Rangel whines as he tastes his own medicine

In a stunning display of outright hypocrisy, Representative Charlie Rangel whined today about Vice President Dick Cheney’s response to some of Rangel’s insults about Cheney’s age, health and mental ability.   First, Cheney’s comments:

Vice President Dick Cheney contended Monday that Rep. Charles Rangel, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation, is "losing it" _ striking back after months of verbal attacks from the Harlem lawmaker.

Rangel had criticized Cheney in recent interviews, saying the vice president, who has a history of heart trouble, might be too sick to perform his job.

"I would like to believe he’s sick rather than just mean and evil," Rangel said last Friday on NY1, the New York City-based all-news channel.

In an interview with nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh, the 64-year-old Cheney suggested it was the 75-year-old Rangel who may not be up to the demands of his job.

"I’m frankly surprised at his comments. It almost struck me _ they were so out of line, it almost struck me that there was some _ Charlie was having some problem," said Cheney.

"Charlie is losing it, I guess."

Cheney added to his criticism later in the day in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Sean Hannity.

"I don’t know what I did to offend him, but he’s gotten pretty nasty lately…. I think Charlie is a lot older than I am, and it shows," said the vice president.

Rangel’s response (emphasis added):

NEW YORK — Vice President Dick Cheney’s feud with Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel was perpetuated Wednesday when the 75-year-old congressman said Cheney "ought to be ashamed of himself" for a remark about his age.

Months of verbal attacks from Rangel turned into a back and forth on Monday when the 64-year-old vice president said Rangel is "losing it," later adding that "Charlie is a lot older than I am, and it shows."

After an appearance at City Hall on Wednesday, Rangel was asked when the dispute would die.

"I think it ends when he apologizes for attacking me as a senior citizen. It’s true that I’m much older than he is, but that has nothing to do with mental alertness," Rangel said.

Rangel has suggested in recent interviews that Cheney, who suffers from heart trouble, might not be healthy enough to do his job.

[...]

"The fact that he would make a crack at my age, he ought to be ashamed of himself," Rangel said. "He should look so good at 75."

What both of the above articles left out (deliberately would be my guess), however, was what Cheney responded to, which proves Rangel’s hypocrisy on both the age and mental ability argument (emphasis added):

NEW YORK (AP) _ For the second time in recent months, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation has questioned whether Vice President Dick Cheney is fit for the duties of his office.

In an interview in August on NY1, the New York City-based all-news channel, Rep. Charles Rangel suggested that Cheney might be too sick to perform his job.

On Friday evening, Rangel was asked in a follow-up talk on the station if he thought Cheney should step down.

"He should never have stepped up in the first place," Rangel said. "He’s too old for the job and doesn’t have the experience."

Later in Friday’s interview, Rangel finished off a list of problems he had with Bush administration policies by adding: "I would like to believe he’s sick rather than just mean and evil."

The issue first came up when Rangel was interviewed on Aug. 27 and asked if he thought that President Bush was taking too much vacation time.

"Oh no, it makes the country a lot more safe," Rangel said. "The further Bush is away from Washington, the better it is. And sometimes I don’t even think Cheney is awake enough to know what’s going on."

Hypocrisy, thy name is Charlie Rangel.

It’s truly a shame this guy keeps getting re-elected.  Methinks the VP was right in his assertion that Rangel has lost it.

(Cross-posted at California Conservative)

Linked up with the Mudville Gazette’s open post

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