Byron York: Geithner Can’t Explain His Failure to Pay Taxes

National Review Online ^ | January 19, 2009 | Byron York

[kellynla]

“This is the guy who heads up the IRS,” says the senator who is baffled by Geithner’s situation. “All the taxpayers look to him, and when he says, ‘Gee, I don’t know why’—does that become a defense?”

I'd like to see anybody else try this defense.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I wouldn't get too worked up by anything a RINO like Chuck Grassley says.

[Carley]

He cheated on his taxes ‘because he could’

Now where did we hear that excuse before???????

[EagleUSA]

Oh, this liberal crook know exactly WHY — he is a liar, cheat and a crook. Guess that normally just comes under the title of “LIBERAL DEMOCRAT”.

[oldbill]

What’s so difficult to explain?
He just wanted the money.
Duh!

[jalisco555]

“All the taxpayers look to him, and when he says, ‘Gee, I don’t know why’—does that become a defense?”

If you're a democrat, sure.

[Sacajaweau]

He was vetted and it was ignored.

Hillary was vetted and things were ignored.

Repeat as necessary....

[Servant of the Cross]

“Trying this defense” calls to mind one BJ Clinton who as POTUS said that it depends on what the meaning of “is” is, and got away with it.

[Major Matt Mason]

What a surprise - a wealthy liberal ducking tax payments. This shouldn't be surprising, as it fits in with the "Rules are for suckers" mantra favored by the DemocRat party.

[sweet_diane]

"“His explanation was kind of, ‘I don’t know—it was stupid, obviously it was a mistake, and I don’t know why I did it,’” recalls a senator who was present during Geithner’s surprise appearance before a members-only meeting of the Senate Finance Committee last week."

This is beyond sad. I'm flabbergasted, gobsmacked, floored.. yet I'm not surprised.

[sweet_diane]

"So why did Geithner not pay the taxes in question? There is no obvious answer. It could have been pure oversight—a “common mistake,” as the Obama transition team has called it."

Didn't Willie Nelson, and countless others, make similar mistakes?

[secret garden]

As Bob Dole would say “Where is the outrage?” Seriously, I am really upset about this and my party is standing around shuffling their feet.

[jackv]

All we hear is “well, he is so smart, blah, blah, blah...”

Yea, this guy is so smart he figured out how to get out of paying his taxes.

People are so stupid.

[Red in Blue PA]

“Geithner Can’t Explain His Failure to Pay Taxes “

I can. Leona Helms complex.

[trebb]

I'd like to see anybody else try this defense.

Just like Kalifornia's plan to send IOUs instead of refund checks. Can you imagine a citizen sending an IOU and claiming "tough times"?

Signs of things to come and the signs suck.

[dirtboy]

I'd like to see anybody else try this defense.

Heck, this should be the new economic stimulus package - call it the Geithner Plan. The US goverment will mail us all checks that are equal to our estimated federal tax liability for 2009. And we can spend them AND not pay our federal taxes as well. Think what wonders that would do for the dirtboy household economy.

If it's good enough for the head of the New York Fed and our incoming Treasury Secretary, it should be good enough for us. If it's not good enough for us, then why should Geithner become the Treasury Secretary?

One rule for them, and another rule for us. That is the key problem with DC and why they are oblivious to what the rest of the country is going through. And nothing will change as long as jerks like Geithner are just spun back into positions of power.

[Red in Blue PA]

“So why did Geithner not pay the taxes in question? There is no obvious answer. It could have been pure oversight—a “common mistake,” as the Obama transition team has called it.”

I’m gonna use this the next time the IRS comes knocking on my door and see how it works.

[Doc Savage]

Come on Byron. He thought he could get AWAY with it!!!!!! If he hadn’t been nominated he NEVER would have paid.

[Servant of the Cross]

If you're a democrat, sure.

That's true. A list should be made of all the Rats who have done things that would get a Republican immediately impeached (or never elected in the first place): William Clinton, William Jefferson, Rod Blagojevich, Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd, Harry Reid, Charles Rangel, Rahm Emanuel, Barney Frank, Ray Nagin, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Eliot Spitzer, Tim Mahoney, Bill Richardson ... and I know this only scratches the surface!

[Joann37]

“He was vetted and it was ignored.
Hillary was vetted and things were ignored.

Repeat as necessary....”

That’s what I’m thinking. Conservative writers have been stating all week that Hillary should have been grilled re: so many issues regarding her husband’s contacts, yet she got a pass. Sounds like this guy is on the same path.