The GOPs Charlie Rangel

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-04/the-gops-charlie-rangel/?cid=hp:mainpromo2


This Wednesday, David Rivera will raise his right hand at the nation's Capitol to be sworn in as a proud member of Congress. He might soon strike the same pose again for a different oath back home in less happy circumstances.

Rivera, who was elected in November to represent Florida's 25th District, is reportedly the subject of a state investigation of his finances over questions surrounding more than $500,000 in payments from a dog track to a consulting firm run by his godmother. His office has told reporters that he helped with the firm's campaign to pass a referendum benefiting the track, but took none of their money.

Rivera's troubles present an early challenge for the new House Republican leadership—which has pledged zero-tolerance for ethics problems. The GOP bashed Democrats over Rep. Charlie Rangel's case—-charges of unpaid taxes, misleading financial statements, and other transgressions that landed Rangel a rare censure from his colleagues late last year. The Republicans' emphasis on the issue sets them up for charges of hypocrisy if they fail to deal swiftly and decisively with any similar transgressions on their side of the aisle.