The NY Times Wants Daschle Withdrawal.

TheHat · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 05:17 AM

Uh-oh. The big dogs of liberalism are starting to see through Daschle. Which is a world wonder all to its own. Liberals hardly ever eat their own, so this is a Hope Diamond Jem right here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/op...er=rss&emc=rss

Quote:

The Travails of Tom Daschle

When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues.

Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked in the private sector — that call into question his suitability for the job. We believe that Mr. Daschle ought to step aside and let the president choose a less-blemished successor.

Mr. Daschle’s tax shortfall is particularly troubling because it comes on the heels of another nominee’s failure to pay taxes due. We were not pleased when the president’s Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, admitted that he had failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in federal self-employment taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund despite having signed paperwork acknowledging the obligation.

Now we are confronted with an even larger lapse by Mr. Daschle, who failed to pay $128,000 in taxes, primarily for personal use of a car and driver provided to him by a private equity firm for which he consulted. Although the firm — headed by a major Democratic donor — had not issued a form 1099 for the value of the car service, Mr. Daschle said he became concerned last June that he might owe taxes on it and instructed his accountant to investigate. Neither was concerned enough to actually pay the taxes.

Only after the Obama transition team flagged unrelated tax issues that would require filing amended returns did Mr. Daschle and his accountant address the need to report the personal use value of the car service — more than $255,000 over three years — as income. Only after he had been chosen to be the health secretary did Mr. Daschle tell the transition team about the unpaid taxes. He paid some $140,000 in back taxes and interest on Jan. 2 to settle several tax problems — and he acknowledges owing more.

In both the Geithner and Daschle cases, the failure to pay taxes is attributed to unintentional oversights. But Mr. Daschle is one oversight case too many. The American tax system depends heavily on voluntary compliance. It would send a terrible message to the public if we ignore the failure of yet another high-level nominee to comply with the tax laws.

Mr. Daschle’s financial ties to major players in the health care industry may prove to be even more troublesome as health reform efforts proceed. Like many former power players in Washington, Mr. Daschle cashed in on his political savvy and influence to earn $5 million in recent years, including more than $2 million from Alston & Bird, a law and lobbying firm; more than $2 million from the private equity firm, InterMedia Advisors, which provided the car and driver; and hundreds of thousands of dollars for speeches to interest groups, including those representing health insurance plans, medical equipment distributors and pharmacy boards.

Although Mr. Daschle was not a registered lobbyist, he offered policy advice to the UnitedHealth Group, a huge insurance conglomerate. He was also a trustee of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, on whose behalf he voiced opposition to a federal loan for a freight rail line near the clinic’s headquarters in Rochester, Minn. The loan was subsequently denied by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Mr. Daschle is another in a long line of politicians who move cozily between government and industry. We don’t know that his industry ties would influence his judgments on health issues, but they could potentially throw a cloud over health care reform. Mr. Daschle could clear the atmosphere by withdrawing his name.

The Jovial One · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 05:25 AM

Yes, Mr. Hat, I know how it looks to indoctrinated idealogues who will excuse any amount of sleaze, tax cheatery, felonies, misdemeanor public bathroom toe tapping, whore-mongering and diaper-wearing and underage boy (*)(*)(*)(*)ing when it's done by republicans...

But whaddya know? Some of us are saying "enough!" to all that.

Hang on. You're gonna see LOTS of changes.

puffin · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 05:28 AM

TD lost his political virginity decades ago. For him and all other career politicians, whatever the party whatever the government level "Truth Is Nothing But An Undiscovered Lie".
Of course the tragedy is that the poor suckers who must pay the taxes and gulp back the outrage when the politicians seem to be genetically predisposed to screw up everything they touch, have to put up with them.

ardita · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHat

Uh-oh. The big dogs of liberalism are starting to see through Daschle. Which is a world wonder all to its own. Liberals hardly ever eat their own, so this is a Hope Diamond Jem right here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/op...er=rss&emc=rss

There's an incredible irony that one of the Dems most pious has been brought to his knees. Methinks he** is freezing over as the venerated liberal mouthpiece, the NYT, is calling for his head on a platter. What next? Will someone possibly call the Messiah on his ethics reform hippocracy? Say it isn't so! Somebody wasn't listening in grammar class the day the definition of "CHANGE" was given! Filling one's administration with previous era cronies if certainly not change, nor is appointing any with less than spotless records.

TheHat · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardita

There's an incredible irony that one of the Dems most pious has been brought to his knees. Methinks he** is freezing over as the venerated liberal mouthpiece, the NYT, is calling for his head on a platter. What next? Will someone possibly call the Messiah on his ethics reform hippocracy? Say it isn't so! Somebody wasn't listening in grammar class the day the definition of "CHANGE" was given! Filling one's administration with previous era cronies if certainly not change, nor is appointing any with less than spotless records.

I dont know how Obama can call what he is doing "ethics reform". He said no lobbyists, then hired 1 or 2 and gave them exclusions from the rule. Then he appointed a tax cheat to lead the IRS. Now we have another tax cheat trying to get confirmed, and Obama says he stands by him.

ardita · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Jovial One

Why would anyone challenge Jesus on his ethi....

Oh. Wait. ANOTHER deadender and sore loser who thinks Obama is the Messiah.

I had hoped the posters on this forum had taken a little time to grow up and stop whining.

"I don't wanna grow up, I'm a neo-con kid...."

camp_steveo · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:22 AM

Yo Hat,

Check out TD's comments regarding the enforcement of IRS laws from May 1998:

link: ‘98 Flashback: Daschle Pushes For No Mercy Prosecution Of Tax Cheats

TD: "Make no mistake. Tax cheaters cheat us all. The IRS should enforce our laws to the letter."

JP5 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:31 AM

I haven't been able to confirm yet, but heard one of the news commentators say this morning that some 5 newspapers had called for Daschle's withdrawal. IF true, this would be good news.

I'm beginning to think that Daschle is toast! And IF the Dems do go ahead and vote him in, I think it will be a huge mistake on their part as I doubt Daschle will have the full backing he would need from the public to move forward on a massive healthcare change.

TheHat · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP5

I haven't been able to confirm yet, but heard one of the news commentators say this morning that some 5 newspapers had called for Daschle's withdrawal. IF true, this would be good news.

I'm beginning to think that Daschle is toast! And IF the Dems do go ahead and vote him in, I think it will be a huge mistake on their part as I doubt Daschle will have the full backing he would need from the public to move forward on a massive healthcare change.

Well the bad thing is, even if his name gets withdrawn, he will still get a postion at a lesser level, or as a lobbyist again. Fact is, he isnt going to go away regardless.

stekim · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHat

Well the bad thing is, even if his name gets withdrawn, he will still get a postion at a lesser level, or as a lobbyist again. Fact is, he isnt going to go away regardless.

BINGO! Which is why none of this matters a lick.

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