With Rep. Charles Rangel facing ethics charges, Republican House candidate Joe Walsh reminds us of a particularly lame excuse from the person he seeks to replace, Melissa Bean:

While many other Democrats are rushing to dump campaign cash given by under-fire U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, Melissa Bean isn’t.

The Barrington Democrat says she won’t donate to charity the $28,000 she received between 2005 and 2007 from the New York congressman or from committees associated with him.

The money was given before Rangel was under investigation for ethics abuses, Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman pointed out. Plus, he says, the money has already been spent.

Bean hasn’t taken money from Rangel, former chairman of a powerful tax-writing committee, since 2007.

Bean’s position comes after U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Batavia and repeat Democratic House candidate Dan Seals of Wilmette decided to give their Rangel contributions to local charities.

Ma’am, you have $1.1 million on hand. You can afford to give $28,000 to some worthy cause to demonstrate you don’t want to take money from lawmakers facing ethics charges.