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House Votes Overwhelmingly to Censure Charles Rangel

This video frame grab image provided by House Television shows Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., speaking of the floor of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

*Rep. Charles Rangel of New York has been censured by the House for financial and fundraising misconduct.

Thursday’s vote, 333-79, was only the 23rd time that the House invoked its most serious punishment short of expulsion. The solemn procedure called for Rangel to appear at the front of the chamber while Speaker Nancy Pelosi reads the censure resolution.

Moments after Pelosi’s somber reading of his punishment — Rangel, 80, briefly addressed his colleagues.

The 20-term Democrat said even though it was painful to accept the vote, he believed it reflected the political tide.

The Korean War veteran said “compared to where I’ve been I haven’t had a bad day since.”