PELOSI DRAWS CBC IRE OVER RANGEL

FLASH: PELOSI DRAWS CBC IRE OVER RANGEL:

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are furious with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the handling of Charlie Rangel's censure by the House for ethics violations -- and particularly the votes her closest allies cast against reducing his punishment to a reprimand -- several sources familiar with CBC politics told HUDDLE Thursday.

Some black lawmakers believe Pelosi and her top lieutenants were more concerned about public backlash if the House opted for the lesser sanction than they were about ensuring fairness for Rangel. They have argued that Rangel's ethics violations didn't rise to the level of censure, which has been meted out 23 times now in the history of the House. 'I know the leadership is interested in 'cleaning out the swamp.' But Mr. Rangel isn't the Swamp Thing. The punishment censure did not fit the circumstances of Mr. Rangel's so-called crime,' one member of the CBC who described caucus members as 'very' upset told Huddle. '[Rep. Bobby] Scott [who spoke for Rangel on the floor] laid out a clear case. I wish the leadership were that clear. Mr. Rangel earned greater care than our [Democratic] Caucus provided.'

An amendment by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) to move to a reprimand instead of a censure failed on a 146 to 247 vote, with much of Pelosi's California delegation -- including inner circle members George Miller, Anna Eshoo and New York Rep. Steve Israel -- voting against Rangel. Republican Rep. Pete King, who represents a district next to Israel's on Long Island, voted with Rangel.

'It's obvious what message she gave her lieutenants,' said one Democratic insider who said there was 'palpable anger' not only in the CBC but also the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Rangel's New York delegation. Tension between Pelosi and the CBC -- already existent over an ethics process that has put several CBC members in the crosshairs, her decision to remain in leadership at the expense of Whip Jim Clyburn and a variety of other matters -- reached a crescendo Thursday as the House prepared to vote.

At a whip meeting earlier in the day, Pelosi's posture angered Rangel supporters, who saw her as averse to any effort to get the House to lessen the punishment. The normally cool Pelosi was described by friends and critics alike as emotional and even 'teary' in discussing the case and Rangel's service to the Congress and the country, but some participants questioned the degree to which she was truly conflicted.
Several sources said Pelosi was 'patronizing' toward Rangel and his supporters during the meeting. Pelosi's camp declined to comment on the record.