A who’s who of Democratic officials turned out to celebrate scandal-scarred Rep. Charles Rangel’s 80th birthday last night — whooping it up as if he didn’t have an ethics charge in the world.
In fact, former Mayor David Dinkins, 83, went so far as to flip the bird to a protester who called Rangel a “crook” outside The Plaza hotel gala.
Not everyone matched Dinkins’ gusto, but the New York political establishment did turn out in force.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bloomberg all took turns at the mike to heap praise on the longtime Harlem legislator.
A jovial Gov. Paterson emceed the fund-raising bash and paid tribute to the embattled congressman’s “dedication to public service.”
Rangel lapped it up, telling the crowd, “This damn sure ain’t no funeral, is it?”
At the end of the festivities in the Grand Ballroom, an emotional Rangel told the audience, “Please remember me in your prayers. It helps.”
Rangel — who has been slapped with 13 ethics charges by the House ethics committee — called the occasion “an experience I’ll never, ever forget.
“I can’t tell you how moving this has been,” he said.
He left the stage dancing.
Less than half the state’s 27-member Democratic congressional delegation accepted invitations.
Carolyn Maloney — whose district borders Rangel’s — didn’t attend, but Paterson announced during the festivities that she wrote a $2,500 check.
In his remarks, Bloomberg took on the elephant in the room, joking that the no-shows “had to get a haircut unexpectedly, or they were sure they’d have a headache.”
Both Cuomo and Schumer praised Rangel for his devotion to the poor.
“He carried the banner for people long forgotten,” said Cuomo, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor.
Schumer said he was “grateful and thankful” for all that Rangel had done.
“He has fought for New York through thick and thin,” Schumer said.
Despite the high-profile no-shows — like Staten Island Rep. Mike McMahon — the room was packed with supporters, high profile and low. Rangel’s reps said they sold 800 tickets, which ranged in price from $200 to $5,000.
Earlier yesterday, Rangel boasted of success in his bid for a huge turnout. “Despite what the media wants you to believe, #BirthdayGala is sold out!” he wrote on Twitter.
Attendees dodged questions about Rangel’s ethics woes as they arrived.
When state Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith of Queens was asked if he feared his career would be damaged by appearing with Rangel, he said, “My career’s soaring high!”
Several of the VIPs, including Cuomo and Schumer, kept their intentions about attending to themselves until the last minute.
Former Sen. Al D’Amato, a Republican, was on hand, and said it was too soon to judge Rangel guilty.
“He’s entitled to a hearing,” said D’Amato, who received a welcoming hug from Paterson early in the evening.
Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton, who appeared in a video sent out last month with invitations to the gala, said he had to spend yesterday in Arkansas.
The video also promised a performance by Aretha Franklin, but she canceled after fracturing ribs in a fall.
She was replaced by Dionne Warwick, who led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” as Rangel’s cake was brought out.
When Warwick sang her smash hit “That’s What Friends are For,” she looked into Rangel’s eyes as she crooned, “In good times, in bad times.”
The party comes one day after a combative Rangel dared House colleagues to oust him.
“If I can’t get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot in getting rid of me through expulsion,” he said in a rambling, 37-minute speech.