It was a dog-and-pony show for a cash cow.
See-no-evil politicians and community leaders came to the defense of tax-troubled Rep. Charles Rangel yesterday at a raucous gathering in Harlem orchestrated to show support for the embattled Democrat.
Reporters asking questions about Rangel’s checkered income-disclosure history were shouted down by a rowdy crowd chanting “Leave him alone!”
In what may be a sign of the mounting desperation of the Rangel camp, the public display of affection on 125th Street followed yet another spate of embarrassing admissions by the congressman regarding unreported earnings. Pressure is growing for him to step down from his post as chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and for the House Ethics Committee to conclude its yearlong probe of his finances.
Former Mayor David Dinkins even compared his support for his “brother Charlie” to the actions of the lone student who faced down a tank in Tiananmen Square in China in 1989.
“That’s what I would do for Charlie Rangel,” the one-time mayor said.
Instead of answering queries about the investigation and the litany of alleged ethical breaches, the cabal of Harlem pols and supporters took to the podium to sing Rangel’s praises.
“We have come here to support the architect of the Harlem Renaissance, the Purple Heart baron, the Lion of Harlem,” gushed Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights).
His flowery defense of Rangel also included a claim that a “campaign” had been launched against Rangel after the Democratic power broker became a vocal critic of the war in Iraq.
Former Bronx borough president and mayoral contender Fernando Ferrer, ignoring Rangel’s apparent amnesia when it comes to reporting assets and paying taxes on his rental incomes, offered another theory for the lawmaker’s woes: Republican envy.
“It must drive the Republicans crazy that Charlie Rangel is the chair of Ways and Means,” said Ferrer. “These Republican and partisan calls for him to step down are nonsense.”
A Post reporter was booed by the crowd after asking when Rangel planned to release his tax records for public scrutiny — a promise he made last year after The Post revealed he owed back taxes on his property in the Dominican Republic.
“Let the Ethics Committee take its course,” said Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Harlem). “Let’s not forget that he asked for this inquiry.”
Rangel didn’t show up to hear himself lauded, and organizers said they hadn’t expected him to attend.
Gov. Paterson indicated Friday that he would be there along with Rangel. But the event was taken off his schedule yesterday due to a “conflict,” Paterson’s handlers said.
Paterson was also a no-show at yesterday’s Labor Day Parade up Fifth Avenue — a surprise since the Democrat has heavy union backing.