Republicans trying to make Rangel an issue for Kirkpatrick and others

The continuing allegations of ethics violations against U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) may have consequences for Democratic politicians across the country, including in Arizona. Wednesday the National Republican Congressional Committee called on 1st Congressional District candidate Ann Kirkpatrick to return campaign contributions she received from Rangel. The NRCC had previously called for U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson) to do the same.

“Ann Kirkpatrick is not a voice for change, she is status-quo politician willing to get elected to Congress any way she can,” said NRCC Spokesman Ken Spain in a press release. “If Kirkpatrick wants to separate herself from a corrupt politician and an unpopular Democrat Majority in Congress, she will return the campaign checks she took from Rep. Charlie Rangel.”

Rangel, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, is a prolific contributor to Democratic campaigns nationwide. The 18-term congressman hasn't faced a serious challenge in recent memory, meaning the large amounts he commands in contributions can, and do, go elsewhere. This cycle alone he has given Giffords and Mitchell $4,000 each, and has given to Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) and Ed Pastor (D-Phoenix) as well.

Two controversies centered on Rangel hit back-to-back over the last week. On July 10, the New York Times reported Rangel was renting four "luxury" apartments in Harlem at rent-control rates, "while aggressive evictions are reducing the number of rent-stabilized apartments in New York." Additionally, one of the spaces is being used as an office, which apparently violates city and state regulations regarding rent-stabilized apartments. Rangel announced Tuesday that he would relinquish that one.

Also on Tuesday, the Washington Post revealed that Rangel has been soliciting funds for the planned Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York from individuals and corporations with business before his committee. Republicans have dubbed the project, for which Rangel has also secured federal funds, his "Monument to Me."

It is unclear whether either of these revelations will trigger investigations by the House Ethics Committee, and there have been no allegations of illegality on Rangel's part.

Arizona Republicans have taken heat for their own associations this year. The firm of Republican contributor and lobbyist Doug Goodyear, who U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) had tapped to run the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, once represented the repressive regime in control of Myanmar - formerly known as Burma. When the Burmese junta refused to allow foreign aid into its country after a devastating cyclone, Goodyear was dumped from his RNC post, and Democrats demanded recipients of his contributions, including U.S. Rep. John Shadegg (R-Phoenix) return funds they'd received from him.

Also, the Pima County Democratic Party recently called for state Sen. Pres. Tim Bee (R-Tucson) to repudiate former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, after Rove refused to testify in front of a House panel investigating the Valerie Plame scandal. Rove raised money for Pima County Republicans in January and met with Bee privately during that trip. The Bee campaign has so far not commented on Rove's decision to not appear before the committee.