Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Tax Evader

It's official. Charlie Rangel, Democrat and US Representative from NY, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is a tax dodger.

He has admitted evading back taxes on $75,000 of income from a rental property over a period of 20 years.

For what it's worth, he is being represented by Democratic party fixer and Clinton confidant Lanny Davis.

Rangel blames his wife for the error, claiming that she handles finances, so he isn't really culpable. Nevermind that they file a joint return. Or that he must have signed the returns.

Now, if you know about filing taxes, you probably also know that penalties, at least for you, me, and other average Americans who don't belong to the ruling party's House delegation, are much stiffer and more serious for 'above the line' misstatements than they are for 'below the line' errors.

The 'line' in question is gross income. The IRS takes a much dimmer view of misstating income than it does for erroneously claiming deductions.

What Rangel committed was an 'above the line' infraction. He and his wife misrepresented their gross income.

If you or I were found to have done that, it could be a major issue. A criminal offense.

Do you think the sitting tax dodger from New York is worried about that? No way.

Or, maybe, 'no way or means.'

In a Presidential election year in which Rangel's party's own candidate is alleging to be above reproach, the Messiah of ethics and clean campaigning, the untimely revelation of Rangel's ethical and financial gaffe must be irritating to the freshman Senator from Illinois.

It might even give voters pause about just how 'new' the politics of the Democratic party really are.

Judging by Rangel's attempt to trivialize his crimes, hold onto his Chairmanship and seat in the face of Republican House leadership calls for him to step down, he knows he will get off without a penalty on this.

Surely, he knows he won't be treated as an ordinary citizen. After all, as a Democratic Congressman, he no doubt feels invincible and safe from all manner of penalties and punishments for illegal actions that lesser, non-office-holding Americans would suffer.