Submitted by Lance, Nov 13, 2006 12:59

I live at the same residence as Congressman Charles Rangel here in the 15th District, Harlem, New York City. Rangel has no shortage of failures within his own district where Black male unemployment is 55+% and children suffer from the disease of asthma at an epidemic rate and crisis level. These people and a lot more citizens now living in Rangel's problem plagued district would love to live in Mississippi.

My family originates from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. My mother, Cheryl Philips, lived at 418 Sears Ave. Waveland, MS until Katrina destroyed everything she owned leaving her nothing more than a concrete slab. She now has a FEMA trailer but her spirits are bright, she's looking forward, and she LOVES living in Mississippi.

My mother can live here in the 15th District, New York City, right at the very same residence of Charles Rangel, here with me. She likes visiting however chooses to live in Mississippi, in a FEMA trailer, volunteering and helping to rebuild the community. That's character Charles Rangel knows nothing of.

Note Charles Rangel had no problem with Mississippi when it came to accepting $27,000 in Mississippi Band Choctaw Indian Tribal Money, funneled to him courtesy of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff (this is well documented). Then with all the arrogance that can only come from Charles Rangel he refused to return one penny once the scandal broke.

This is but one example of the shame and embarrassment Charles Rangel is as a Congressman. Locally Rangel represents 35 years of unfulfilled promise and functions basically as a "political crime boss". I've addressed a small example of Rangel's failures at a website I created called "www.CharlesRangel.com" where I spare no punches.

If it counts for anything, Mississippians, please accept my apology for my repugnant Congressman. Do know the enlightened and educated of Harlem simply refer to Rangel as our village idiot as he's so well demonstrated (once again). When you line your pockets with $27,000 of Mississippi Choctaw Indian Payments orchestrated by Jack Abramoff, refuse to return it, then insult anyone who wants to live in Mississippi....is that not an idiot in a nutshell?

Lance A Smith
10 West 135th St. #14P
New York City, NY 10037
lanceandrew@aol.com

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