the alleged transgressions of maxine waters or charlie rangel?maxine waters. >> rangel has 13 counts against him, maxine waters has three and i suspect the bank that her husband had an interest in would have gotten that money without her interference. >> total alleged tax dodging amounts of $500,000. >> more. >> rangel. >> i haven't tallied it up, but he paid -- excuse me, he has paid all the back taxes and the penalties. so maybe the government made a little on him. >> she has three charges, but those three charges are a lot serious than the 13 charges against charlie rangel. the difficulty for the democrats s you will have the black representative harlem and the black representative from watts standing trial on ethics violations. there's no win situation for the democrats. >> are the transgressions for maxine greater than the transgressions for charlie? >> yes. >> i disagree. i think those against charlie are more serious. i n't thk either one should be put on trial in the house and nancy pelosi should not allow it to charm and >>> issue two, l

perspective tonight-- does charlie rangel survive? >> reporter: well, you know, an admonishment like that from a president would torpedo just about any other politician but don't back off on charlie rangel. he has the ability to get re- elected in a new york minute in his district, for one thing. and for another, he apparently doesn't care, according to a lot of people what, the president or the other members of the party think. >> glor: he may not care, but does he have any support in congress right now? >> reporter: well, he still has most of the new york delegation, no question about that, and he has the congressional black caucus. some of the black caucus members, by the way, are very upset that the first black president took such an usually public cudgel to one of the black caucus' founding members. >> glor: bill plante at the white house tonight. bill, thank you very much. a reminder again, you can see more of harry smith's exclusive interview with president obama first thing tomorrow on "sunday morning expwts on monday's "early

charles rangel facing ethics violations.an maxine waters facing alleged ethics violations and a possible trial. and you have said what happened to the promises from nancy pelosi that she was going to drain the swamp? democrats are firing back, though, congressman saying you set up a boehner for speaker committee where people who raise $100,000 get special access for you and you held a meeting with a bunch of washington top republican lobbyists the other day. is that draining the swamp? >> well, chris, boehner for speaker is nrcc project, a house campaign committee project to raise resources necessary to help our candidates in this election. when i talk about draining the swamp, chris -- you heard me say this -- i expect, and the american people expect the highest ethical standards from their members of congress. nancy pelosi said four years ago it was time to drain the swamp. i can't believe it's taken some two years to investigate the charles rangel case. but the fact is she has not kept her promise. the swamp is alive and

that the mail came in rangel for congress. and that the lawyers have told him and the officials of the city and state of new york that there was no violation of any law or rules. and what was the benefit? the benefit was that your colleague and friend was not sensitive to the fact that there was appearance as though i was being treated differently than anyone else. but the landlord said he didn't treat me any differently. no one said that they did treat me differently. but i have to admit that i wasn't sensitive to anything because i never felt then that i was treated any differently than anybody else. so that ends the apartment thing. but i plead guilty of not being sensitive. now when it comes to the negligence of the disclosures and the tax issues, there's absolutely no excuse that's there. when accusations were made, i hired a forensic accountant and told them to check out what the heck is going on because i want to make certain that when i stand up and speak that it's true. well, after i found out it was far more serious

rangel is charged with not reporting his income on a beach villa in the dominican republic. his taxable gains on a condo in florida. not reporting several large investment accounts and with raising money for his rangel center at the city college in new york from dozens of companies needing favors from his committee. >> i apologize. >> reporter: despite his apology for breaking house rules, he minimized most of the charges as technical. >> there has to be a penalty for grabbing the wrong stationery. >> reporter: but not criminal. >> it may be stupid, it may be negligent, but it's not corrupt. >> reporter: on the house floor itself, this was real-world drama. a man who had clawed his way to the peak of political power now shocked to find himself deserted by so many friends. >> but for god's sake, just don't believe that i don't have feelings, that i don't have pride. >> reporter: many democrats who are facing tough reelection campaigned thought that... hoped that rangel would actually take one for the team and quit before his ethics problem became their election issue. but ran

that is one of the reasons charlie rangel will not lay down. he does not want timthat asterisk. >> dan rostenkowski told mark shields in an interview in 1998 that it ll say on this obituary that he went to jail. >> he was pardoned by bill clinton. >> last word. see you next week. for a transcript of this broadcast, log on to insidewashington.tv.

charlie rangel is talking about a process now that has been underway for two years. he talked about his legal bills mounting for these two years. he still doesn't know the date of this trial for the fall. it's easy to understand both of their worries in the heat of an election season. if they really truly believe in their innocence, as they do, they want a trial as quickly as possible to air the evidence and get an acquittal if that's what they think they're going to get from the ethics committee. >> ifill: we know charlie rangel has been in congress 40 years now. he comes from a storied congressional district in new york. is he in any trouble this fall in these midterm elections? >> here's the timing factor is even more important for charlie rangel than it is for max even waters. her primary season is already done. he has a september 14 primary, a five-way primary. he doesn't look like he's this that much danger but he's not pulling over 50%. that's a danger sign for any incumbent. in a five-way race he doesn't need 50% to win. it is worth noting that one of the opp

that is one of the reasons charlie rangel will not lay down. he does not want timthat asterisk. >> dan rostenkowski told mark shields in an interview in 1998 that it will say on this obituary that he went to jail. >> he was pardoned by bill clinton. >> last word. see you next week. for a transcript of this broadcast, log on to insidewashington.tv. of the best of europe. venice seems to be every italy connoisseur's... prague has always been beautiful... germany... the irish civilization... the eiffel tower was built... hope you've enjoyed the magic of... on sunday mornings when i'm in paris, you're likely to find me here... [ pipe organ playing ] ...in the saint sulpice church with its magnificent pipe organ. for organ lovers, a visit here is a pilgrimage. after mass, organ enthusiasts from around the world scamper like sixteenth notes up the spiral stairs into a world of 7,000 pipes. before electricity, it took three men working out on these 18th-century stairmasters to fill the bellows which powered the organ. the current organist, daniel roth

against new york democrat charlie rangel. jonathan karl is on capitol hill tonight to tell us what's going on. >> reporter: like the case against charlie rangel, the case against maxine waters appears to be headed towards a public trial right in the middle of the fall campaign. maxine waters is accused of a classic conflict of interest, using her position to help a bank her husband had a big stake in. it's quite a blow to one of the most outspoken liberals in congress. >> as one of the women of this committee and every other woman should have an opportunity to respond -- >> reporter: a democrat from south central l.a. who has served in the house for more than 20 years. the incident took place in september 2008 at the start of the financial crisis. waters allegedly called treasury secretary hank paulson to set up a meeting between top treasury officials and one united bank, her husband was a former board member and large investor in that bank. not long after the meeting, the bank received $12 million in government bailout mone

everybody in washington knows about charlie rangel.ll continue and we'll never have any resolution, okay. >> i don't want to trade hearsay here. no one on the left or right has a market cornered on corruption. corrupt republicans and democrats. >> oh, we're talking about him now. the democrats now. the republicans are not in charge. marc, when you said you came in charge, you said the swamp would be charged. >> i'm conceding the point. it's a mistake for democrats to say by coming into -- i know you hate agreement. but for democrats to come into power, saying they will get rid of corruption, it's a flat-out lie. let's not pretend there is this huge wave of corruption. but let's focus on the real issue, which is not charlie rangel. >> unemployment is the real issue. i want to talk about that for the whole show. unemployment for the next ten minutes. good, i'm ready. >> larry: laura -- >> larry, i have a question. can i ask you one question? just one question? what it was like to kiss marlon brando? >> larry: he kissed me, okay? >> there

rangel and ms. waters, i think that we need to wake up and realize that our founding fathers gave a lot to this country and it seems that has been well for gotten. host: will this situation affect the way that you vote in november? caller: no, it will not. regardless of whether or not the person is a democrat or a republican, or an independent, it is the person and how they present themselves. i am especially impressed with the lady from maryland. this is her first time in congress. i have heard her at various town hall meetings. i cannot remember her name. host: donna edwards? caller: yes, i am impressed with her. not because she is black, i do not care your color. but the people in congress need to realize that we are paying their salaries. host: in "the new york daily news," "president obama is not's and charlie rangel under the bus, this by suggesting that he and his career with dignity -- despite suggesting that he and his career with dignity. democrats fear --that the fightn the charges will b

. >> the case against charlie rangel. a federal judge gets arizona postern new immigration law -- guts a result's new immigration law. and how about this view? >> i am trying to find a show that michelle actually watched. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> as we all know, the internet has changed the world, and depending on your point of view, not always for the better. consider the case of wikileaks, a network run by volunteers and more than a dozen countries. wikileaks this week released more than 92,000 classified documents, much of the material what data. -- much of the material what data. wikileaks founder, a former hacker named julian assange, compared himself to daniel ellsberg, who released the pentagon papers during the vietnam war. what is your take, colby? >> he is no daniel ellsberg. what he did was just a dump of classified material. i think people are going to lose their lives because of it. just as the chief of staff mullen said. this going to cost some lives. >> what is yo

don't leave me swinging in the wind until november. >> reacting to rangel, house speaker nancy pelosi made it clear she wasn't pleased with his choice of forum, saying the ethics committee is the proper forum for ethics matters. >>> and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in new york, an elderly man is dead after an out-of-control cab slammed into a bus stop. surveillance footage shows a minivan driver trying to make an illegal u-turn when he sideswipes a livery cab, which then hit seven people waiting for a bus. charges are pending against the minivan driver, who was then taken into custody. >>> texas police are investigating what caused a city bus to crash into a day care building. fortunately no one was inside when the bus smashed into the building after colliding with an suv. police suspect one of the drivers may have run a red light. >>> also in texas, a local zoo is showing off a group of newborn flamingos that are growing up fast. within the next three months, zoo officials are expecting them to sprout from a height of about ten inches to

i'm charlie rangel.c, "hit me with your best shot." >> it's not about ideology, doesn't a democrat deserve to have his day in court? >> stefanie and i agree. i loved it too. i want charlie to have a cable channel 24/7 between now and november 2nd. he can co-host with maxine waters. he's the face of the democratic party. they will not punish him. they stand for everything he stands for. he's the swamp and nancy pelosi never drained it. in applaud the congressman as well. >> what do you call this? this is draining the swamp. >> they are bringing these charges. either we'll expose these ethics issues and bring these charges and find out if he commit ad violation or we're not draining the swamp. we can all agree no party has a monopoly on unethical behavior in washington. every power out of power was to claim the party in party is slimey. >> this committee was established in the era of nancy pelosi, a democrat. the chairwoman of the committee is a woman a democrat out of california, in fact. and they got max

the ethics conundrum with representative rangel. how does your affection square with what's going on right now? and what you said that this is going to be the most ethical congress. you're going to drain the swamp of any kind of wrongdoing, corruption, et cetera? >> i said we'll drain the swamp when we came in. we did. we passed the most sweeping ethics reform in the history of the congress. any respect and affection for people makes us sad about the course of events. but we have to uphold a high ethical standard. and none of our personalities is stronger than that. >> can you see congressman rangel returning to a position of leadership in the house? >> the ethics committee is working its will. they wait and see what the committee decides. i respect what they do. i'm totally out of the loop. it's independent. it's confidential. classified, secret. whatever. we don't know what it is. we do respect the work that the members of the committee do. >> let me ask you about the midterm election. you, by all accounts, one of the most if not

that the mail came in rangel for congress. and that the lawyers have told him and the officials of the city and state of new york that there was no violation of any law or rules. and what was the benefit? the benefit was that your colleague and friend was not sensitive to the fact that there was appearance as though i was being treated differently than anyone else. but the landlord said he didn't treat me any differently. no one said that they did treat me differently. but i have to admit that i wasn't sensitive to anything because i never felt then that i was treated any differently than anybody else. so that ends the apartment thing. but i plead guilty of not being sensitive. now when it comes to the negligence of the disclosures and the tax issues, there's absolutely no excuse that's there. when accusations were made, i hired a forensic accountant and told them check out what the heck is going on because i want to make certain tt when i stand up and speak that it's true. well, after i found out it was r more serious than th

he should do that again and again. >> can rangel survive this?ent was giving him a shove it seemed clear. both congressional democrats and people in the white house hope that rangel thinks this through and realizes this is not a good way to end his career. i don't think the white house -- this is not the worst thing for democrats in midterm because they have bigger problems on the economy but it does remind people about washington not working. i tv)s)háhere's no doubt there's a racial component to this as democratic party and for the president. >> back in 1992 we were introduced toçó the clinton famy with this image on the cover of "people" magazine at the governor's mansion in arkansas. fast forward. young chelsea clinton is a married lady. looks like a beautiful ceremony withxf her down the aisle. what strikes but the interest in chelsea's wedding? >> we have lived with this family in a very intimate way giving troubles and successes they have had and it shows how far we have come as a country. when maria monroe got married, 34 words compared t

rangel isn't ready to retire yet? >> what the president -- i think the president's words speak for themselves. >> we do, too. >> and -- [laughter] and i talked about this right afterwards. and like we said, we're not prejudging the outcome of this bipartisan process. the president was asked a question he answered it. and i've made crystal clear on numerous occasions that we're not prejudging that process. >> the house passed board of security measure today, does the president think this shows the democrats' commitment to boarder security that republicans feel is lacking? >> well, what i can tell you is that there's likely nothing that the president's going to do that is going to silence all the critics when it comes to the boarder -- border. but what i will say is that the president has put more assets on the border than have ever been there before. but that immigration as an issue needs to be addressed in a comprehensive fashion. that's exactly what he's been working to do with both democrats and republicans and unfo

this comes just days after the ethics committee moved forward with charges against charlie rangel, a double whammy for speaker of the house nancy pelosi, who is close to both rangel and waters. >> any personal respect and affection we may have for people makes us sad about the course of events, but we have to pull the highest ethical standard, and none of our personalities is more important than that. >> reporter: democratic leaders are still hoping that settlement agreements can be worked out to avoid public trial for both waters and rangel, but, diane, that is looking increasingly unlikely. >> jonathan karl reporting from washington. >>> and from washington tonight, we turn to other news -- an all-out manhunt continuing in and around arizona for two convicted killers who escaped from a prison near kingman. and new details on how they did it -- the inmates apparently cut their way through a prison fence, where the fiancÉ of one reportedly helped them hijack a big rig at gun point. the first prison door had an alarm which didn't sound. the fence had an alarm. it sounded but the guard

for rangel and waters.t's unlikely. both want to clear their names in public. >>> conservative radio personality dr. laura says she's sorry for using the "n" word during her show. she said it several times during an exchange with a caller. the caller complained about her husbans friends making racial comments about her in her home. dr. laura says she was so upset at herself afterwards, she didn't finish her sho >> meteorologist mike nicco ahead with the forecast. >> take a look outside, show you where the clouds are departing. flight arrival delays into sfo. see the sunshine. warmer weather on the way but we have a brief cooling trend before we get there. >> who deserves to be grounded, the aiine or the kids? how three children went on an air adventu without their parents knowing. >> rosalynn carter talks one-on-one about her efforts to [ female announcer ] jobs leaving. a budget saster. california the brink. jerry brown's plan? oh, i know what to do. you don't. i didn't have a plan for californ. [ female n

first it was charlie rangel. now word that another democratic member, maxine waters may have an ethics trial in the house. >> it will hurt the democrats because it will be fresh in the voters' minds. >> reporter: rangel is facing charges he evaded charges and waters facing charges she helped a bank with a bailout. it all flies in the face what have democrats promised when they took over congress. >> we will keep our promise to drain the swamp. >> the fact is the swamp has not been drained. >> reporter: the white house seized this as a distraction, and the president offered only tepid support for rangel. >> i think charlie rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling and, you know, he's somebody at the end of his career, 80 years old, i'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity, and my hope is that that happens. >> reporter: republicans seem to be trying to stay out of the way relishing in the democratic troubles. >> i t

that the mail came in rangel for congress. and that the lawyers have told him and the officials of the city and state of new york that there was no violation of any law or rules. and what was the benefit? the benefit was that your colleague and friend was not sensitive to the fact that there was appearance as though i was being treated differently than anyone else. but the landlord said he didn't treat me any differently. no one said that they did treat me differently. but i have to admit that i wasn't sensitive to anything because i never felt then that i was treated any differently than anybody else. so that ends the apartment thing. but i plead guilty of not being sensitive. now when it comes to the negligence of the disclosures and the tax issues, there's absolutely no excuse that's there. when accusations were made, i hired a forensic accountant and told them to check out what the heck is going on because i want to make certain that when i stand up and speak that it's true. well, after i found out it was far more serious

rangel were brought by two republicans and two democrats together. this isn't about charlie rangel. this is about nancy pelosi's biggest failure. shel she said that it was time to drain the swamp. not once during this entire two-year proceeding has she called for him to step down from his post as the ranking democrat on the ways and means committee. >> is that what you're doing this morning? >> he already stepped down, but he did it on his own and dprafry it was much too late. >> should he step down from congress frsh congress, from his seat? >> that's for charlie to decide. the american people deserve to have members of congress observe the highest of ethical standards, and it has not happened. i told my colleagues 18 months ago when i became their leader that i was going to hold members accountable, and i have. >> one final question that's been a hot button issue this week. that is calls by republicans to amendment constitution to change the 14th amendment. as a matter of fact on the rnc's website, the 14th amendment is listed as an accomplishment of the republicans, one of the ma

for rangel and waters.hat's unlikely. both want to clear their names in public. >>> conservative radio personality dr. laura says she's sorry for using the "n" word during her show. she said it several times during an exchange with a caller. the caller complained about her husband's friends making racial comments about her in her home. dr. laura says she was so upset at herself afterwards, she didn't finish her show. >> meteorologist mike nicco ahead with the forecast. >> take a look outside, show you where the clouds are departing. flight arrival delays into sfo. see the sunshine. warmer weather on the way but we have a brief cooling trend before we get there. >> who deserves to be grounded, the airline or the kids? how three children went on an air adventure without their parents knowing. >> rosalynn carter talks one-on-one about her efforts to make positive changes oprah: good old fashioned girlfriend chit-chat -- with julia roberts. marriage. >> i sort of worship my husband -- he really takes my breath

rangel also said he is anxiously waiting an ethics committee which is not scheduled until next month. >>> the ballot measure is proposition 23, and today opponents said two key supporters are toxic polluters from out of the state. a political editor randy shandobil reports. >> the valero oil refinery in venetia are owned by texas companies. the two biggest donors to proposition 23. almost $5 million so far. >> proposition 23 will save california families billions of the dollars in higher energy costs and it will project over a million california jobs. >> reporter: proponents of 23 say ab32 the anti global warming bill that governor arnold schwarzenegger signed four years ago won't really work and will chase jobs out of the state because strict regulations might force factories to close. >> we're going to lose many jobs as part of the implementation of prop 23. >> reporter: the no on 23 side says no clean energy jobs more than offset any lost job and gavin newsom warning people not to trust texas oil companies. >> do you think private corporations out of texas are looking to save calif

charles rangel should know better. she should know better. i have no more doggone sympathy for them because they are black and i am black. god bless the demonstration today for the black farmers. give us that money. thank you. host: washington, d.c., republican line. caller: it is inspiring to hear another black man or woman, a democrat, agree with what the last caller said. maxine waters is going to suddenly say that it is racism. the thing of it is, it has nothing to do with race. it just so happens that two people that happened to be black were caught doing something wrong. okay? last year or the year before it was cunningham, who is in jail now, the representative from california. he was a war hero. nobody was screaming that people were doing this because he was white. the constant drumbeat of screening racism, what will happen is if there is true lie'' -- true racism, how can you tell the difference? host: i and the front page of "the new york times, "the capital is buzzing with ethics. indiscretions by members of congress. the house eth

republicans are looking at maxine waters and charlie rangel. what are the similarities and differences and where do -- are these two cases heading? >> majority -- minority leader, john boehner is trying to make a big issue. nancy pelosi said we are going to drain the swamp. whether this is playing outside the beltway and republicans aren't so sure this has much as political ressonance as the economy and debt does. it is no help to democrats. they will come back and deal with the rangel issue and the waters' issue head on, potentially a trial in september. it will distract from everything they are trying to do to create any sort of momentum heading into the polls. the party will be divided. the news coverage will be focused on it. the one-day session that the house came back to pass a bill, $26 billion to what they said would save teachers' jobs, charlie rangel went to the floor and defended his -- himself against these charges and the party was forced to respond to that instead. and this is a distraction they don't want to deal with. >> that ha

rangel also said he is anxiously waiting an ethics committee which is not scheduled until next month. >>> the ballot measure is proposition 23, and today opponents said two key supporters are toxic polluters from out of the state. a political editor randy shandobil reports. >> the valero oil refinery in venetia are owned by texas companies. the two biggest donors to proposition 23. almost $5 million so far. >> proposition 23 will save california families billions of the dollars in higher energy costs and it will project over a million california jobs. >> reporter: proponents of 23 say ab32 the anti global warming bill that governor arnold schwarzenegger signed four years ago won't really work and will chase jobs out of the state because strict regulations might force factories to close. >> we're going to lose many jobs as part of the implementation of prop 23. >> reporter: the no on 23 side says no clean energy jobs more than offset any lost job and gavin newsom warning people not to trust texas oil companies. >> do you think private corporations out of texas are looking to save calif

rangel. our job is to act impartially. >> now, the committee appears headed for two trials.e for nancy pelosi. on this week, she said she's not involved. >> this is i respect what they do. i'm out of the loop. it's whatever, we don't know what it s we do respect the work the members of the committee do. >> in berkeley, scientist and expert eric shikler says she may be hands off with regards to the committee but not with those accused. >> this is almost certainly the case that rangel and waters heard from leadership. asking, and begging pleading with them to try to cut a deal. >> pointing out last thing they want is two ethics hearings going on in the weeks before the november election. >> this is go gs to garner headlines and live television coverage. >> it's stickier for democrats both waters and rangel are african american members of the house. barbara lee is chair of the congressional black caucus. today her staff told me they didn't know where she was. and whenever she is, she's not commenting on two members of the caucus facing ethics charges. you remember when nancy pe

charlie rangel had similar pay for play allegations against him. you served with him in the house ways and means committee. would you do what he did? he asked the ethics commission, in the house of representatives, to look at the matter and clear his name. . >> did you intend to continue to have your family members get cards, money, other kinds of benefits and earmarks. >> the second part, absolutely not. my mother is a person of integrity and honor. she worked as a local consultant on the project, and i think is important that you understand that no one gave her anything. she is a person that is not financially challenge, but she did not get a golden gift or something. she worked picture the other part, there is one of the most blighted areas in the state of florida. i watched it burn down as a child. i don't need to be incentivize to try to get things developed in that area. there was $75,000 that went to miami dade county, $1 million that went to miami dade community college, and $4 million of -- appropriations designed to go to miami dade empow

charlie rangel or maxine waters, this isn't a good story for democrats to tell. one irony is that the democrats taking control of congress tightened ethics poling that goes on on capitol hill. this is a consequence of that, by their own rules, and you're seeing what is coming with maxine waters and charlie rangel. there is the race issue. in the philadelphia enquirer, it is called allegations and racism, saying i don't think that the ethics charges against charlie rangel and maxine waters are racially motivated but as an african-american of a certain age, i can not divorce my feelings about the history of racism in this country." is that a fair comparison? guest: there has been racism, but when you look a the actual charges on maxine waters or charlie rangel, i don't care if you're white, latino, african-american, that these are troubling allegations, particularly in the case of maxine waters where it is alleged that she intervened on behalf of a bank that her husband had hundreds of thousands of dollarin to make sure it received bailout money. that's a big charg

. >>> plus, rallying for rangel. who showed up at the lawmaker's 80th birthday bash? and survivors who lost limbs climb one of the world's tallest >>> parts of central iowa remain swamped by their worst flooding on record. up to 8 inches of rain fell over the last few days, leaving homes and businesses understand water. a 16-year-old girl was swept away to her death. hundreds of residents were evacuated. and others had to be rescued by boat. >>> well, that flash flooding drenches i-35 and 80 making for a rough morning commute around des moines. and there will be flooded roads from fargo to minneapolis. wet on i-95 from new york to richmond. flooding on i-10 along the gulf coast and slick in the forecorners region. >>> expect delays in minneapolis, charlotte, houston, new orleans and miami. >>> and now a medical warning about what's being called a new superbug. it's the result of the discovery of a gene. >> that gene can turn any bacteria into the so-called superbug. and as dr. richard besser reports it is hard toe kill, even with antibiotics. >> reporter: a new study

charlie rangel of new york and maxine waters of california. waters was charged today by congressional colleagues for improper use of her office to aid her husband's bank during the financial crisis. she and rangel deny wrongdoing and have set the course for public trial in the fall. >> if mr. rangel feels that the party -- or more importantly that the country and the institution are being hurt, i think he'll do the right thing and work out some kind of an agreement. i feel the same thing about maxine. >> reporter: the president stopped short of saying "mission accomplished" in his description of the iraq drawdown and emphasized that he thinks the critical fight is in afghanistan. >> if afghanistan were to be engulfed by an even wider insurgency, al qaeda and its terrorist affiliates would have even more space to plan their next attack. >> reporter: the president is already back from atlanta. he hits the road again wednesday for chicago where he's going to celebrate his 49th birthday but also use the occasion to do some fund-raising, brian. let

. >> reporter: we do know charlie rangel faces charges he hid income and faces charges. and now word that california democrat maxine waters may face charges by helping a bank out of bail out. and that made a lot of talk when the speaker said that four years ago. >> we will keep your promise to drain the swamp that is washington, d.c. >> she has not kept her promise. the swamp is alive and well. >> reporter: republican are lelishes the troubles. >> historically, one of the best ways to win congress is to say the other side is corrupt. >> reporter: with voters concerned about the economy, the ethic allegations may make the more difficult for democrats to hold power in the house. >> this is benefiting the republicans and talk of the democratic trail, democrats in trouble add to the problems. but the problems pre-exist charlie rangel's problems. >> reporter: how bad is it for democrats? when asked about rangel's woes, the president came close to calling on him to resign. >> i'm sure he wants to end his career with dignity and my hope is that happens. >> reporter: the fear fo

republicans are looking at maxine waters and charlie rangel in 2010. what are the similarities and differences? where do you think these recent cases are heading? >> congressman john boehner has tried to make the case that this is nancy pelosi's biggest failure. after those scandals, she came in and said, we are going to drain the swamp. the question is whether this is playing out outside the beltway. republicans are not sure this has political resonance as deadly -- as does the economy. it is no help to democrats. the welcome back from august recess and deal with the rental and waters -- rangel and waters issues. it will distract from any momentum heading into the polls. the party will be divided. the news coverage will be focused. the one session where the house came back to pass that bill -- $26 billion -- what they say will save teachers' jobs. instead, charlie rangel went to the floor and defended himself against these charges. the party was responding to that as well. they do not want to have to deal with this destruction. >> that has been a real

that the mail came in rangel for congress. and that the lawyers have told him and the officials of the city and state of new york that there was no violation of any law or rules. and what was the benefit? the benefit was that your colleague and friend was not sensitive to the fact that there was appearance as though i was being treated differently than anyone else. but the landlord said he didn't treat me any differently. no one said that they did treat me differently. but i have to admit that i wasn't sensitive to anything because i never felt then that i was treated any differently than anybody else. so that ends the apartment thing. but i plead guilty of not being sensitive. now when it comes to the negligence of the disclosures and the tax issues, there's absolutely no excuse that's there. when accusations were made, i hired a forensic accountant and told them to check out what the heck is going on because i want to make certain tt when i stand up and speak that it's true. well, after i found out it was far more serious th

. >> we were talking about investigations, but a peek into the rangel defense.ne of his lawyers will make the argument that because congress was giving money to the center that bears his name that that means that congress believed that rangel wasn't personally benefiting. chris: howard? >> not clear what is going to happen to rahm emanuel. it depends on chicago politics in part. the more important person is larry summers. larry summers going back to the campaign and now more than ever is the indispensible person for barack obama. barack obama trusts his judgment above all and listens to him day in and day out. chris: the big question of the week, will a serious independent n fnt next time? be right back. chris: this week's big question, if president obama approval numbers lag into 2012, will we see a serious independent candidate? john? >> i think as much as anything, it depends on who the republicans nominate, but the biggest independent candidate is mayor bloom burg. if sarah palin or mitt romney, if either one of them is the republican nominee, 50-50 chance t

this week we reported here on congressman charlie rangel and the 13 violations he faces. well, tonight comes word a house panel is preparing another case against another prominent democrat. congresswoman maxine waters has blazed an often fiery path a democrat from los angeles, during her years in congress. she does not shy away from controversy. 2years in congress. she does not shy away from controversy0years in congress. she does not shy away from controversy years in congress. she does not shy away from controversy. >> i think as one of the women of this committee and every other woman should have an opportunity to respond. >> reporter: a member of the financial services committee, she now faces accusations that she tried to help a bank that was seeking a bailout, a bank her husband owned stock in and a bank where he once sat on the board. she has denied wrongdoing. if waters is formally charged, it would be one more headache for democrats trying to maintain their house majority in the upcoming midterms. as republicans point to the promise made by house speaker nancy pe

d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d >>> it wasn't the 80th birthday celebration congressman charles rangelly envisioned. but even with the ethics violations he's now facing, the party went on. >> the biggest gift the troubled democrat could have received was support from his friends. wabc's dave evans reports on the bash. ♪ that's what friends are for ♪ >> reporter: it was the theme of this evening. dionne warwick belting out "in good times, bad times." plenty of friends are still with charlie rangel on this, his 80th birthday fund-raiser at the plaza hotel. >> i've been to a lot of funerals where they worked it out but this damn sure ain't no funeral, is it. ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ >> reporter: tonight's parade of politicians included attorney general and gubernatorial front-runner andrew cuomo. senator chuck schumer, up for re-election in the fall. and the mayor who made light of the rumor some politicians might not show. >> i know a few people couldn't be here tonight because as they tell it, either they had to get a haircut unexpectedly or they were sure they'd have a headache. but c

senior political reporter rick kline has more. >> reporter: rangel was angry, indignant, defiant, most his colleagues he's not going anywhere any time soon. this is a worst-case scenario for democrats. >> hey, if i was you i may want me to go away too. i am not going away. i am here. >> reporter: first of all, the timing. they were back in session to pass a funding bill to help schools and instead, everyone's talkut cange the second is the s the fact that he went te house floor instead othe ethics committee, any k of venue that would be a little bit less public, is exactly the kind ots d wan i do want the dignity that the president had said. if i can't get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot in getting rid of me through expulsion. >> reporter: many democrats were urging chairman rangel to use the ethics committee rather than the house floor as a venue for this. in fact his efforts to save his job and his reputation, it may have backfired given the fact that democrats viewed this with a mixture of sadness and anger, anger chairman rangel would use a venue like this to make a

they came to support rangel accused of 13 house ethics charges.here were protestors outside the event at the plaza hotel calling for rangel's resignation. >> jurors in the corruption trial of former illinois governor blagojevich suggest they may be deadlocked on counts as they prepare for their 12th day of deliberations this morning. the panel censent a note to the judge asking for guidance. blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to 24 counts, including charges of trying to sell or trade an appointment to president obama's vacated senate seat. the judge says he'll talk with the jury this morning to determine if they should continue deliberating. >> investigators try to regroup after yesterday's stock slump. a new plan to help hurting homeowners. >> here's jane king with the morning's "moneyscope" report. >> good morning. the day after the big selloff which left stocks in the u.s. and around the globe down for a second day after the federal reserve said the recovery is slowing. we could see pressures on cap shares today. getting mixed signals with the