New York Democrat Charlie Rangel was charged with 13 ethical violations. CBS notes they were "serious" violations. Gee Whiz, I would think any ethics violation was serious! After all, Rangel is part of Nancy Pelosi's most ethical Congress and a member of the Obama's most transparent government!

The biggest question first. How has Charlie Rangel managed to stay in office so long? It was years ago that it was revealed that Rangel was renting out rent controlled apartments. It was several years ago that we learned that Rangel was a tax cheat (so are Katheryn Sebilus, Timothy Geither and several others in the "transparent" government.) Rangel was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, where he oversaw policy on taxes, trade, health care, Medicare and Social Security. He was forced to step down in March after revelations that two trips he took to the Caribbean were corporate bribes.

How on earth does congress pat itself on the back when these "serious" ethics charges have gone on for years? How can it be ethical to be in back room with Charlie Rangel still trying to work out a deal?

Since Rangel committed these ethical violations - isn't prison the right place for him?