It’s time for Democrats to start issuing an apology or two of their own.

They’ve spent the past week clamoring for Congressman Joe Wilson’s apology, even though the President has accepted his apology, twice now.

While Democrats will not let up on Wilson, it’s curious why they don’t take a closer look at one of their own, Congressman Charlie Rangel (NY). Revelations continue to show that Rangel has ignored the country’s tax laws, which, as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, he is responsible for writing.

The congressman continues to show his disregard for the law, and should apologize to the American people, in addition to stepping down from his chairman position.

One year ago, the New York Times (that bastion of journalistic integrity) called for Rangel to step down. Since then, others have called for his resignation, including the Washington Post, the Buffalo News and other congressional leaders.

Yet Rangel refuses to step down, won’t even apologize for his tax wrongdoings, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi continues to back him.

As a reminder of what Rangel should apologize for, here are a few assets Rangel has failed to disclose, which violate tax and Congressional rules:

• A Merrill Lynch Global account worth between $250,000 and $500,000.

• Tens of thousands of dollars in municipal bonds.

• Between $30,000 and $100,000 in rent from a building he owned in New York.

• A checking account worth between $250,000 and $500,000.

• Three vacant lots in New Jersey valued between $1,000 and $15,000.

• Stock in PepsiCo worth between $15,000 and $50,000.

• $10,000 in back taxes from rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic.

If a working American makes an honest mistake on their income tax, they pay penalties and interest along with their back taxes. But Chairman Rangel has paid just the outstanding back taxes he has admitted himself, and declared the matter closed, without paying a nickel of penalties or interest.

This is a blatant example of the kind of hypocrisy we have come to expect from Speaker Pelosi’s House of Representatives — a House of Hypocrisy.

Dave Edinger

Peachtree City, Ga.

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