RELEASE: 18th District Candidate Returns Tainted Cash

Release:

Too Bad the Candidate's in Illinois

Mt. Vernon – Colleen Callahan, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 18th Congressional District, recently returned campaign cash from ethically challenged Rep. Charlie Rangel. Rangel, chairman of the powerful U.S. House Ways & Means Committee – the tax-writing committee – has failed to report and pay taxes for years on a luxurious beach house in the Dominican Republic. Rangel didn't report $75,000 in rental income because, as he said, his Dominican business partners spoke Spanish. Rangel is also accused of accepting trips to the Caribbean paid for by lobbyists funneling money through a New York-based Caribbean newspaper.

Mark Begich, mayor of Anchorage, AK, recently returned money Rangel gave to his campaign for U.S. Senate. And Wyoming Democratic House candidate Gary Trauner donated Rangel's tainted cash to charity.

"As I have been saying all along, unless we elected leaders who are willing to speak out and do what's right for our state and our country, and not for either political party, nothing is going to change," Trauner said.

So what has Rep. Zack Space (D-Dover) who's taken more than $20,000 from Rangel said?

"Rep. Zack Space (D-Ohio), who won former Rep. Bob Ney's (R-Ohio) seat in 2006, said the ethics process must be given a chance to review the charges before any action should be taken against Rangel. 'Charlie Rangel is a man of his word … we have to let the ethics process work,' Space said." (The Hill, 9-15-08)

That's a different tune from what he sang about lobbyist-funded trips just a few months ago:

"The move to bring about the new [ethics] board began in 2007 when Space led the group of freshmen in calling for an independent ethics board. This came after an historic bill that banned gifts, trips, and meals from lobbyists passed the House." (Rep. Zack Space press release)

And very different from what he said in 2006!

"I don't care if you are a Republican or a Democrat; if you don't practice the highest of ethical standards, you must step aside." (www.zackspace.org)

It sure didn't take long for Zack Space to learn the Washington Two-Step: Say one thing at home, do another in Washington.