CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY MARCH 8, 2010

CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY MARCH 8, 2010

         BEFORE CELEBRATING THE POLITICAL DEMISE OF NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE RANGEL, CONSIDER HIS REPLACEMENT: REPRESENTATIVE PETE STARK OF CALIFORNIA.

         IN 1990, THEN HHS-SECRETARY LOUIS SULLIVAN, WHO IS BLACK, OPPOSED NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE. STARK, WHO IS WHITE, CALLED SULLIVAN "A DISGRACE TO HIS RACE." STARK REFUSED TO APOLOGIZE, SAYING THAT SULLIVAN "DOESN'T LIVE ON MY PLANTATION; HE LIVES ON JOHN SUNUNU'S PLANTATION."

         STARK SAID REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN J.C. WATTS' CHILDREN WERE "BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK." WATTS IS BLACK.

         STARK ONCE CALLED A FEMALE COLLEAGUE "A WHORE FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRIES."

         STARK, A SELF-DESCRIBED ATHEIST, SAID HE HOPED TO RID CONGRESS OF ITS "SELF-DESTRUCTIVE EVANGELICAL BENT." WHEN OFFERED A CHANCE TO VOTE ON A RESOLUTION DESCRIBING CHRISTIANITY AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RELIGIONS, HE REFUSED. THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AFTER RECOGNIZING ISLAM AS THE SAME. THAT'S YOUR NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, SELECTED BY SPEAKER PELOSI. I'M CAL THOMAS IN WASHINGTON.