PDS, Harlem-Style: Rangel Calls Palin ‘Disabled’

In the Palin Derangement Syndrome parade, this one has to be at or near the front.

It comes courtesy of tax scofflaw, financial-disclosure report fudger, rent-controlled apartment hoarder — Harlem’s one, and only, Charles Rangel (D-NY). When asked Friday why Democrats are so afraid of Sarah Palin and her popularity, he answered:

You got to be kind to the disabled.

It’s on video here at Breitbart (HT Palinmania via Maggie Thurber).

Here’s the related report from CBS2 in New York (note that this is not a transcript of the video report; the full vid has reax from Congressman Peter King of New York, a spokesman for the disabled who points out that FDR was “disabled,” and the McCain campaign):

Already under fire for his tax troubles, Manhattan Congressman Charles Rangel really put his foot in his mouth on Friday.

In a CBS 2 HD exclusive interview, Rep. Rangel called Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin “disabled.”

The question was simple: Why are the Democrats so afraid of Palin and her popularity?

The answer was astonishing.

“You got to be kind to the disabled,” Rangel said.

That’s right. The chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee called Palin disabled — even when CBS 2 HD called him on it.

CBS 2 HD: “You got to be kind to the disabled?”

Rangel: “Yes.”

CBS 2 HD: “She’s disabled?”

Rangel: “There’s no question about it politically. It’s a nightmare to think that a person’s foreign policy is based on their ability to look at Russia from where they live.”

Later Friday, Rangel issued a statement saying “disabled” wasn’t the word he meant to use.

“Governor Palin is an obviously healthy person who in no way fits the description of disabled. I meant to say then, and I am saying now, that she entered the campaign with a disadvantage in the area of foreign policy,” Rangel said in a statement.

“Any inference that my words were in any connected to her son, Trig, who was born with Down syndrome, is a real stretch — and, I would have to think — a way to make political points out of my poor choice of words,” he added.

I don’t recall Rangel expressing any concern 16 years ago when his party’s presidential candidate was widely, and correctly, derided for having no foreign policy experience. In fact, a New York Times reporter wrote of Bill Clinton that “his experience in world affairs is limited to breakfast at the International House of Pancakes.”

Though Drudge has linked to it, I suspect Rangel’s outrage will be ignored by traditional media “because he apologized.” Give. Me. A. Break.

Cross-posted at NewsBusters.org.

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UPDATE: My theory is that Rangel is REALLY worried about his situation, and that the Palin comment is designed to ingratiate him wth the nutroots. It will probably work.

UPDATE 2: This is Number 89 on Charles Martin’s list.