2. 2A · MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010 · USA TODAY
Talking ’bout a generation gap in same generation
Continued from 1A last month. The impact of her
generation was clear to her early
drastically different experiences. on because of its sheer size.
“Someone coming of age in “They just did not know what
1950 lives through JFK, the soar- to do with all of us,” says Thom-
ing rhetoric of Martin Luther son, a retired management con-
King, the Mickey Mouse Club and sultant who grew up in Birming-
Leave It to Beaver,” ham, Mich.
Cover says Steven Gillon,
resident historian
“I remember having classes in
the cafeteria and gym. . . . They
story of the History
Channel and au-
were building schools like mad.
When I went away to college, I
thor of Boomer Na- had a tiny (dormitory) room that
tion. “After 1960, their memories By Susan Tusa, Detroit Free Press
was meant for two in the ’20s
are Watergate and oil embargo.” “I was always just squished”: Wendy Thomson, and there were three of us. I was
Yet, they have been lumped 60, was among the early Baby Boomers. always just squished.”
into one demographic behemoth But she has been able to send
(77 million) that has guided mar- her sons to college and to retire
keting decisions, transformed early, something that will be a
history and politics and reshaped “I am a struggle for her sister-in-law,
entertainment sensibilities for
more than six decades.
Venti, half-caff who was born in 1962.
“Her whole experience was
As the nation marks the 65th Boomer.” just so different from mine,”
birthday of the first Boomers be- By Mei-Chun Jau for USA TODAY
Thomson says.
ginning next month, the millions Michele Kimbrough “Saigon fell before I got my driver’s license”: Steve Morley, a software engineer of “She is far away from retire-
born at the tail end of the genera- Born 1964 McKinney, Texas, spends Thanksgiving with his wife, Lynda, 19-year-old son, Andrew, ment and she is now stuck. The
tion are feeling a disconnect. and 16-year-old daughter, Sarah. market crashed, housing values
“I don’t see myself as the typ- crashed.”
ical Boomer,” says Anthony Fer- but because it built a bridge to a the 1960s; Hispanics are 13%. lish at home, compared with 22% His brother talked about the Older Boomers redefined
daise, born in 1962. His older sis- dramatically different America, uEducation. The share of of the younger ones. Summer of Love — the event that American culture in what Gillon
ter is 64, at the front end of his says William Frey, demographer women with a high school diplo- Gillon says the Boomer gener- defined the hippie countercul- calls “a cultural earthquake.”
generation and worlds apart in at the Brookings Institution. “The ma or less education dropped ation is so deeply rooted in the ture movement when as many as “They created a world signifi-
experiences. Boomers are the transition be- from 43% among older Boomers American experience, from TV 100,000 people gathered in San cantly different than the one their
Ferdaise, a nurse who lives in tween old and new,” he says. to 38% among the younger ones. shows and advertising to politics Francisco — and attending small parents created,” he says, making
Phoenix, makes his point in mu- That transition also occurred The opposite is true among men, and race relations, that immi- concerts where The Doors and the differences between young
sical terms: “She saw The Doors within the generation. a potential fallout of rising im- grants who did not grow up here Janis Joplin performed. Another and old Boomers seem minor by
in concert. I saw The Clash.” Michele Kimbrough migration: 38% of can’t be viewed as true Boomers. brother, who had conscientious- comparison.
of Chicago was born older male Boomers “Being a Boomer is being part objector status during the Viet- Adds Gillon, himself a Boomer
Bridging the old and the new during the last year of had no postsecond- of a unique and historical experi- nam War and was exempted born in 1956, “We have inherited
the boom, in 1964. ary education, com- ence . . . a shared generation ex- from military service, spoke at an a world that Boomers have
The beginning and end of a
generation are marked by a rise
Her parents are Baby
Boomers. SENI R pared with 44% of
those born later.
perience of people who grew up
in America,” he says. “You have
anti-war event.
“The people who are born
made.”
and fall in the number of births.
“It’s entirely subjective, but
“I don’t really relate
myself to the Boomer MOMENT uMarriage. More
late Boomers have
to remember Captain Kangaroo.”
The difference between older
post-’59, they don’t have the
same sense of being the children
Corrections
& Clarifications
most people agree on the begin- generation,” says Kim- BOOMERS TURN 65 not married. Ten per- and younger Boomers is heavily of that generation,” McMorrow
ning (1946) and ending dates brough, a former non- This series also will be cent of older male influenced by the Vietnam War. says. “I’ve been an observer. Nev- USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach
us, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at
(1964) of the Baby Boom genera- profit executive work- on boomers.usatoday- Boomers and 8% of “If you were born by 1950, you er felt a part of it.” 1-800-872-7073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday-
.com. Please indicate whether you’re respond-
tion, and if you look at it de- ing on a doctorate in .com and cbsnew- older female Boom- had to confront Vietnam in some Frey says later Boomers “got ing to content online or in the newspaper.
mographically, that makes natural medicine. “I s.com. For more cov- ers have not married way,” Gillon says. “It was like a gi- the short end of the stick.” The
sense,” says demographer Cheryl am a Venti, half-caff erage, watch CBS’ The — but among young- ant mountain that stood in their first in their generation were re- In some Thursday editions, a
Russell, editorial director at New Boomer,” she jokes, Early Show, 7-9 a.m. ET er Boomers, 16% of pathway.” bellious and grew up in a pros- photo caption accompanying a
Strategist Publications, a publish- using popular coffee men and 12% of He calls the younger end of the perous time. Younger ones “en- cover story on LeBron James mis-
er of reference books. house terms. “I can call myself a women haven’t been to the altar. generation “shadow Boomers,” a tered the workforce when things identified the man selling T-
In 1945, there were fewer than flower child and still navigate uMilitary service. About group that straddles two genera- were pretty bad,” he says, in an shirts. His name is Derrick Tatum.
3 million births in the USA. The successfully through this new 71% of early male Boomers never tions (Boomers and Generation era marked by gas shortages and
figure hit 3.4 million in 1946, culture of hip-hop madness.” served in the military compared X), and relates to both yet feels as President Nixon’s resignation.
topped 4 million in 1954 and Census numbers show the with 87% of late Boomers. The if it belongs in neither. “For some, when they first got
peaked at 4.3 million in 1957. The changes in America’s profile from military draft ended in 1973, long “From my perspective, I’ve their driver’s license they were
number of annual births stayed one end of the Boomer genera- before late Boomers reached 18. been following the parade,” says sitting in gas lines,” says Robert
above 4 million through 1964 be- tion to the other: The numbers fluctuate every Greg McMorrow, born in 1961. Lang, sociologist at the University
fore slipping to 3.8 million in uRace and ethnicity. Seven- year, as Boomers die and Boom- He and eight siblings were of Nevada-Las Vegas. “It wasn’t
1965. That put the end of the Ba- ty-six percent of early Boomers er-age immigrants move here. born during the Baby Boom. like ‘fun fun fun till her daddy
by Boom at the close of 1964. are non-Hispanic whites, com- Younger Boomers are more “My oldest sister was born in takes her T-bird away,’ ” he says,
About 37 million people now pared with 68% of those born lat- likely to be immigrants — 17% vs. ’47, and one younger brother was referring to The Beach Boys’
in the USA were born in the first er. Blacks are the largest minority 13% of older Boomers — and born in ’63,” says McMorrow, a 1964 hit Fun, Fun, Fun.
half of the Baby Boom, and about among older Boomers but are nearly half of the young immi- small-business owner in San
40 million in the second. outnumbered by Hispanics grant Boomers arrived here after Jose. “The ’60s and protest stuff Contrasting experiences
The generation is significant among younger Boomers. Blacks 1990. Only 15% of older Boomers was something that my older
not only because of its numbers make up 12% of Boomers born in speak a language other than Eng- brother and sister were a part of.” Wendy Thomson turned 60
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3. USA TODAY · MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010 · 3A
Nation
Nationline
Army launches cemetery probe
Death to be ‘relief’ for 8 urns found nality involved,” Chris Grey of
the Army’s Criminal Investi-
the urns, which were
matched to crematoriums
marked, improperly marked
or mislabeled on cemetery
The worker, Tim Langow-
ski, 51, of Frederick, Md., told
home-invasion killer in single grave gation Command said of the
latest controversy at the na-
across the country. They
tracked numbers found on
maps. Other problems in-
cluded urns that were
USA TODAY that he took
Kathryn Condon, who over-
A Connecticut man sentenced to death Thursday
in the killings of a woman and her two daughters
at Arlington tion’s renowned military
burial ground.
the tags to individual dece-
dents. Their efforts continue
dumped in a landfill area, as
well as multiple graves buried
sees Army cemetaries, to an
area of the cemetery used as
said his execution will be “a welcome relief.” Steven Three sets of remains have on four urns without tags, under a single headstone. a dump site for vegetation
Hayes made his first public comments about the By Oren Dorell been identified, and the cem- Grey said. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D- and soil, where he found two
case before being formally sentenced by New USA TODAY etery has notified family The criminal investigation, Mo., chair of a subcommittee urns while on the job in 2005.
Haven Superior Court Judge Jon Blue. “I am deeply members, cemetery spokes- the fourth in recent years at on contracting oversight, ap- One of the urns contained
sorry for what I have done and the pain I have Army investigators woman Kaitlin Horst said. Arlington, comes as the cem- pointed a panel to study ashes and two mementos: a
caused,” said Hayes, adding he was after money for launched a criminal probe af- One of the sets has been re- etery continues to sort out problems at Arlington. The letter and a photograph of a
drugs. “I am tormented and have nightmares about ter eight urns were found in a buried. “discrepancies” between its panel projected that up to girl in a blue and white cheer-
what happened in that house.” single grave marked “un- A forensic anthropologist records and its graves. No 6,600 of more than 300,000 leader outfit. Both urns were
William Petit, a physician who was severely beat- known” at Arlington National from Hawaii helped investi- charges have yet been filed in graves could be unmarked or turned in to cemetery work-
en with a baseball bat during the attack on his fam- Cemetery in Virginia. gators determine that a any of the investigations. The improperly labeled. ers at the time.
ily, told the court he had considered suicide many “When there’s eight sets of fourth set was unidentifiable, Army Inspector General re- The latest discovery came News of the investigation
times since the deaths of his wife, Jennifer Hawke- human remains in one grave, Grey said. ported in June that a survey after a tip provided to WTOP put him at ease.
Petit, and their daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, it’s most likely not a mistake, Investigators used forensic of three of Arlington’s 70 sec- Radio in Washington by an “That tells me they’re look-
11. Petit, who fought back tears, said he struggles so we have to look into techniques to decipher initials tions found 211 such discrep- employee of Lane Construc- ing into it and doing the right
with nightmares and flashbacks. whether there is any crimi- on tags connected to some of ancies — graves that were un- tion, Horst said. thing,” Langowski said.
Hayes sexually assaulted and strangled Jennifer
Hawke-Petit. Authorities say he and co-defendant
Calif. killing is real whodunit
Joshua Komisarjevsky tied her daughters to their
beds, poured gasoline on or around them and set
fire to their Cheshire home in 2007. Komisarjevsky
goes on trial next year.
Unabomber’s land for sale in Montana
HELENA, Mont. — A 1.4-acre parcel of land in
western Montana that was once owned by Un- The hit-man-style
abomber Ted Kaczynski is on the market for
$69,500.
slaying of publicist
The listing offers potential buyers a chance to
own a piece of “infamous U.S. history” and says the
Ronni Chasen has
forested land “is obviously very secluded.” It’s listed elements of a
by John Pistelak Realty of Lincoln.
The Lincoln-area property, which had been listed Hollywood film
at $154,500, does not have electricity or running
water. Kaczynski was critical of technology. By William M. Welch
The property does not include Kaczynski’s cabin, USA TODAY
By Nick Ut, AP
which is on display at the Newseum in Washington.
Kaczynski is serving a life sentence for killing LOS ANGELES — The latest film- Died behind wheel: Ronni Chasen’s
three people and injuring 23 during a nationwide noir style mystery to grip Tinseltown damaged car gets towed Nov 16.
bombing spree between 1978 and 1995. has produced a second body, but the
plotline is still unfolding known. Residents of the Harvey
A man known only as Harold pulled Apartments knew him as Harold.
out a gun and shot himself to death in They said he was an ex-con, who had
the lobby of a cheap Hollywood once lived there and been evicted but
apartment building Wednesday eve- returned recently asking if police
ning as he was approached by gum- were looking for him, The Los Angeles
shoes from the Beverly Hills Police Times reported.
Department, Los Angeles police say. “He told me several times, ‘If it ever
Beverly Hills cops say they wanted came back down to me going to pris-
to talk to the man about the hit-man- on, I would die first,’ ” resident Bran-
style murder of a publicist to the stars, don Harrison told the paper.
Ronni Chasen, on Nov. 16. Chasen, who is driving this plot,
Chasen’s death, in a rain of carefully was the queen of air-kisses, one of
targeted bullets to the chest while be- those Hollywood fixtures whose
By William Wilson Lewis III, The Press-Enterprise, via AP
hind the wheel of her black Mercedes, brassy hustle seemed to epitomize
was the opening scene in a real life- the big personalities behind the big
Golf course obstacle and-death drama that seems to be screen. She called people “darling,”
Fore! Flight instructor Richard Hammerschlag, 63, following a Hollywood formula: A hugged them and smooched the air
walks away from his two-seater plane that crash- high flier brought to a grisly end, with as large jewelry swung around her
landed in a sand trap at a Southern California golf no obvious suspects and few visible neck.
course, sending one person to the hospital with clues. Her abrasive New York accent
minor injuries. No one on the ground was injured. It’s a story that has, as they say in didn’t hold back her ability to
the film business, generated great schmooze at myriad social functions
Search for missing Mich. boys halted buzz. where business is conducted in Holly-
The victim’s decades of elbow-rub- wood. She was not one of the indus-
Volunteers searching for three Michigan brothers bing with movie stars has been an ir- try’s most powerful figures. But she
missing for nearly a week have been asked to sus- resistible draw. She was killed while represented a niche of composers and
pend their searches after today. Morenci Police driving home late at night from a par- songwriters, such as Hans Zimmer
Chief Larry Weeks said law enforcement officials ty after the premiere of the movie and Diane Warren, and musicians
will continue following up on tips but want time to Burlesque, starring, as she surely such as Sophie B. Hawkins, who had
By Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
re-examine their efforts. would have wanted noted, Cher and chops and talent, if not top billing.
“Those men and women that have actually done Christina Aguilera. Officers still investigating: A “person of interest” in the shooting death of Just days before she was gunned
the searching have been tireless,” said Kathye Her- Chasen, 64, had a deal to promote publicist Ronni Chasen killed himself Wednesday at these apartments. down, she was e-mailing reporters to
rera, a friend of the family. “We would not want a the soundtrack for an Oscar. tout Michael Douglas’ work in Wall
tragedy because volunteers are too tired.” So far not much more is known Street: Money Never Sleeps, for award
Tanya Skelton reported her sons — Andrew, 9; Al- about either death, but this much is consideration.
exander, 7; and Tanner, 5 — missing Nov. 26 when clear: Somebody wanted Chasen While cops publicly bemoan the
their father, John Skelton, didn’t return them after a dead, and they had pretty good aim. lack of clues, any audience can see lots
Thanksgiving visit. John Skelton is facing three The cops, predictably, aren’t talking. of potential leads. Police seized Cha-
counts of parental kidnapping and is being held in a “There are no further details avail- sen’s computers and searched it for
Toledo, Ohio, jail in lieu of $3 million bond. able at this time,” Beverly Hills Sgt. signs of any enemies.
Shan Davis said Thursday. Gil Carrillo, a retired investigator
Stolen painting surfaces before auction Police in Los Angeles, where the with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
An Edgar Degas painting that was stolen 37 years second death occurred, are dismiss- Department, who reviewed a prelim-
ago and recently rediscovered before an auction in ing questions about the case. inary coroner’s report for a Fox TV
New York will be returned to the French govern- Beverly Hills is a rich and tony, but station that obtained it, said the killer
ment, U.S. officials said Thursday. tiny and separate, city surrounded by squeezed off multiple rounds in an
U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch and James Hayes, Los Angeles. Los Angeles cops out- impressively tight formation that
head of the New York office of Immigration and number Beverly Hills cops almost 100 would befit a professional hit. “It’s a
Customs Enforcement, announced that a Manhat- to 1, but they are dealt out of the Cha- good shot group,” he told KTTV.
tan seller, who didn’t know it was stolen, had sen case, except for the suicide on At the Harvey Apartments, a 1930s
agreed to turn over the painting, Laundry Woman their turf, Los Angeles police spokes- art deco-style building on Santa Mon-
With Toothache, without a forfeiture proceeding. man Richard French says. ica Boulevard, with the second body
Sotheby’s had given the small oil portrait of a “We were called in because some- still on the floor, Los Angeles Police
young woman holding her jaw an estimated value one killed themselves in front of Bev- Capt. Kevin McClure delivered a Joe
of $350,000 to $450,000. erly Hills police in our jurisdiction,” Friday-just-the-facts recap for the TV
said French, who professed little pro- cameras.
Also . . . fessional interest in either death. Taking up the story after the Bever-
uBUFFALO, N.Y. — Police in western New York “It was pretty obvious what hap- By Timothy Norris, Getty Images
ly Hills cops moved in, McClure said:
have charged 33 people so far in an investigation pened. There shouldn’t be any sur- With the stars: Publicist Ronni Chasen, second from right, attends a party “They attempted to talk to the sus-
that shows a new kind of supplier in the illicit drug prises,” he said. Jan. 11, 2009, with actors, from left, Jeff Sanderson, Freida Pinto and Dev Patel. pect. When they did the suspect pro-
trade. They say medical patients, including many You don’t have to be a critic to duced a handgun. And there was a
who rely on Medicaid for prescriptions, have be- know there are always surprises in a gun and the bullet that he used to kill to the two deaths, said Lt. Fred Corral, self-inflicted gunshot at that point in
come a popular way to get drugs like OxyContin to good script. himself match the weapon that end- watch commander for the Los Ange- time.”
the street. The big question that the autopsy ed Ronni Chasen’s life. les coroner’s office.
The patients see a doctor, or several doctors, and of Harold and the search of his death “No information is being given out” The dead man was described as a Contributing: Anthony Breznican in
come away with prescriptions they sell to a dealer scene should reveal is whether his on that score or anything else related black male in his 40s, address un- Los Angeles and the Associated Press
for as much as $1,000. uLAS VEGAS — Six people,
including two teenagers, have been indicted in the
Court, jail overload puts justice in doubt
pummeling death of Las Vegas high school teacher
Timothy VanDerbosch, 50, who prosecutors say
was attacked because he dressed nicely.
By Anne Willette with staff and wire reports By Keith Matheny The California Supreme Court in no-man’s land,” County Commission- non-violent misdemeanors to treat-
USA TODAY October upheld the dismissal of 18 er John Wiley Price said. ment programs, says Vanita Gupta,
Please recycle criminal cases in Riverside County, in- uIn North Carolina, the continu- deputy legal director for the Ameri-
Courtrooms and jails have become cluding two felonies, because there ance rate in cases involving child can Civil Liberties Union.
'
crowded to the bursting point, allow- weren’t enough judges to hear them. abuse and neglect or termination of New York and New Jersey reduced
Published by Gannett Co., Inc. ing justice to languish in many loca- The ruling upheld the dismissal of parental rights topped 40% in nearly a their prison populations 20% and 19%
Vol. 29, No. 58 (ISSN 1051-7405) tions, legal experts and many working more than 250 other misdemeanor quarter of the state’s 100 counties, respectively from 1999 to 2009 in
USA TODAY in the judicial system say. and felony cases also on appeal. says Lana Dial, court improvement part through such programs, Gupta
7950 Jones Branch Drive “There’s a huge crunch in the judi- Chief Justice Ronald George, in a 7-0 program manager for North Carolina said. South Carolina in June ended
McLean, VA 22108 cial system because of a lack of re- opinion, called it “a circumstance fair- Administrative Office of the Courts. mandatory minimum sentences for
Tel.: +1-703-854-3400
Fax: +1-703-854-2095 sources,” said Margie Paris, dean of ly attributable to the fault or neglect of A 2009 study by Seattle University first-offense simple narcotics posses-
International Headquarters (London): the University of Oregon School of the state.” law professor Robert Boruchowitz, in sion, and expanded the use of proba-
USA TODAY Law. “The speed with which we’re Riverside County Chief Assistant conjunction with the National Associ- tion, house arrest and work-release
P.O. Box 30793 moving cases along and the quality of District Attorney Bill Mitchell ex- ation of Criminal Defense Lawyers, programs.
London WC1A 1AZ, England
justice is really being compromised.” pressed outrage. found the explosive growth of misde- The Pew Charitable Trusts, a public
All general inquiries:
+44 (0) 207 559 5859 Paris and others cited three com- “The failure of the state to provide meanor cases burdening courts. policy non-profit, estimates South
Fax: +44 (0) 207 559 5885 mon problems: adequate resources . . . has led to Researchers observed two defense Carolina’s reforms will reduce the
E-Mail: circadmin@usatoday.com uTougher law enforcement with- criminal defendants being rewarded attorneys in Washington state advis- need to build and operate new prison
USA TODAY is a member of The Associated Press and Gannett out expansion of jail and court infra- with dismissal,” he said. ing 132 defendants on an arraignment space over the next five years, saving
News Service and subscribes to Reuters, among other news structure; Elsewhere: calendar in under four hours. Most up to $175 million in construction
services. USA TODAY, its logo and associated graphics are the
federally registered trademarks of Gannett Co., Inc. All rights
uFailure to improve court proce- uIn Texas, the Dallas County crim- raised no objections, resulting in find- costs and more than $66 million in
are reserved. Registered as a newspaper with the Post Office in dures over many years; inal justice department in July found ings of guilt, the study found. operating expenses.
the United Kingdom. Registrato al Tribunale di Milano il uOverworked judges, prosecutors 423 felony cases — 10% of all felony Several states are working on ways
22/05/2000 al numero 364; digitally printed by Rotomail Italia Matheny reports for The Desert Sun in
SpA, Cologno Monzese, Milano.
and defense attorneys continually cases — had no future court dates to improve their justice systems
postponing hearings. scheduled, leaving inmates “sitting in through reforms such as diverting Palm Springs, Calif.
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4. 4A · MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010 · USA TODAY
Washington
House censure deals blow to
N.Y.’s Rangel for misconduct
Democrat insists gel, a Korean War veteran who rose from
high school dropout to chairman of the
es,” she said.
Rangel and his allies plead for leniency
he’s not corrupt, House Ways and Means Committee.
Censure is the most serious punish-
Thursday, asking for a less severe written
reprimand, and arguing that censure
penalty is political ment, short of expulsion, that Congress
can impose. Rangel now joins 22 others
should be imposed only in cases when
intentional corruption is proved.
in U.S. history who have been censured The last lawmakers censured — Rep.
By Fredreka Schouten by the House for wrongdoing ranging Gerry Studds of Massachusetts and Rep.
USA TODAY from supporting the Confederacy during Daniel Crane of Illinois in 1983 — were
the Civil War to accepting bribes. punished for sexual relationships with
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of The House scolded Rangel for a pat- House pages.
Representatives voted overwhelmingly tern of misconduct stretching back years One Republican, New York Rep. Peter
Thursday to censure once-powerful — including failing to pay taxes for 17 King, joined the half-dozen lawmakers
New York Rep. Charles Rangel for mul- years on rental income from his Car- pleading for mercy. “If expulsion is the
tiple ethical misdeeds — the first time in ibbean vacation villa and soliciting dona- equivalent of the death penalty, censure
nearly three decades that House mem- tions for a center being built in his honor is . . . a life sentence,” King said. The
bers have publicly rebuked a colleague. from companies with business before House, however, rejected a measure to
The 333-79 vote dealt Rangel the most his tax-writing committee. reduce the punishment.
devastating blow of a congressional ca- The House ethics committee also con- The censure vote leaves a permanent
reer spanning 40 years. cluded that Rangel failed to disclose to stain on Rangel’s reputation, but does
Rangel, 80, stood silently in the front Congress more than $500,000 in assets not strip him of any legislative powers
of the chamber as House Speaker Nancy and income and improperly housed a nor reduce his $174,000 annual salary.
Pelosi somberly read the censure resolu- campaign office in a rent-stabilized He lost the chairmanship of the tax-
tion. But he fought the punishment to apartment. writing committee earlier this year in
the end, insisting he was not corrupt and Rangel has paid nearly $15,000 in connection with a separate ethics case.
never sought to enrich himself. back taxes as part of his punishment. At a news conference following the
“I know in my heart that I’m not going Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., who chairs vote, a defiant Rangel said the censure
to be judged by this Congress, but I’m the ethics panel, said it was “painful” to action was motivated by politics and
going to be judged by my life,” the Dem- discipline a colleague, but she said Ran- would not diminish his stature. “Charlie
ocratic congressman said in a brief re- gel “violated the public trust.” Rangel is Charlie Rangel,” he said. “I
By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
sponse from the House floor. “It brought discredit to the House wasn’t always a chairman.”
“Compared to where I have been, I when this member with great responsi- Ethical misdeeds: Rep. Charles Rangel was found to have misused his position. “I
haven’t had a bad day since,” added Ran- bility for tax policy did not pay his tax- Contributing: John Fritze know in my heart that I’m not going to be judged by this Congress,” he says.
Senate Republicans blast Pentagon study of ‘don’t ask’
By Gregg Zoroya veyed felt that allowing gays to serve seph Lieberman, an independent from
USA TODAY openly will have a positive, mixed or no Connecticut.
effect on military readiness. It also found Republicans have argued that war-
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans that between 40% and 60% of Marines time is the wrong time for a significant
drew up several lines of attack Thursday and troops who engage in direct combat social-policy change. “You have nearly
against allowing gays to serve openly in had negative views about serving with half of those who have been deployed
the military, and anticipated getting help troops who are openly gay. who say that it would be negative,” said
Friday from the testimony of chiefs of Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. “Combat-readi-
staff for the military services who may Gates, who also supports a repeal, said it ness and effectiveness is really the bot-
harbor similar concerns. would be wrong to poll troops on chang- tom-line issue.”
Led by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Re- ing a national policy. McCain noted that 12% of survey re-
publicans on the Senate Armed Services “Are you going to ask them if they spondents said they would not want to
Committee criticized a newly released want 15-month tours? Are you going to stay in the military absent the law.
Pentagon study that found that gay ask them if they want to be part of the “You think it’s a good idea to replace
troops could serve openly in the military surge in Iraq?” he asked. 264,000 troops across the force at a time
without impairing the nation’s war- Democrats on the committee praised of war?” McCain asked.
fighting ability. the Pentagon study and said allowing Gates said that given time, education
By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Republicans said that a questionnaire Americans to serve in uniform regard- and training, troops tended to moderate
for the study failed to ask troops wheth- Lines drawn: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, confers with Senate Armed Services less of their sexual orientation was on their views on the subject.
er they believed the “don’t ask, don’t Committee colleague and chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., on Thursday. par with desegregating the military in Republicans said they were eager to
tell” law, which bars gays from serving the 1950s and increasing the number of hear Friday from the chiefs of staff for the
openly, should be repealed by Congress. time and effort and money, a bit of an Joint Chiefs of Staff, who advocates a re- women in the service. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps,
“That (omission) to me makes this unrealistic situation,” McCain told Adm. peal. “We’re on the front lines of a turning all of whom have expressed concerns
whole exercise here, that took so much Michael Mullen, the chairman of the The study found that 70% of those sur- point in American history,” says Sen. Jo- about repeal.
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