From The Ramparts

More Things That Make You Go Hmm?

More Things That Make You Go Hmm?

"You do not come into my country, my congressional district, and you do not condemn my president. If there is any criticism of President Bush, it should be restricted to Americans, whether they voted for him or not. I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president, do not come to the United States and think because we have problems with our president that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our Chief of State." Congressman Charles Rangel

Is it me, or is Charlie Rangel the US Congressman who represents Harlem as the kids used to say "throwed off" or what? Last week Rangel chastised visiting Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez for calling George W. Bu$h "the devil". Has Rangel spoken with any of his poorer (as in working hard every day but earning less and less money) Harlem constituents lately? If Rengel took the time to actually listen to what his constituents think, he'd probably get an earful about defending George W. Bu$h. Ironically if Rangel actually understood or identified with Harlemites, he'd know most of them feel the same way about Bu$h Chavez does, that they think Bu$h is a devil, or worse! When I first heard it, I thought to myself "maybe Rangel was doing what a lot of us do, take umbrage when an outsider insults one of our boys or a family member, even though what the person said is the truth?" Was Rangel engaging in what many victims do when they are in chronically untenable situation, when they find themselves powerless in a dysfunctional environment; defend the abuser, verbally support the molester hoping to gain browny points, temporary favor or respite and relief from torment? Or was it a worst case scenario? Perhaps Charlie Rangel thinks he's one of the good ol' boys and dutifully and happily defended his "chief of state' despite that fact his "chief of state" is responsible for slaughtering thousands of innocent people around the world, despite the fact his "chief of state" lied to invade a country that had done nothing to the US and despite the fact his "chief of state" is instigating another illegal invasion that will set off the ultimate clash of civilizations?
I don't live in Harlem. I don't know Rangel nor do I know what motivated him to defend Bu$h. But I do know that by defending Bu$h Rangel has chosen to cast his lot with some very despicable people! By defending Bu$h, Rangel chose to defend a liar. He chose to defend a murderer, a war criminal and a man who has violated his oath to defend the US Constitution and protect the AmeriKKKan people. We saw that vividly a year ago as Bu$h sat idly by and allowed the poor of New Orleans to suffer unspeakable devastation and privation despite the fact Bu$h knew a category five hurricane was heading for the area! By defending Bu$h Rangel is in effect trivializing the good Chavez did for the people of the Gulf Coast by sending relief aid as well as oil to the region. Rangel is choosing to go on the public record as a defender of George W Bu$h. I wonder how Rangel's constituents feel about that?
In his statement Rangel said he was offended by Chavez' statements. I wasn't offended by anything Chevez said nor did I take offense at anything the Iranian president said while at the UN. Is it me or doesn't' Charles Rangel sound awfully white in his rebuke of Hugo Chavez or any other national leader who dares criticize George W. Bu$h? Why I ask Rangel, can't a world leader or anyone else for that matter criticize Bu$h if Bu$h's policies and agenda threaten world peace, international stability or the quality of life for billions of people on this planet? What in Rangel's mind makes George W. Bu$h or any other AmeriKKKan sacrosanct or above criticism? While Rangel has been critical of Bu$h does he think only the good ol' boy network is allowed to point out the fact the emperor is naked? If as Rangel says, only AmeriKKKans can criticize Bu$h, my question to Rangel and the rest of the Milquetoast go along Democrats in Congress and the Senate is, why have you been so spineless in your response to all the things Bu$h has done to undermine the nation's security and "civil liberties", divide the nation, make AmeriKKKa hated around the world and bankrupt this nation; morally and financially. I don't hear Rangel or too many of his Democratic cohorts making the case against Bu$h on any of this, even as the mid term elections approach! But then again, the few Democrats who do speak out don't get massive coverage in the mainstream media. It's interesting when you stop and think about it; Rangel probably got more coverage for defending the indefensible than for introducing a bill to make national service (both military or community service) mandatory! While it's not Rangel's fault the mind control apparatus picks and chooses which items it will promote and play up, I think the African-AmeriKKKan community, who have consistently and overwhelmingly opposed Bu$h's presidency and his policies should hold Negroes like Charlie Rangel accountable when they publicly buck dance and shuffle for massa. Food for thought, something else to make you go hmm?

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posted by Junious Ricardo Stanton @ 8:05 AM