In reporting on new NRCC ad, Cillizza did not note GOP support for Rangel earmark

Written by Andrew Walzer

Published

In a blog post, washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza reported that the National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad attacking a Democratic House member who voted in favor of an earmark for “the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service,” but Cillizza did not note that 89 House Republicans also voted in favor of the earmark.

In a September 30 post on his washingtonpost.com blog The Fix, Chris Cillizza reported that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released an ad attacking a Democratic House member who voted in favor of an earmark for “the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service.” But Cillizza did not note that 89 House Republicans also voted in favor of the earmark, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH).

In a blog post titled “House Republican Ad Exploits Rangel's Ethics Problems,” Cillizza wrote: “House Republicans have launched an ad attacking a freshman Wisconsin Democrat over his ties to embattled Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), the first of a series of attempts to use Rangel's ongoing ethics woes as an anchor around the necks of vulnerable Democratic incumbents.” He continued:

The ad -- the first from the National Republican Congressional Committee -- hits Rep. Steve Kagen (Wis.) as having “found a friend in corrupt New York City Congressman Charlie Rangel.” The evidence? The $16,000 in donations that Kagen took from Rangel, and the alleged quid pro quo that led Kagen to support a $2 million earmark for a “personal office and library” for Rangel.

Cillizza posted video of the ad.

On July 17, 2007, Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) submitted an amendment to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for the fiscal year 2008, which read: “None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service, City College of New York, NY.” But Cillizza did not note that in addition to Kagen, Boehner -- who serves as an “ex-officio member[]of the NRCC's executive committee” -- voted against Campbell's amendment (and therefore in favor of keeping the earmark for the Charles B. Rangel Center), as did House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) and 87 other House Republicans.

From Cillizza's blog post:

House Republicans have launched an ad attacking a freshman Wisconsin Democrat over his ties to embattled Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), the first of a series of attempts to use Rangel's ongoing ethics woes as an anchor around the necks of vulnerable Democratic incumbents.

The ad -- the first from the National Republican Congressional Committee -- hits Rep. Steve Kagen (Wis.) as having “found a friend in corrupt New York City Congressman Charlie Rangel.” The evidence? The $16,000 in donations that Kagen took from Rangel, and the alleged quid pro quo that led Kagen to support a $2 million earmark for a “personal office and library” for Rangel. Kagen is facing a rematch against state Rep. John Gard; Kagen beat Gard 51 percent to 49 percent.)