RANGEL’S SOLICITATION

Rep. Charles Rangel has written to lobbyists who represent corporate interests before the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, where he is the ranking Democrat, asking for contributions from $1,000 to $10,000 “to underwrite” his 75th birthday party.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and retired Gen. Wesley Clark will address the event starting at 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Tavern on the Green in Manhattan. “I would like to be able to list your name on the invitation,” Rangel said in his solicitation. He admonished the lobbyists to “fax the attached response sheet back to my office as soon as possible.”

Rangel, in his 18th term representing Harlem in Congress, needs no funds for his own re-election. He distributes funds to other Democratic candidates through his National Leadership Political Action Committee, augmenting his influence and power in the House.

Asking for bribes? Sounds unethical to me.

But since he’s not a Republican, it obviously isn’t.

Thank God.