Do the Ethics Controversies of Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters Make You Question Democratic Leadership?
"World News" wants to know what you think. Share your comments below.
Aug. 2, 2010— -- With two top Democrats in the House of Representatives facing embarrassing ethics allegations, party leaders are facing growing questions about their leadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi's earlier promise to "make this the most honest, ethical and open Congress in history."
Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., is facing an ethics trial this fall on charges that include failing to pay taxes and doing legislative favors for a donor.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., could also face a trial. She's under investigation for a conflict of interest in which she allegedly helped a bank where her husband was a board member and stockholder.
Pelosi defended her party's leadership Sunday in an interview on ABC's "This Week."
"We have passed the most sweeping ethics reform in the history of the Congress," Pelosi told new host Christiane Amanpour. "Any personal respect and affection we may have for people makes us sad about the course of events, but we have to pull the high ethical standard and none of our personalities is more important than that."
Pelosi added that she is "not nervous at all" about the coming midterm elections but, political analysts say, Democrats could easily lose control of the House of Representatives, and the ethics allegations hardly help.
Our question to you today: Do the controversies surrounding Rangel and Waters make you question Democratic leadership?
The Associated Press contributed to this report.