Charlie Rangel Has Sympathy for Fossella, Not for the G.O.P.

Representative Charlie Rangel has a very meta take on Vito Fossella's predicament, seeing it as another example of an ongoing Republican implosion.

"They are self-destructing," Rangel told me, referencing the president's vetoes of what he said was bi-partisan legislation and ethics lapses by Republican elected officials. "I have to write a letter to Fosella saying the delegation wants to express its sympathies during this period of your life and move on." Rangel said that none of the delegation was pressing him to step down. "I'm writing it now, from the delegation. He's a member of our delegation and we feel for his family and that is all we can do."

He then said that Republicans were "dropping off, people are quitting, they have given up."