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Tom Daschle - Page 2

I am glad that he did the right thing by withdrawing his name from the nomination.

Daschle Tom

Personally, if they were going to nail someone, it should have been the new Treasury Secretary. Remember, Timothy Geithner had tax issues as well that were just blown off and he is going to be dealing with money.

Edited: Vincenzo on 3rd Feb, 2009 - 10:54pm

Tom Daschle History & Civil Business Politics

I wouldn't say he "did the right thing", I'd say he had no choice and was backed into a corner, so to save face he backed out quickly. He would of done the right thing if he paid his taxes just like everyone else has to do.

Page 2 Daschle Tom

I wouldnt say that he had no choice. I honestly believe that if Obama kept his support and Daschle kept on, he would have won in the end. It would have been dirty and there would have been at least one more hearing on his finances...but he likely would have gotten in.

Source 5

Several senators still supported Daschle and even those that had lengthy discussions about his finances were OK with him and thought that he would prevail after a fight in confirmation. I agree that he would have likely been seated. I am not sure that all the senators want to make tax checks a fad...I suspect that many of them would fail. As a matter of fact, I would be interested to know how many amend their returns following this incident (after a respectful if not forgetful period of time).

This was all about saving Obama's face not Daschle's and for good reason.

Richarson, a Commerce Secretary nominee has to drop out because of inappropriate awarding of contracts to donors. That is a politics as usual infraction! Timmothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary, is nominatied and confirmed after having admitted to filing his taxes incorrectly/illegally/fraudulently...take your pick, but the fact is Geithner gets in and is in charge of MONEY! Remember, Obama promised a "new" Washington. This feels like old Washington. This guy better be great or this is going to keep coming back on Obama. Then we have Nancy Killefer, the Budget Secretary/Watchdog, but ooops...she forget how to properly file her taxes as well. Daschle has about 2 to 3 strikes against him as he took improper/fraudulent tax deductions, failed to report income and he was about as close to a lobbyist as one can get without being a lobbyist. Basically, he just didnt file to be a lobbyist and that is the difference. All those things are supposed to be swept clean from a Obama Administration, but yet there is a problem...

Team Obama knew about all these things yet nominated them anyway!

I love this quote that heard from Obama today on a interview...

When pushed about the mistake he made, he never actually comes out and admits what the mistake was but it was good to see that he knows the administration is send a very different message than the one that got them elected. What we have seen in the first 15 days is that Tax Cheats are ok, if they are good at their jobs. I also like the fact that he said prominent and not rich...which is what he really meant.

If I were Geithner, I would stay very low to the ground for the next month.

Out of all the articles I have read on this, I can say that I am actually saddened that Daschle did not clean up his act way earlier and get the job. I do think that he had the right knowledge for the job and as difficult as it is going to be to change the bohemath that is our healthcare system, we are going to need someone that understands not only healthcare, but how to get whatever it is through congressional approval. We need someone that has a passion for the job and not that this is just a punching of their card for their political career. I think that Daschle would have been well equipped to do that job. The fortunate part is that the job doesnt require a tax cheat and the Obama campaign promise (although can be lifted in cases and has) said it doesnt require lobbyist. He failed on both accounts there.

Daschle Tom

Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may: Mark Twain