Friday, September 5, 2008

Dan Seals' Top Campaign Donor In Tax Trouble Again; Can't Charlie Rangel Get Decent Accounting Help?

Jeez, why can't the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (you know, the committee in charge of the tax code), seem to keep the law straight when it comes to his personal finances? Yes, folks, it seems the New York Times has exposed yet another set of tax violations by our friend Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.)

What's the 10th District tie-in, you may ask? Well, as TA regulars know well, Charlie Rangel is Dan Seals' biggest backer, to the tune of around $55,000 this cycle.

It seems that just two weeks after contributing more than $40,000 to Illinois congressional candidate Dan Seals' campaign and becoming Seals' largest donor, Rangel today faces accusations of tax fraud dating back 20 years. In this morning's edition, the New York Times reported Congressman Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, earned more than $75,000 in rental income from a villa he has owned in the Dominican Republic, but never reported it on his federal or state tax returns.

As the TA faithful know, we urged Dan Seals to return all contributions from Congressman Rangel more than two months ago, when the first reports of possible corruption emerged. At that point, maybe Dan could have pleaded ignorance. But instead of returning Rangel's contributions, he took another $40,000.

That's not change – that's Blagojevich-style more of the same.

In July, the Washington Post reported that Rangel solicited donations from corporations with business interests before his congressional committee in an effort to raise money for his future library.

Also in July, the New York Times touched off a separate ethics investigation by exposing that Rangel had four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, one of which he used as his campaign office, in possible violation of federal election law, state and city regulations and Congressional ethics rules.

According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Rangel is now the single largest donor to Dan Seals' campaign. Rangel first contributed $7,000 to Seals in 2006 and added another $7,000 on April 30, 2008. FEC filings show Rangel also transferred $41,000 to Seals on August 20, 2008 – more than a month after the first Times and Post reports.

Dan Seals' largest campaign donor now faces possible charges of tax fraud, abuse of power, violating the House gift-ban rules, accepting illegal campaign contributions and breaking local housing laws.

And you thought Tony Rezko was a bad guy.


ALSO- 10th District Dem Women Diss Kirk's Comments on Sarah Palin

Well, well, big shocker. A bunch of 10th District Dem women who never had a kind thing to say about Congressman Kirk anyway, sent him a letter telling him how little they think of VP candidate Sarah Palin. The letter dismisses Palin for her "slim qualifications and radical right-wing views". Cry me a river, ladies. Of course, our friend Ellen Beth Gill's name is prominent among the signatories.

Since the letter decries Kirk's claim that Palin is a "reformer," if that's what the ladies of the 10th District really want, maybe they ought to also turn their scathing attacks on their own anointed Dan Seals, based on the above story regarding his connections to the despicable Charlie Rangel.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rangel is now going to be indicted and he remains the number one donor to Dan Seals for Congress.

Dan Seals is quickly becoming a card-carrying member of the Blagojevich/Rezko wing of the Democratic party.

Give the dirty money back Dan.

Anonymous said...

Rangel is the guy who funded the most "Monuments-to-Me" earmarks in the Congress.

Let's get rid of this congresscritter!

Anonymous said...

Say what you like about Mark Kirk’s praises of Sarah Palin, but her record on the environment, guns and choice puts her ideologically far away from our Congressman. He needs to stay far away from her, keep some distance from John McCain and completely divorce the President if he wants to keep his job.

Mark has done a good job representing our district with thoughtful, independent leadership. Dan Seals would be a disaster and if some of you keep tying our Congressman to Palin, the President and yes, even John McCain, I feel you lessen his chances of defeating Seals.

Yes, I’m one of those people who will vote for Obama and Kirk. I can live with John McCain though I would rather not. Our district cannot live with Dan Seals. Please keep that in mind as all of you blog away.

Anonymous said...

Blogger, we are glad to have you on team kirk, however, please be aware that the qualities you love about Mark are readily apparent in Sarah and McCain. Mark like them is a reformer. They took on bad guys, Obama has taken up with bad guys to advance his career.

You are out of your mind if you believe the latest product (obama) of the blago-rezko-stroger thug machine is anything more than a common career building country destroying crony.

Anonymous said...

How could Seals be so corrupt already? He hasn't even been elected yet.

Yeeesch.

Anonymous said...

The list of angry women contains all of those who rabidly support Seals. Nothing new in that. You won't get them to say one word about Rangel. Just remember, it's their way or the highway. These 'women'are a joke. Forget it. They mean nothing, they influence nobody. Let's just put all of our time and effort into Mark Kirk's re-election. Once that's accomplished let's hope that Dan and his followers will get out and stay out. Yuck.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 7:03 p.m. Those women all support the pup and many appear on his FEC reports. He needs to be more concerned with Rangel. When the NYT goes after a liberal Member of Congress...watch out. Seals and his supporters better realize this is big news. The Chicago media needs to pay attention to ths story. Where is the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and News Scum?

NorthSideSoxFan said...

I can't believe these women don't have anything better to do with their lives. I mean, you seriously have to have some issues if you sit around with each other and say let's write a letter to Congressman Kirk condemning Sarah Palin.
Get ready. The "Sarah Palin is a right wing extremist" argument is already rearing its ugly head.
Palin Power!

Anonymous said...

Isn't the silence almost deafening from the Pup's campaign regarding Rangel! Of course they're not going to refund any money, not now, not ever. Like his mentors, Bob Creamer and Dan Rostenkowski, Dan and his team will use that 40,000 to do their "noble" work. The Seals team has learned from the top of the most disgraceful tutors in the business. And this thug in training wants to represent the 10th District. What a horrific thought. I can hardly wait for our Congressman to debate Seals this year. He needs to rip into him, big time.

Anonymous said...

Now Rangel hid interest on his loans (Wash Post).

You should start a contest when Seals's number one donor gets indicted.

Anonymous said...

It's absolutely hysterical how many fundraisers and inside baseball people particularly those with ties to Durbin and Rahm openly mock Dan. Thanks in no small part to the gutless leadership of Denny Hastert we are about to see our worst levels of support in congress since the 1930's and Dan can't even touch mark.

The fact that Mac and Mark are doing this well right now shows how dumb Dan and smelly b.o. are.