillat 44-42 in his 2012 primary — his smallest margin of victory yet.

Word is that Espaillat may run against Rangel again. Perhaps this time the constituents of his district will come to their senses and get rid of someone who should have ridden off into the sunset long ago.

FILED UNDER: 2014 Election, Congress, US Politics, , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Tyrell says:

    Our state once had a House member who ran on term limits. They proceeded to be re-elected for the next twenty or so years

  2. Jenos Idanian #13 says:

    Charlie Rangel, whose singular accomplishment in Congress can be summed up in a scandal that led to him being stripped of committee assignments and censured by the House of Representatives, plans to run for a 23rd term:

    A scandal? A singular scandal?

    Well, I can buy that. Rangel is a scandal. It’s his offenses that are legion.

  3. OzarkHillbilly says:

    Exactly what is it Doug, that you have against Democracy?

  4. Tillman says:

    I wonder when the last time he killed a colleague was. He’s been in the House that long, he has to have killed a few Congressmen. Otherwise what are they paying him for down in Harlem?

  5. al-Ameda says:

    Rangel? You know, I have more of a problem with the 1994 and 2000 guys, many of whom ran for election to he House, and many pledged to term themselves out – of course once ensconced In the House all of them changed their minds about THAT.

    I personally favor constitutionally changing House terms from 2 years to 4 years and limiting service to 24 years. The Senate I’d similarly change to term them out at 24 years service.

  6. 11B40 says:

    Greetings:

    Wasn’t it Representative Rangel who first said, “You can take my Congressional seat when you pry it from my cold, dead ass.” ???

  7. Jenos Idanian #13 says:

    @al-Ameda: So, to you, a broken promise is a worse offense than numerous (VERY numerous) violations of laws for personal financial gain? Offenses for which he is still completely unrepentant, and if done by any average person would have resulted in jail time?

    Good to know. I got this list of broken promises from this guy named B. Hussein Obama to get you all worked up over…

  8. al-Ameda says:

    @Jenos Idanian #13:

    Good to know. I got this list of broken promises from this guy named B. Hussein Obama to get you all worked up over…

    Why do conservatives have a Messiah Complex?
    Again, I have less a problem with Rangel, than I do with phony Republican concupiscent hypocrites who talk a lot about term limits, then beg-off so that they can enjoy the ongoing perks of power, than I do with Rangel.