Poor Misunderstood Charlie Rangel

Now, see, here we go. Not even a week into the anticipated Cratz take over of the House and Senate, and already the verbal battles start over absolutely nothing. And what gets me is one of the least likely to stir up trouble is the first mouth on the chopping block. Poor Charlie Rangel.

The New York Times quoted Charlie Rangel as saying:

"Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?"

Immediately Chip Pickering, Representative from Mississippi, had this to say:

"I hope his remarks are not the kind of insults, slander, and defamation that Mississippians will come to expect from the Democrat leadership in Washington."

Charles Rangel will be the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee when the new leadership takes over in January. Having seen Charlie on numerous political talk shows, I know he couldn't have meant anything derogatory about Mississippi. It's just those nasty Wingers looking for another excuse to stir up semantic trouble again.

OR could it be that the people of Mississippi have good reason to be concerned about Charlie Rangel's thoughtless words? He says

“I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone. I just love New York so much that I can’t understand why everyone wouldn’t want to live here.”

However, Mr Pickering had this to say about Mississippi:

“From the coast to the Delta to the Pine Belt to the hills and across Mississippi,there is beauty in every city, charity in every heart, love in every church, and majesty in every countryside.”

The best evaluation of Charlie Rangel's words, though, came from David Hampton, who edits the editorial page at the Clarion Ledger in Mississippi. Mr Hampton said,

“Regional insults aside,the more serious issue is Rangel will head the powerful Ways and Means Committee at a time when there already is reluctance to continue to address Katrina-recovery needs and a perception that Mississippi got more than it should have in recovery funds.”

Yes, I think Mr Hampton nailed it right on the head.

So when are the cratz going to begin sensitivity training for those whose words end up on the front pages of newspapers all over this country? Maybe John Kerry didn't really mean to insult The Troops... but he did. And maybe Charlie Rangel doesn't really have anything on his mind at all when it comes to withholding funds from Mississippi in their clean-up from Katrina. But his words don't convey that.

THIS is the party whose leadership is going to turn things around in this country? Well, maybe. Just so long as they don't speak.