Charles Rangel Won't Accept Fox Facts in Front of Him, Makes Kerry-like Comment

Photo of Justin McCarthy.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts" the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, something Congressman Charles Rangel seemingly never picked up. In the Fox News Sunday segment which featured Barney Frank attacking Fox News, host Chris Wallace presented to Congressman Rangel findings from a Heritage Foundation Study that the military are in fact from a healthier economic background and better educated than the general American public. Rangel, with the facts in front of him, reverted to his original talking points disputing those very facts. He even made a John Kerry-like claim implying those serving in the military are not particularly patriotic or even very smart. The question is, will the mainstream media pick up on it?

Wallace: "Congressman Rangel, you caused quite a stir this week when you said that you're going to introduce a bill to reinstate the draft. Here's what you said this week in a newspaper article. Let's take a look. 'The great majority of people bearing arms in this country, for this country in Iraq are from the poorer communities in our inner cities and rural areas,' but a recent and very detailed study by the Heritage Foundation found the following, and we're going to put that up. 13 percent of recruits are from the poorest neighborhoods. That's less than the national average of people living in those neighborhoods. 97 percent of recruits have high school diplomas. Among all Americans, the graduation rate is under 80 percent. And blacks make up 14.5 percent of recruits for the military. The national average is 12 percent. Congressman, in fact, contrary to what you've been saying, isn't the volunteer army better educated and more well-to-do than the general population?"

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY): "Of course not. I want to make it abundantly clear that I have been advocating a draft ever since the president has been talking about war, and none of this comes within the jurisdiction of the Ways and Means Committee. But I want to make it abundantly clear, if there's anyone who believes that these youngsters want to fight as the Pentagon and some Generals have said, you can just forget about it. No young, bright individual wants to fight just because of a bonus and just because of educational benefits. And most all of them come from communities of very, very high unemployment. If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq. So anyone who supports the war and is against everyone sharing in the sacrifice is being hypocritical about the whole thing. The record is clear and once we are able to get hearings on this, everyone will see what they already know, and that is that those who have the least opportunities at this age find themselves in the military, as I did when I was 18 years old."

The following morning, on Fox and Friends, Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson, and Brian Kilmeade discussed the Rangel comments with Fox News Sunday panelist Bill Kristol.

Steve Doocy: "Did you hear what Charlie Rangel said over the weekend, Bill?"

Bill Kristol: "I, I, if he said it on Fox News Sunday I heard it because I try to watch the show before the panel. I think it's polite to do that. Everyone knows the panel part is the only important part. But still, you like, you like to pretend that the guests matter."

Steve Doocy: "You know, I understand. Well, Chris Wallace had said, had talked a little bit about how, you know, Charlie Rangel, of course very interested in reinstating the draft. Chris said, you know, there is a study out by the Heritage Foundation that finds that, that people in the military generally have higher grades and finish more high school and stuff like that than just, than just the general public. And then you were right there. What did Charlie Rangel say?"

Kristol: "Well, what did he say? I can't remember now."

Doocy: "Well, I'm glad you asked. We got the sound bite. This should refresh your memory."

Kristol: "Good, good."

(Begin video)

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY): "If a young fellow has an option of having a decent career or joining the Army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq."

(End video)

Doocy: "Hey now wait a minute that kind of sounds like what John Kerry said a couple weeks ago and got himself in a lot of trouble."

Kristol: "Well, it's just not true. You know, I know young men and women who have fought in Iraq and who are, or are about to be sent to Iraq, who are college graduates. Some of them are college graduates. They've chosen to serve the country. It's really unbelievable, frankly, that a senior member of Congress could say that. I mean what does it, I mean I do agree it sounds like John Kerry except John Kerry was telling a bad joke and Charlie Rangel is trying to be serious. And it's, you know, I mean, whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not, you know, the idea that people serving in the military wouldn't sign, they only sign up out of desperation and that no one wants to fight for your country. Would he say the same thing about a soldier who has been deployed to Afghanistan or a soldier who's defending the U.S. in other ways? I mean it's really a terrible thing to say I think."

Gretchen Carlson: "No, I think, I think that, that some people are lumping joining the military in with only one option which is Iraq. And you bring up a great point that there are of course other missions that one could be deployed to."

Kristol: "That mission is itself defending the country."

Carlson: "Of course."

Kristol: "I mean, you know, soldiers don't get to vote which mission they go on."

Carlson: "Right."

Kristol: "It's really a terrible thing, I think, for, for Rangel to say and also empirically false as the study shows."

Brian Kilmeade: "The other thing Bill, it gets people off the Democratic message which is to show that they can govern and they're not speaking from the same hymn book and they're speaker has not asserted herself to the point where people like Congressman Charlie Rangel are concerned about diverting the party from the message."

Kristol: "Right, I mean if the Democratic party's position is going to be that only people who are desperate join the military, that the military is kind of a last resort employer."

Kilmeade: "Right"

Kristol: "That no one sane would join the military if God forbid we ever have to fight. If the Democratic position is that there are no wars that are worth fighting and that, you know, the world is so wonderful that we're never going to have to deploy forces abroad, they're not going to win the presidency."


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sinater Rangle: Thank yew.

sinater Rangle: Thank yew. Eye ownlee joined the Navy becuz eye wuz to dumm 2 get a reel job. That's wye after 20 yeerz in the Navy, now eym werking at Intel Corporation.  And eye had my callidge degree BEFOR  I joined.

LNTHOMP previously posting as LEENT. U.S. Navy (ret.)

My success and happiness are not determined by who wins elections.

Sinister Rangel

Lee,

Notwithstanding Rangel's disgusting remarks....which are beneath contempt!!!!!

I had to laugh....I read your post as Sinister Rangel!

Blonde -- given the way his

Blonde -- given the way his Demokrat komrads have moved from Charlie's Draft at warp speed, he's also the Lone Rangel.

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

Jack

Or maybe the Stoned Rangel.....

BTW....read Crais, mucho gracias Senior Bauer.

Crais -- glad you like!! I

Crais -- glad you like!!

I started reading the10th Elvis Cole yesterday: The Forgotten Man.

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

JB -Elvis is way too cool for

JB -

Elvis is way too cool for school.  I didn't pick them up in any order....in fact, I think The Forgotten Man is in my "to read" pile.

Thanks again for the tip.

Hey Blonde -- it's best to

Hey Blonde -- it's best to read them chronologically if you can, as he has reoccuring characters and a life!

In order they run

1. The Monkey's Raincoat

2. Stalking The Angel

3. Lullaby Town

4. Free Fall

5. Voodoo River

6. Sunset Express

7. Indigo Slam

8. L.A. Requiem

Demolition Angel (Not an Elvis Cole mystery, but introduces Carol Starkey, bomb disposal lady who later appears in an EC)

Hostage (not EC but good movie with Bruce Willis)

9. The Last Detective

10. The Forgotten Man

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

I recently left my career jo

I recently left my career job to join the Marines. I took roughly a 75% pay cut in yearly salary to do so.  It must have not happened though, since Rangel says only people with no options join the military. This guy is an idiot.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. 

ChemOp

Whatever Rangel served in, his black cry for poo' bruthas is screeding in between his babblings. It's all about the Jesse Jackson line with this wacko Rangle now.

I suppose if he served in Korea and was sloshing through ice and snow or something in the 1953 lack of dry socks and boots or whatever, he couldn't imagine a young adult wanting to experience the awesome equipment and technology available to our forces today.

I doubt Chuckie ever peered through night vision goggles or has a clue what a handheld GPS or laser sighter is like.

I'm getting sick of his racist whine.

If-n Iwuz only ignant nuf

If I got a lobotomy and then sucked out the rest of my brain I could be an idiot congressman like Rangel. Heck I could almost be smart enough to be a liberal

Don't waste your time trying to find intelligent leadeship in the Democratic Party.....They've left the building!

Derf

Rangel sounds like the idiot liberals we get here. Regular posters line the facts up for them, and the lib idiot is off to the races seconds later like nothing ever registered.

Amazing how Rangel just repsponded reflexively "No...".

I guess when you're a congressman making near 200 grand a year with millions in perks, anyone and everyone in the military is a poor person from under and out. Maybe Rangel has been in his preachy idiot tower too long and needs to skid his broadside on some cement and suck up some dirty gum.

On second thought Hannity destroyed his lies about pulling out of Iraq on his show a week ago. I've never heard so much avoiding the question and then yelling and squealing from Rangel before, and that's saying a lot. Rangel is in full bore lie all you need to mode no matter what. I guess that hope for his committee seat has his lips flapping overtime.

Anybody know Kristol's Milita

Anybody know Kristol's Military Service History?  Clearly Rangel served.  If serving in Iraq is such an honor why aren't there more voluteers?  Look, the men and women who serve are there for any number of reasons.  Some have a family or community culture that requires service as a rite of passage to adulthood.  Others have no other opportunity to access higher education or home loan.  Others crave the excitement.  Reasonable people know that it doesn't take an IQ of 140 to line up, take orders, run around, aim, shoot, drive, duck, hide, die.  To survive in a battle takes a kind of intelligence most of us don't need, thank God.  If you want to support their efforts, you've got at least two options. You can volunteer to go over there to watch their backs.  You can work to bring them home safely and create opportunities for them in a peace time economy.

bk1955...With all due respect

bk1955...

With all due respect, you are an idiot!

Do Liberals understand what's at stake? Let's find out, go here... http://newsbusters.org/node/9253

bk1955...I'm so damn mad at y

bk1955...

I'm so damn mad at your stupid comments that I'm about to blow a gasket. It's been quite sometime since I've seen anyone on this forum be so disrespectful to so many people in just one post. I know you won't do it, but I would like you to appologize for your ignorance.

Do Liberals understand what's at stake? Let's find out, go here... http://newsbusters.org/node/9253

CT re:BK

It's a shame that we cannot volunteer someone else. I would volunteer BK in a nanosecond! He needs a tour of duty.

Maybe we could get Rangel to

Maybe we could get Rangel to draft the SOB.

Do Liberals understand what's at stake? Let's find out, go here... http://newsbusters.org/node/9253

Rangel???

Did you mean "Charlie who speaks with two tongues"?

It's Fahrenheit911 guys

It's Fahrenheit911 guys. Rangel and bk doubleburgers must have watched that scene where FA ( thats code for MM's doubleburgers problem ) finds the worst case scenario in ghettoville and has some low lifers raising their hands in some community school center about knowing someone who is serving or planning on signing up themselves. Then the lead questions are issued and the proper poor me loser responses are issued. That's "deir prufe".

Ok, maybe it was that blonde liar from 60 minutes who made the clip. Same difference.

To all military personnel.

For all that have worn, and still proudly wear a military uniform I want you to know that the vast majority of Americans do not think like BK1955. I think I can speak for most when I say that as a collective nation we are humbled by your service. May God bless all of you!

Wow. I don't even know wher

Wow. I don't even know where to begin with that stupid post. Here's my try.

Idiotic comment #1: If serving in Iraq is such an honor why aren't there more voluteers?  The entire military is a volunteer force!

Idiotic comment #2: Some have a family or community culture that requires service as a rite of passage to adulthood. As an individual and sentient human being, no one requires me to do anything I don't want to. Yes, there are individuals that join the military because their family has a history of service, but they join because of pride of their country. Something you obviously will never understand.

Idiotic comment #3: Reasonable people know that it doesn't take an IQ of 140 to line up,
take orders, run around, aim, shoot, drive, duck, hide, die.
Actually it been mentioned in this website several times that it takes a great deal of intelligence to be able to keep up with miitary service... Not to mention that on average those in the military are smarter than the average american. My father was in the military, his IQ is over 140 and he said his service was one of the hardest things he has ever done. He started his own company, works 12 hours days and usually 6 day weeks.

Idiotic comment #4: If you want to support their efforts, you've got at least two options.
You can volunteer to go over there to watch their backs. You can work
to bring them home safely and create opportunities for them in a peace
time economy.
There's a word for people who boil down life changing choices into two options. And I can't say it here. As clear thinker stated, "You, sir, are an idiot!" BTW, what planet are you from to make you think we are in a peace time economy?

bk1955

Maybe you don't need an IQ beyond 140, because yours is only 139, as I see it...You should be one of us and prove to yourself that you, know how to line up (you can't do this, because you have two left feet- as your brains), take orders (the only orders you know is a fast food order), run around (maybe you're dead at 100 yards), aim (maybe you can't either because your eyesight is blurry), shoot (maybe you can't do it either, because you're a coward), drive (I know you can't, because you're drunk with your ego), duck, hide (I know you can't because you're already dead at 100 yards), die.

Bro, people die anytime everywhere. When your time is up, you can't run, you can't hide and you can't duck. Check your statistics again, there are more people dying here in America daily (not in war) than in Iraq and Afghanistan (at war).  

come on, gang

These replies aren't about to change Charlie Rangel's mind. He's only here probing to see if Johnbo or rhayes are supporting him. Beat it, Charles; go back to Spanish Harlem.

He's only here probing to see

He's only here probing to see if Johnbo or rhayes are supporting him. Beat it, Charles; go back to Spanish Harlem.

I'm flattered that Tumbles in his racist innuendo rant mentions me.

"No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we all are accomplices."

E. Murrow

Volunteers who serve

bk,

 You obviously have no sense of the value of your country, or the people that defend you.  I have served for over 26 years, with no whining about where I've been sent.  I joined because I felt I owed my country something for the opportunities and freedom I had been granted.  My Grandparents, ALL of them, immigrated from the OId Countries because they wanted a better life for themselves and their children, to escape the tyranny the Tsar, the Emporer, the Famine, and the Sasenach!  Try living in another country for a couple of years, not as a tourist, but as a resident, say in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or even a liberal country like England, and find out how many of the rights you take for granted are rare and wonderful, and sorely lacking outside the U.S.

And by the way, soldiering has advanced just a bit past pointy sticks and massed formations.  It takes a very intelligent and motivated individual to learn to operate a modern weapon system,  from the infantryman with modern sensors and communications to the pilot in the Mach-3 fighter, not to mention the troops that service and maintain all the high-tech gear.  The military wants intelligent warriors, not cannon-fodder.

As for "why aren't there more volunteers?"  Look at the number of troops that have VOLUNTEERED to rotate back for second or third tours, look at the retention rates for current servicemen, and look at the recruiting figures!  There is NO SHORTAGE of volunteers, most with at least a High School diploma.  Without a draft the military has a volunteer force that is positively motivated, made up of individuals most of whom want to serve.  The few bad apples are the ones that the MSM focuses on, but are far outnumbered by those that put their country's needs ahead of their own...DO YOU?

Maybe some people understand

Maybe some people understand it better than others, but I think Brigadier General James Sehorn summed it up: "To be born free is an accident. To live free is a privilege. To die free is a responsibility." To die free takes courage and sacrifice. Yes, there are people that currently sign up because they feel the military is their last resort but, the vast majority (especially among the officers) sign up for the military because they feel it is their responsibility to make those sacrifices and preserve America's freedom and promote freedom in other nations. If more countries had the level of freedom enjoyed in America, the world would be a much less dangerous place. It shouldn't shouldn't matter what background these volunteers come from to serve our country, we should be grateful for their sacrifices, they put their personal life on hold, leave behind families and friends, and willingly confront evil and danger because they believe in something higher than themselves. Look at Major General Lafayette in the American Revolution...he (the only French Aristocrats deserving of any admiration from me) volunteered to serve in the Continental Army at his own expense because he believed that freedom was a noble pursuit, even if his own life and fortune was forfeited in the process.

You're right, it doesn't take a rocket scientist's level of knowledge to survive a battle...it takes courage and determination, neither of which is manifest in the "bring them home safely" garbage you and others keep chanting. Volunteers of the military past and present have more than understood that signing up for the military may ultimately result in the sacrifice of their life...even for ungrateful, unsupportive, and venomous cowards back home.

You alluded to opportunities in "a peace time economy," while that would of course be the utopian dream, the hard reality is that in order to protect and promote our freedom and the freedom of others we need to be ready for war at all times. Deterrence is the best defense against any type of agressor. If the aggressor understands that an overwhelming response to their attack would be imminent, they are much less likely to try anything.

bk1955, go ask the troops how many of them want the U.S. to pull out of Iraq, I am willing to bet that at least 75% of them will tell you the Iraqi people NEED us there and we should stay until Iraq's government is stable on its own two feet. By pulling out of Iraq we would be sending the message to the Iraqi people that we don't believe their freedom is important enough to fight for. As Abraham Lincoln said: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. "  Freedom is not the sole propriety of the United States. I believe that because we are free we have a responsibility to assist other peoples that have desires for freedom as well.

'When you wade into political life you have every right to say what you want, but you cannot in turn argue that no one has the right to take you on'... --Rush Limbaugh

You've got some points we ca

BK, You've got some points we can test. My IQ spiked up to 140+ on a test once.

Let's meet up and see who ducks, hides and dies.  pm me if you're game

Anybody know Kristol's Mili

Anybody know Kristol's Military Service History? Clearly Rangel served. If serving in Iraq is such an honor why aren't there more voluteers?

What's your point exactly?

The inference I'm picking up is only those who have served in the military can have an opinion about military matters.

What's Hillary Clinton's military service?

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

Jack, history is being rewritten for Hillary

Jack, don't you know that Audie Murphy really isn't the most decorated war hero of WW2.  No all US history books will probably be rewritten, and that honor will now go to Hillary or Bill or both.

"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane"  Waylon Jennings

Bill Clinton was the most-d

Bill Clinton was the most-decorated hero of WWI, the Civil War, and the U.S. Revolution, too. Maybe even the Hundred Years War and the War Of The Roses

LNTHOMP previously posting as LEENT. U.S. Navy (ret.)

My success and happiness are not determined by who wins elections.

Clinton Do not forget

Clinton Do not forget--his Veep invented the internet while fighting an attack of co2.

He also led the charge up San Juan Hill

Those are all good, but don't forget Bill also led the charge up San Juan Hill.

"To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society."
Theodore Roosevelt

And shortly after that, he

And shortly after that, he introduced the world to the "Willy Bear"

LNTHOMP previously posting as LEENT. U.S. Navy (ret.)

My success and happiness are not determined by who wins elections.

Carl -- you're right bud. I

Carl -- you're right bud.

I only ask about Generalissimo Rodham because of the Democrat Party litmus test that only those who've served can be President.

Hillary Clinton is well documented (and without doubt) hates the military and all it stands for.

Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex

"Reseasonable people kno

"Reseasonable people know that it doesn't take an IQ of 140 to line up, take orders, run around, aim, shoot, drive, duck, hide, die."

Much of today's military operate under concepts like "commander's intent" and "mission orders."  Essentially they are told what to needs to done--not so much of how to do it.  This promotes skills (resourcefulness, tennacity, innovation, and decision-making) that are in high demand in the business world.

Fortunately you said there are "at least two options."  In fact there are many more options.  For starters I'd l like to see more than lip service to "I support the troops."  For those who have served, and are serving, Kipling's Tommy has meaning that you and your ilk can't even begin to understand.

"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"

Charles Rangel Interview

Both of our straigth "A" twin girls have already decided to serve the military, at this early stage of their lives. They will be joining the junior ROTC soon. I am very sure my wife and I can afford to send all our children to college. Joining the military and serving this great country is not a choice nor a sacrifice, but an HONOR and a PRIVILEGE. If I can have another 20-30 years of my life I would do it again.

Loving and honoring your country is not a lip service. It takes DESIRE, COURAGE, COMMITMENT and lots of will to do it. Oh by the way, I am just an immigrant willing to protect the rights of the Rangels and the Kerrys.

God bless my fellow comrades and their families. Merry CHRISTmas, from my family to yours.  

Senior Chief Duty

Senior Chief   Duty

I salute you and your family. I only served less than 5 years, but I learned such a sense of duty and obligation to this country that I wish I were 40 years younger and could go over to support our boys and girls.

You did a great job raising your girls. Congratulations!