Posted on 02/05/2009 2:51:32 PM PST by seanmerc
“Nobody is perfect” was the not-so-profound observation of White House press secretary Robert Gibbs over the past several days as he tried to fend off criticism of the tax troubles of three top appointees.
One of the three -- Timothy Geithner -- survived congressional and public scrutiny and was confirmed as secretary of treasury.
But former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle -- who made a bundle in speaking fees and giving advice to health-care companies after he was defeated for re-election -- felt compelled to bow out from his nomination as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and White House czar for health-care reform.
Also bowing out was Nancy Killefer, President Barack Obama’s pick for the new post of chief White House performance officer. Killefer had problems with unpaid payroll taxes for a household employee.
Daschle was accused of owing the government more than $128,000 for use of a car and chauffeur that he thought had been gifts from a Democratic businessman with a large bank account.
“It was completely inadvertent,” Daschle said, “but that’s no excuse.”
Daschle withdrew his appointment Tuesday although many leading Democrats and former colleagues, including President Barack Obama, had rallied to his support.
Daschle -- feeling he faced long drawn-out confirmation hearings -- said he did not want to be a “distraction” from Obama’s agenda. Obama’s response to the unexpected withdrawals was a mea culpa. “Did I screw up in this situation? Absolutely. I’m willing to take my lumps,” Obama told NBC-TV in an interview.
Geithner also carried heavy tax baggage, after failing to pay all of his income taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund from 2001 to 2004. He described his failures as “careless mistakes.”
The irony is that as treasury secretary, he will now head the Internal Revenue Service.
It may be a grand awakening for Obama who had a smooth transition and an exuberant, historic inaugural. But Obama has run up against his own pious rhetoric, such as his promise to make a “clean break with the way Washington does business.”
Actually, almost all of his White House and Cabinet appointees are Beltway veterans, who are well-acquainted with the way Washington does business.
Daschle and others have suddenly encountered what has been dismissed as a “bump in the road,” but it is more than that. It’s a new look at the ethics of government service and a higher bar for those who aspire to leadership. Obama’s campaign rhetoric, for better or worse, brought on this new ethos.
I give Obama credit for trying to attain higher standards, especially after the painful shattering of our integrity and values during the Bush-43 years. The challenge for the new president is making it mesh with reality.
Contributing to this challenge is the economic meltdown (I call it a depression) which has spurred the American people to anger. They are particularly irked that their tax money is being used to pad the wallets of the high rollers and bankers on Wall Street.
The bailout billions already in bankers’ hands are supposed to bolster lending. Instead, some of the taxpayer bonanza has been used for executive bonuses.
Obama has denounced these handouts. Others have called them “outrageous” and the “height of irresponsibility.”
It seems that the grass roots are demanding more of their leaders. And it’s about time.
Daschle was a strong adviser in the Obama presidential campaign and is well liked by his former senatorial colleagues.
But he got trapped in the revolving door between his roles as a lawmaker and, later, as a savvy Washington industry enabler.
Obama also lost New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who he first named to be secretary of the Department of Commerce. Richardson had to step aside because of a grand jury investigation into state contacts given to his political donors.
Obama has now selected Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire to be commerce secretary.
The honeymoon is not exactly over for Obama with these personnel setbacks. It’s true nobody is perfect or above reproach. But I’ll bet that the next Obama appointees being vetted for high office will be asked if they have paid all their taxes.
There are so many barf-generating lines in this screed I wouldn’t know where to begin.
Help me Jesus that is rough.
The Horror The Horror ....
You just had to, didn’t you?
I was about to eat my dinner. I’ve lost my appetite.
I’d rather have the pictures of the White House raccoons, but THEY GOT PULLED!!!
Damn....
“It was completely inadvertent,” Daschle said, “but that’s no excuse.”He means getting caught...come on, these guys use a tax consultant/accountant to do their taxes. If he didn't claim it, it's because he was hiding it.
You know, it hit me that that photo must be pretty old now.
I wonder what she looks like today...
The article is actually fairly good.
You know, I tried to resist, but I simply couldn’t. Some material just presents itself.
Ugly is as ugly does.
I do believe she is the ugliest person I have ever seen who was not deformed or something.
Astonishing as it appears, she is even uglier on the inside.
Obama = Perfect Imperfection.
1-20-13: Øbama's last day
Thanks! I now have a new picture to change my friends wallpaper at work to.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.