10 Questions for Charles Rangel

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Last year you compared George W. Bush with Bull Connor, the civil rights--era police chief whose name is synonymous with racism. Do you regret that?

I have not chosen my words as carefully as I would want. It was my hope that, as Connor's act awakened Americans to racist policies that existed in the South, [after] the apparent lack of concern with Katrina, Americans would look at the question of poverty. I have been terribly disappointed.

Four blacks will chair committees in the new Congress, Massachusetts has its first African-American Governor, and Obama is a possible '08 candidate. Is this a new era for African Americans in politics?

There have been gradual increases in opportunity. Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell are examples as to the progress that has been made politically. But in terms of economic advancements, it has been far slower than the political advancements. It's hard to say it's a new era.

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