WASHINGTON — In the wake of ethical allegations surrounding Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. said the black cloud surrounding Rangel will not hurt the Democrats in November’s midterm elections.
In 2006, the Republicans faced a similar situation when former Rep. Mark Foley resigned abruptly following allegations of sexual misconduct with a former employee. The Democrats went on to win control of both the House and Senate that year.
Hoyer painted the picture of the upcoming midterms as too big to be bogged down by ethical accusations against one of the Democrats’ senior members. Hoyer sees the midterms four years ago as a referendum on President George W. Bush’s policies, which led to a change of the guard within Congress. This year’s midterms are seen by Democrats as a continuation of the referendum.
“The American public rejected economic policy and international policy that they believed were not working [in 2006,] so it was much broader than simply the ethical lapses that were raised,” Hoyer said. “They were on the policies that were not working and they reaffirmed that judgment in 2008 by electing President (Barack) Obama… I think we’re going to win the election [this November.]”
While concerned about the allegations surrounding Rangel, D-N.Y., Hoyer maintained a curious optimism that the allegations against Rangel will not contribute to bringing down a Democratic majority in the House. However, similarly to Bush in 2006, Obama faces the lowest approval rating of his short presidency and support of his administration is rapidly diminishing.
“The American people don’t believe [that Bush’s polices were good], I don’t believe that, and we’re prepared to fight on moving forward or going back to the Bush administration’s policies,” Hoyer said. “The Republicans believe that [those policies] were good for the country. That is really what America is going to vote on. That’s the difference between the two parties.”
Despite maintaining that the congressional ethics program is working better than ever, as evidenced by a formal hearing this Thursday to decide Rangel’s fate, Hoyer still wishes it had not come to this.
“I think everybody would like to have it go away,” Hoyer said.