Much that is wrong with Congress was well illustrated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s inability to answer a straightforward question about the ethical lapses of one of her most powerful members. Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News asked Pelosi on Sunday whether House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel should have known it was a violation of ethics rules to accept Caribbean trips paid for by special interests.Here’s the exchange:

“VARGAS: The Ethics Committee on Charles Rangel said that he has violated the House gift rule.