Today’s POLITICO Arena question was about the light scolding Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) received for his ethical lapses. Here’s my response, which you can also read here.

Ethical lapses by several Republican members of Congress helped sweep the Democrats into a majority in 2006. On Election Night that year, Nancy Pelosi said the “Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.” The closed-door meetings and sweetheart deals we’ve seen this year certainly disprove that statement. My question, however, is this – how is what Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) did as chairman of the tax writing committee any less serious than the violations which sent former GOP Reps. Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney to jail?