Tom Daschle, an early Obama appointee for Secretary of Health and Human Services has withdrawn, according to the Associated Press.
Another Obama apointee, Nancy Killefer, also withdrew her name. Both have faced scrutiny for past tax problems.
From Times Online:
President Obama's promise of setting a new ethical standard for American politics took a knock today when his choices for budget enforcer and Health Secretary asked for their nominations to be withdrawn because of controversy over their personal tax records.Tom Daschle had struggled for the past three days to secure his confirmation in the health role, admitting that he had been left "deeply embarrassed" by his failure to pay $128,000 (£89,000) in taxes for a car and driver provided by a wealthy Democrat donor.
Today, just hours after Nancy Killefer withdrew from consideration as the Chief Performance Officer over a similar tax issue, Mr Daschle gave up the fight, saying that he did not want to be a "distraction" for the Administration as it sought to introduce universal healthcare.
I don't know much about Killefer, but the Daschle situation is disappointing, as it seemed he would be a good leader at HHS. We'll have to wait and see who Obama appoints next.
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Before you feel too bad about Daschle backing out, read this great article from Glenn Greenwald:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/02/01/daschle/index.html
Honestly I found that article offensive, particularly the language from the blog post quote. Calling Daschle a whore is unnecessary and over-the-top.
I'm sure there are critiques of Daschle to be made, but he has some good stances on things like repro rights.
Awful language aside, the article makes a good point. Daschle eats out of the health industry's palm. He was an awful choice, but not a surprising one (except to the millions who were confused into thinking Obama was a liberal and not a moderate).
I'm sure there are critiques of Daschle to be made, but he has some good stances on things like repro rights.
A good stance on reproductive rights doesn't mean a hill of beans if there is isn’t increased access to the healthcare. And, that is, or rather, was the problem with Daschle's nomination - it is well-known that he looks out for the interests of the insurance companies and big pharma before the interests of the American people when it comes to healthcare coverage. He opposes universal healthcare or any reforms that take money from those companies’ pockets.
It was an incredible disappointment to here that Daschle was the pick for HHS Secretary. Of course, it is part and parcel with what Obama has said all along (I was hoping that his stance on healthcare was just rhetoric to get in office and that, once elected, he would unveil a workable universal healthcare plan and appoint a HHS Secretary to oversee it…I was wrong, very, very wrong), but it was still disheartening. It really is a good thing he withdrew.
I've seen that article linked to before. I am glad I didn't read it, though. I cannot understand for the life of me what it is about being a woman that some find so offensive that they use our entire sex and our body parts as insults.
Most of all, I am disappointed in the President. It seems like his "stayed the course" for far too long after this was discovered. Where is the change that he promised? I'm disillusioned at his politics-as-usual approach. This isn't just Daschle, but Gov. Rchardson, Nancy Killefer, and Tim Geitner that leave me skeptical but still hopeful.
I am happy to write that I can now amend my previous comment. I was disappointed with the way in which President Obama handled the Daschle appointment, but I'm now prouder than ever.
This evening, the President has publicly taken responsibility for the nomination. He said that he was sending the wrong message about a standard "for powerful people and one for ordinary folks." This is clearly no long "staying the course," and, for that, I can breathe a sigh of relief.
I'm glad to hear that Obama took some responsibility! I work for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, and I have to say that I have a hard time taking someone's house away for owing less in taxes than Obama's cabinet members do.
There are lots of great people who would be great for the HHS who also follow the rule of law. Yes, people who don't pay taxes are violating the law! This isn't jaywalking -- it's bordering on tax evasion.
Now if only we can get a Treasury Secretary who pays his taxes!
It was my understanding that Geitner, at least, just made a mistake on his taxes a few years back, and while embarassing, he's not the first person to screw up a tax form.
With Daschle... I mean, he paid it back only a few weeks ago, and it was a ton more money, and... yeah, it's kind of nuts. But I am glad that he withdrew, as with Killefer: they realize that with whatever tax problems they have, they either won't be appointed or will be a scandal/detriment to Obama. As opposed to the last administration where I don't think being a crook was much of a deterrent for running a part of the government.
Unless someone is saying that Obama knew about these people's tax problems when he appointed them... cut the guy some slack. Other people having skeletons in their closet isn't exactly something he can assume.
Lets just wait until the new appointees comes up. But yeah, HHS tis crucially important right now, I hope the new person is good. :-/
So wait, that's THREE people Obama has appointed now who have had problems paying their taxes at some point? Seriously? If Obama doesn't know these things before he nominates them, I suggest that be the new first question he asks when considering someone for a post in his administration.
I keep reading that Daschle had a great stance on things like repro rights... didn't Feministe report that he had a 50% rating from NARAL not too long ago?
Thank heavens this guy is pulling out of the running. He's had his hand in the DC trough for about as long and as deep as anyone. Daschle's in bed with insurance companies and he knew about this tax issue for a while, only paying them off once this position came into question.
Would he be an experienced guy to run HHS? Yes. But we don't get to demand change with one hand and put guys like Daschle in positions of power with the other.
And all of this just sort of understates the ethics problems with a lot of Obama nominees. These men and women he's appointing have a nasty penchant for not paying their taxes. That's not what I voted for, nor was it what others voted for. Geitner may have made an honest mistake, but this guy is supposed to oversee the IRS! Why is it becoming unsurprising that Obama nominees are playing by a different rulebook than average Americans?
If these were John McCain appointments we'd be tearing him a new one, and we have to do the same here. We don't get to bemoan "Oh, he'd be good for the job if only he wasn't so corrupt." That's not change I can believe in.