The New York Post is NOT News!

Update!!!! According to Emile Milne in Congressman Rangel's office, the claims that Congressman Rangel named the center after himself are absolutely false. As well, the earmark was requested by the College that the center is part of. So if Adam has a problem with taxpayer dollars going to an educational center that is praising Congressman Rangel for his work in the community, then maybe he should step up and give all the facts.

By the way, I would like to praise Congressman Rangel's office in Washington DC for giving a lowly blogger in Idaho a spare moment of their time to verify that the NYPost got this all wrong. They were incredibly courteous and polite on the phone and gave me the information fairly quickly.
---End Update---

Little Adam, in a fit of fiscal conservatism, has targeted Charlie B. Rangel (D-NY) for having a new center in Harlem named after him. What does he use as a source? Why nothing short of the New York Post, but only because of their famed reputation as a fair and balanced news source.

So what has his panties all knotted up around his whithered spoon? It seems that Harlem is honoring Congressman Rangel for his service to the community by naming the new center after him. Why is this a bad thing? Well, the New York Post sort of skips around that fact. Their claim that Rangel himself is in charge of rounding up funding? Unsourced. Their charge that there are taxpayer funds going to this center? Unsourced. The entire accusation? Unfounded and probably overly exaggerated to the point of being nonsensical.

You would think that Little Adam would have suspected all of this. That would only be if he wasn't as dumb as a rock. But don't take my word for it, try to read the NYPost article for yourself and see if there is a bit of fact in there, or just a bunch of conjecture and conspiracy crap from a rightwing rag that has the reputation as a Republican ass kisser.

In fact, call Rangel's office yourself: Washington DC (202) 225-4365, New York (212) 663-3900. Or call his press office at (202)225-8933. Unfortunately no one was able to comment on this issue at the time of posting, but I will keep it updated as I find out more.

Want an example of how to read the New York Post? Read on.

WASHINGTON - Rep. Charles Rangel is lining up millions in taxpayer funds and soliciting massive donations from companies with interests before Congress in a controversial bid to finance a center in Harlem named after himself.

Interesting start, so now that they've set up the story, lets see how they prove it.

Rangel, who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has quietly secured close to $25 million from a slew of private companies and foundations for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College.

Ok, no proof that Rangel is working to get these funds himself, no quote or dates of meetings. So essentially, write most of this paragraph off as unsourced shit.

The center, which will be located in a four-story limestone building at 141st St. and Convent Avenue, will steer low-income and minority students into politics.

This is the most fair statement in the entire article and it sounds like it was written as part of a press release, doesn't it? Maybe from Congressman Rangel's office? Maybe the Post would like to share it? No? Oh, thats surprising.

Rangel has come under fire both for attempting to name a government-supported project after himself while he's still in office - considered unseemly by many lawmakers - and for the huge fund-raising drive that is not subject to financial-disclosure or conflict-of-interest rules.

He's come under fire? By whom? Where is the proof that he's putting his own name on this center and that it isn't something that the Harlem community is doing for a representative that they absolutely love? This is just a bunch of emotional fluff that no one like Adam will take the time to prove or look into.

Last week, Rangel pushed a $2 million "earmark" through the House as seed money, sparking GOP outrage.

$2 Million sure sounds like a lot! And it's earmarked for what? Where is the actual wording on the bill? The earmark could be for anything at all. The Post doesn't make it clear if the earmark is for the center or for helping New York babies get vaccinations. Here is a little more information on this earmark, but again it doesn't say much about the actual issue itself. Is it too much to ask for someone to have contacted Rangel? Oh, it is?

"I just don't think it's right for a member to donate taxpayer money to something with their name on it," said Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.).

"In general, we do not name things after ourselves while we are great and powerful," Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said.

Campbell's quote could be about George W. Bush for all the context it is given. Kirk's quote could have been said 10 years ago. Again, no sourcing, no fact, no issue.

There is no legal requirement that Rangel disclose names of donors to the center, but his office provided an internal fund-raising document to The Post.

It lists $10 million from insurance firm AIG, $500,000 from the Verizon Foundation and $1 million from Eugene Isenberg, CEO of energy firm Nabors Industries.

Ok, so Rangel gave them the information they requested, even though he didn't have to, and it's all on the up and up? Or is it because some of these might have requests that go in front of the House Means and Ways Committee? Of course, the Post doesn't take the time to say, because they don't know.

Ways and Means has a sweeping jurisdiction over taxes and trade that affects every facet of the economy, including corporate taxation.

And here they go, insinuating that there is something wrong with this situation because of Rangel's position, but they don't have proof, they don't supply proof, they only provide conspiracy theory bullshit and Little Adam swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Why? Because he's gullible when it comes to the rightwing noise machine, believing them 100% of the time and doing no homework to back it up.

Shame on you, Adam. This is nothing more than spiteful gossip with no factual basis.

I should also mention that the freerepublic jackbooted slobs were also taken in by a factless account of this issue. Good job Conservatives!