Lexington Charlie Rangel's fight to remain

摘要

After 43 years in Congress Charles Rangel has developed a perfect expression for greeting voters. Arriving this week at a high school in his New York district, which runs from Harlem through Upper Manhattan to bits of the Bronx, he gazed about with a lookof toothy delight, spiced with wide-eyed amazement. He looked like a favourite uncle discovering a surprise birthday party-though as a man fighting for his political life, Mr Rangel made sure that he was the one bearing gifts. "You are the gems and jewels of this community," the 84-year-old Democrat told students on June 16th: winners of a technology contest sponsored by Congress. They received certificates of "Special Congressional Recognition" signed by Mr Rangel, and flags that had flown above the Capitol in Washington. Such flags are "very sacred, very historic," the congressman said-something to pass to their children and their "children's children".