Yep. This Obama has his finger on the pulse of things.
Yet another cabinet pick is clouded by tax evasion issues, and it's not even April 15th yet..
As Tom Daschle, President Barack Obama's pick to become the head of the Health and Human Services Department, heads into a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Finance Committee, his political future hangs in the balance.Days ago, Obama administration officials disclosed that Daschle failed to report on his taxes the use of a chauffeured limousine totaling more than $255,000, which was provided by InterMedia Advisors LLP, a private-equity firm run by a wealthy New York investor.
Because of it, Daschle had to pay back taxes and interest totaling a "jaw-dropping" $140,000.
Since then, questions have swirled about Daschle's decision to wait nearly a month after being nominated to disclose the accounting errors. And critics have pounced on details of his financial disclosure report, which shows Daschle made nearly $5.3 million in the past two years, including $220,000 in speaking fees from health-related organizations.
Appearing on CBS' Face The Nation, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would take a "wait-and-see" approach as to Daschle's nomination, calling the tax issues a "surprise."
Daschle released a letter today, apologizing to the Senate Finance Committee for mistakes on his personal income tax returns that resulted in $146,000 in back payments.
"I disclosed this information to the Committee voluntarily, and paid the taxes and any interest owed promptly," Daschle wrote. "My mistakes were unintentional."
And Obama said today that he "absolutely" stands by the former Senate majority leader and South Dakota lawmaker."
That's some vetting process. Ethical charges against Richardson, Geithner, Browner, Clinton, and now this dufus.
I feel very hopeful about our future.
You just can't make this stuff up.
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Comments (31)
Paying taxes is for the lit... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jason | February 2, 2009 8:00 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Paying taxes is for the little people. Obama's people aren't little people.
http://www.rightklik.net/
1. Posted by Jason | February 2, 2009 8:00 PM |
Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:00
2. Posted by Falze | February 2, 2009 8:01 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
I'm not seeing anything about him being charged penalties, either, like Geithner. Interesting. He did apologize, though, which is basically a 'get out of trouble' free card for liberals.
2. Posted by Falze | February 2, 2009 8:01 PM |
Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:01
3. Posted by Do Tell | February 2, 2009 8:22 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
We wouldn't want the law to stop progress would we... In the name of anything ant-bush... People are willing to accept anything. Pathetic!
3. Posted by Do Tell | February 2, 2009 8:22 PM |
Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:22
4. Posted by CZ | February 2, 2009 8:41 PM | Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
My favorite Daschle line came from William Crystal who said yesterday, "He's a limousine liberal who won't pay taxes on his limousine."
Yep, more proof that there ARE two Americas.
4. Posted by CZ | February 2, 2009 8:41 PM |
Score: 12 (12 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:41
5. Posted by Dave W | February 2, 2009 8:48 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
whats ridiculous is that nobody cares...
5. Posted by Dave W | February 2, 2009 8:48 PM |
Score: 9 (9 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:48
6. Posted by John | February 2, 2009 9:01 PM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Hat tip to John Pitney at NRO who found this:
"Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter. " Sen. Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, May 7, 1998, p. S4507.
6. Posted by John | February 2, 2009 9:01 PM |
Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:01
7. Posted by glenn | February 2, 2009 9:04 PM | Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
All you folks who think Little Tom would have paid up had he not been nominated to the Obama cabinet raise your hand.
7. Posted by glenn | February 2, 2009 9:04 PM |
Score: 13 (13 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:04
8. Posted by John | February 2, 2009 9:11 PM | Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
"All you folks who think Little Tom would have paid up had he not been nominated to the Obama cabinet raise your hand."
Quite interesting is it not? Daschle, Geitner, Franken, Rangel, all of them never caught their "mistake" until it was brought to light.
To put what Biden said in context, they didn't pay their taxes, they are not patriotic.
8. Posted by John | February 2, 2009 9:11 PM |
Score: 14 (14 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:11
9. Posted by DaveD | February 2, 2009 9:38 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Speaking of Biden, when he warned that Obama would be severely tested in the first 6 months of his presidency I thought he meant something other than an inability to find a minimum number of clean Democrats to fill positions in his administration.
9. Posted by DaveD | February 2, 2009 9:38 PM |
Score: 10 (10 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:38
10. Posted by Burt | February 2, 2009 9:44 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
I recall Tom Daschle as Senate Majority Leader doing his photo-op with the Lexus and the Catalytic Converter on the Capitol lawn. His point was that the wealthy would get enough for a Lexus with their tax break while Joe the plumber and I were only going to get enough for the catalytic converter. Seems now he has his Lexus and he expects the rest of us to buy him three more Lexuses (or is that Lexi?)
10. Posted by Burt | February 2, 2009 9:44 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 21:44
11. Posted by JLawson | February 2, 2009 11:13 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
How many more little bits like this are there waiting to be uncovered? These are the clowns who are making the laws we're supposed to obey, and they can't even be bothered to observe them? Anyone else see a trend with all this garbage?
When the hell did we create an aristocratic class that sets the rule for us lowly common folk but are exempt from them themselves?
11. Posted by JLawson | February 2, 2009 11:13 PM |
Score: 7 (7 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 23:13
12. Posted by alphadog
| February 2, 2009 11:46 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I am not so naive that I didn't think the Senate (especially) and the House were both old boys clubs,but the way they are rubbing my nose in this "An apology with no consequences is good enough for me to skate on through!" approach to "good" government makes me sick to my stomach. The amount that Daschle cheated on in taxes is more than most people make in a year.
Where did the people go that believed that honor and integrity were an integral part of government service? As far as I can tell, they don't gravitate to the top anymore.
12. Posted by alphadog
| February 2, 2009 11:46 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 2, 2009 23:46
13. Posted by davey | February 3, 2009 12:45 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Video of the good Senator talking about tax cheats... http://www.c-spanarchives.org/flash/player-time.html?start=1998-05-07%2017:13:31&stop=1998-05-07%2017:13:38&net=2
13. Posted by davey | February 3, 2009 12:45 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 00:45
14. Posted by SillyPuddy | February 3, 2009 12:48 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Lost in the space of the White House.
14. Posted by SillyPuddy | February 3, 2009 12:48 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 00:48
15. Posted by BlueNight | February 3, 2009 2:12 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Wouldn't it be wild if he was a Secret Republican?
Voting for all that liberal stuff in Congress so that he could get to the White House, then turn the government around by exposing the massive corruption in the ranks of the Democratic Party?
Getting most Democrats to sign on to the stimulus plan, with no Republican support, and then vetoing the whole shebang?
A Manchurian Candidate we can believe in!
15. Posted by BlueNight | February 3, 2009 2:12 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 02:12
16. Posted by Bruce Henry | February 3, 2009 6:28 AM | Score: -7 (9 votes cast)
This is slightly off topic, but while we're on the subject of Cabinet appointments, I'd like to remind the Baron (if he's listening) that he promised to post "I was wrong" if Obama nominated a non-Hispanic to Commerce.
16. Posted by Bruce Henry | February 3, 2009 6:28 AM |
Score: -7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 06:28
17. Posted by Maggie Mama | February 3, 2009 7:46 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Obama can't seem to live without Daschle. Apparently the people of South Dakota had NO PROBLEM voting Daschle out of office. I'll go with their opinion before Obama's.
17. Posted by Maggie Mama | February 3, 2009 7:46 AM |
Score: 6 (8 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 07:46
18. Posted by WildWillie | February 3, 2009 8:10 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
The new mantra from Obama's people: "nobody's perfect". So understanding. Barry is a joke. ww
18. Posted by WildWillie | February 3, 2009 8:10 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 08:10
19. Posted by John | February 3, 2009 10:31 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Seems like some people are forgetting that Daschle is a serial tax cheat. Hat tip to William Jacobson and Michelle Malkin.
Daschle the Dodger
This is exactly what liberal Robert Wexler is doing right here in Maryland. Claims his residence is with his in-laws in Florida while living in Rockville. Robert Wexler is another unpatriotic liberal.
19. Posted by John | February 3, 2009 10:31 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 10:31
20. Posted by John | February 3, 2009 10:46 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Breaking!!!
Via BreitBart.com, the Performance Czar Killefer withdrew...BECAUSE SHE FAILED TO PAY TAXES.
Performance Czar Withdraws Nomination
Hope and Change we can believe in...seems more and more like liberals don't like to be patriotic, right Biden?
20. Posted by John | February 3, 2009 10:46 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 10:46
21. Posted by JLawson | February 3, 2009 11:14 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Yeah, it's starting to look like a real trend.
What the hell - aren't there ANY Democrats inside the Beltway who pay their damn taxes?
21. Posted by JLawson | February 3, 2009 11:14 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 11:14
22. Posted by Ron EagleHeart | February 3, 2009 11:21 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And yet another clean find of the Obama organization Nancy Killefer Has TAX problems and withdrew her name as Chief Performance Officer.
What does it take to be clean and squeaky in the new Administration????????????
22. Posted by Ron EagleHeart | February 3, 2009 11:21 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 11:21
23. Posted by geminichuck | February 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
They are all a bunch of liars: In Obama's 43 page questionaire for all incoming officers & appointees, they were asked if they had ever done anything that would embarrass the new administration. So they either lied or have no sense at all. They probably all own guns also.
23. Posted by geminichuck | February 3, 2009 11:26 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 11:26
24. Posted by btenney | February 3, 2009 12:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Make no mistake. If Obama continues to ignore Ethical and Legal lapses by his Appointees it will slowly but surely undermine the unwarranted confidence his Supporters hold for Him.
Already Biden seems to have become the Front Man for the Administration, While the unusually silent Hillary seems to have been Marginalized.
24. Posted by btenney | February 3, 2009 12:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 12:10
25. Posted by bryanD | February 3, 2009 12:20 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Local radio interview this morning of McCain and Coburn together. Speaking first, McCain is prone to let Daschle slide in his tax avoidance. Coburn corrects the record as Daschle has admitted de facto tax EVASION viz Daschle's own mis-use of TurboTax2003.
McCain refuses to stand corrected. I think he mentally checks out of the interview.
Tuned to C-SPAN,
Cueing "Yes! We Have No Bananas!"
25. Posted by bryanD | February 3, 2009 12:20 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 12:20
26. Posted by Aye Chihuahua | February 3, 2009 12:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Daschle's out.
Darn it.
The fun was just beginning.
26. Posted by Aye Chihuahua | February 3, 2009 12:57 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 12:57
27. Posted by _Mike_ | February 3, 2009 1:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dear Pres. Obama:
I'd like to exercise my 14th Amendment right for equal treatment under the Law - I too would like to enroll in the "not pay my taxes but if caught simply apologize and then pay them with a little interest" plan. Please send details on how to participate.
P.S. I'd also like to be pre-pardoned for anything else I might decide to do at a later date. Thanks!
27. Posted by _Mike_ | February 3, 2009 1:00 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 13:00
28. Posted by JLawson | February 3, 2009 3:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
BrianD -
The guy was making HOW much a year, and depending on one software package, with no independent checking?
Man, if I were making that much, in a highly visible position, I'd be DAMN sure to make certain my taxes were bulletproof.
28. Posted by JLawson | February 3, 2009 3:35 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 15:35
29. Posted by Brian Richard Allen
| February 3, 2009 3:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Somebody please issue them all state dachas and armor plated ZIS-110s and build them special lanes down the middle of every street and highway.
The Euro-peons' Neo-Soviet has been replicated in America!
Brian Richard Allen
Los Angeles - CalifUBAMAOcated 90028 and the Far Abroad
29. Posted by Brian Richard Allen
| February 3, 2009 3:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 15:44
30. Posted by bryanD | February 3, 2009 4:18 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
JLawson,
The devil's in the details. TurboTax had to have been over-ridden personally. Zing! Evasion.
30. Posted by bryanD | February 3, 2009 4:18 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 3, 2009 16:18
31. Posted by JLawson | February 4, 2009 9:15 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Makes you wonder if he did his own taxes or had someone put in the figures off a spreadsheet he provided...
31. Posted by JLawson | February 4, 2009 9:15 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 4, 2009 09:15