Huh? Obviously, Daschle was trying to hide a lot!
President Obama’s choice for health secretary, Tom Daschle, was aware as early as last June that he might have to pay back taxes for the use of a car and driver provided by a private equity firm, but did not inform the Obama transition team until weeks after Mr. Obama named him to the health secretary’s post, senior administration officials said Saturday.
I guess Gibbs means that nobody is trying to hide anything
now... now that what they were trying to hide has been brought to light and there's no way to hide it.
"I think Senator Daschle rightly is going to have to answer questions, but I think members will be satisfied with the answers that he gives and will understand that he’s the right man for the job."
Why will members be satisfied with the answers? Because there's always an exception whenever we really, really want there to be an exception? Do you think Gibbs is a good enough bullshitter to be press secretary? It's not a stand-up comedy slot.
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58 comments:
Some accounting questions:
Exactly what was Daschle doing to earn $1M a year as a "consultant?"
Sounds like a pay off for past political favors to me.
And how did the Daschles' get a penalty waiver? How, how, how...
To his credit, Mr. Gibbs has a delivery that would make Bob Newhart proud.
So was Daschle prepared to pay those taxes if he hadn't been nominated?
We now know that only the little people (i.e. those not nominated by Obama to serve in his administration)
pay all their taxes.
What worries me about Daschle is that his financial disclosure report shows that in the last two years, he received $2.1 million from the lobbying arm of Alston & Bird, a law firm. I do not think that Daschle is a lawyer and though he is not a registered lobbyist, what he was doing for that law firm was LOBBYING. Strategic Advisor must be the new code name for LOBBYIST.
The pols are skating on thin ice. Rubbing the face of the governed into the sanctimonious double standard of moral equivalence and expediency could have unforeseen consequences for their power play.
Situational ethics will be the downfall of the democrats. Their mouthpiece, Robert Glibbs, make that Gibbs, is losing credibility as he provides cover for scofflaws infecting our government. He underestimates the intelligence of the majority of Americans be they democrat or republican.
How long will take for the press to quit their adoration of Obama and start laughing at this crap? How many appointments who haven't paid their taxes will it take? This many clueless people in the cabinet doesn't bode well for the country.
Leona Helmsley was right, "Only the little people pay taxes."
Update:
Daschle may have other tax problems with some other benefits.
Daschle will have to RE-amend his tax returns because he forgot to pay all of his MEDICARE taxes!
Daschle waited six months to amend his tax returns (after he was picked for the nomination).
Smells, smells very bad.
Isn't this more about Daschle being a former member of that very exclusive club, the Senatate, of which, they are currently a part? If he wasn't, they wouldn't be giving him the time of day, I suspect.
(the other kev)
Watching Gibbs at work makes me yearn for the smooth self-assurance and commanding presence of Scott McClellan.
This is one of those things that just infuriates me. It is offensive. My husband and I loathe paying taxes but, by god, we do it to the letter. This business of these politicians giving themselves exceptions to the rules makes suckers of us all.This bothers me sooo much that I would probably join a march to protest Daschle being considered for a cabinent position. How crazy is that?!! To quote Clint Eastwood in Grand Torino, "GRRRR".
Well, I'm doing my taxes on the new 1040dem form this year. It's even easier than the 1040EZ, the only IRS form that can be filled out with a crayon. With the 1040dem, you just take the form, wad it up, and throw it away. One caveat: you have to fill out a Schedule OOPS if you ever get nominated for a high visibility position.
DaveG: That is hysterical!
And how did the Daschles' get a penalty waiver? How, how, how...
Don't get me started. I have to deposit payroll taxes weekly online through my bank.
I got hit with a 10% late deposit penalty after mistakenly clicked the last day of the following month instead of the last day of current month.
I sent the IRS a letter with the documentation to prove it along with 1% interest.
On Friday I got the response. "Sorry, we can't waive the penalty because although you show it was not wilfull, you have not shown reasonable cause. You still owe $700 for the penalty."
Kev got quoted on Instapundit.
It is time to go Steve Martin on the government.
I wonder what excuses the O-roids will offer up for the obvious double standard and corrupt hypocracy of their guys?
Daschle is a conservative politician. Conservative politicians almost always are corrupt. There's no surprise here.
And there it is, calling one of the Senates biggest libs a "conservative'. Thanks for a laugher, libtard.
"Obama press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Daschle: "The president believes that nobody is perfect, but that nobody is trying to hide anything.""
Daschle should be replaced by this Nobody guy. He sounds perfect for the job.
White House Press secretaries seem to be chosen for there ability to look like a bewildered dork, to appear as nonthreatening or as non-masculine as possible.
Check out the list, remember some of these?
Interesting that the person chosen to speak for the most powerful man in the world is usually some misshapen doofus.
Except Dana Perino who obviously can't focus on the reporters insipid question because she's dreaming about me.
Joe Biden says paying more taxes is patriotic. So why do the Democrats keeping putting unpatriotic people like Daschle, Geithner and Rangel in positions of authority?
libhom,
On what planet is Daschle considered a conservative?
"Why will members be satisfied with the answers ..."
Because Obama wants him. That's all you need to know, Ann.
"We won."
What about "we won" don't you understand?
Democrats won, so they're going to be in charge. And if they evade taxes ... well, remember what they say:
We have a voluntary tax system.
Tom is just now willing to volunteer, where before, he wasn't.
So, suck it, sweetie. You helped elect the guy.
"Kev got quoted on Instapundit."
Kev is famous now.
But he still has to pay his taxes.
Hmmm.....why don't we all grab a pitchfork & torch and march on The Capitol!
Our cute little Congress critters have not yet grasped the deadly seriousness of the situation they helped to create.
Prof. Althouse, I think Florida has exactly the answer to your pre-election support for Barack Obama.
Madison is only a 3 hour drive from Chicago. Surely in all that time you must have heard something about Chicago Democratic politics and politicians? The only difference between Richard Daley and the lamentable Blagojevich is that if the Feds ever tried to investigate Daley and his machine they'd all wind up at the bottom of the Chicago River with cinder blocks tied to their feet (those that weren't a mile out in Lake Michigan, anyway).
That's the political culture that Barack Obama chose to join, and where he thrived. I can't imagine that he even understands what the fuss is all about -- by Chicago Democrat standards a little tax chiseling is pretty small stuff.
"libhom,
On what planet is Daschle considered a conservative?"
On Planet Libhom, where even Che is suspected of harboring "NeoCon" tendencies.
$100K to cover the tax on the value of Daschle's transportation? Ridiculous. Time to throw Daschle under the bus he should have taken, instead.
Damn even FLS is pissed at Daschle. That is a harbinger. It means Daschle will see the bus's undercarriage real soon!
Keep in mind. These really ARE the best people the Democratic Party had to offer. You the voters said so.
AJ Lynch said...
Hmmm.....why don't we all grab a pitchfork & torch and march on The Capitol!
Screw the pitchforks.
When and where.....
The double standard is breath taking.
The ordinary self employed or W-2 wage slave peon who works his ass off for a living and who's percentage share of taxes to income has to pay his Federal and State taxes or face liens on property and seizure of bank accounts. Ruined credit and bankruptcy.
On the other hand the elite political insiders, can "forget" to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for years and years with no consequences. No tax liens. No ruined credit.
No no no. In fact. They are rewarded with more tax payer funded jobs and perks. No pesky tax returns or audits.
Now they want to take the hard earned money from tax payers and fund all kinds of porky projects in this second so-called stimulus bill. This is going to put the nail in the coffin of the economy. Hyper inflation here we come.
I predict a tax revolt if not a REAL revolt. I would like to start with San Fran Nan and string her up. Seriously. Not kidding.
Oh looky, Chris Dodd.
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Democrats by Rank
Edward Kennedy (MA)
Christopher Dodd (CT)
Tom Harkin (IA)
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Jack Reed (RI)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Kay Hagan (NC)
Jeff Merkley (OR)
0
Republicans by Rank
Michael B. Enzi (WY)
Judd Gregg (NH)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Richard Burr (NC)
Johnny Isakson (GA)
John McCain (AZ)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Tom Coburn, M.D. (OK)
Pat Roberts (KS)
We [tax cheats] Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For.
These are the same people who are questioning what the word is, is.
What can Gibbs do?
Two weeks into the "change" from "politics as usual," he is sent out to defend the indefensible with transparent spin and half truths.
Perhaps it should be a comedy act. Get Robin Williams to be Press Secretary and baffle the press with comedy. Why should they be the only clowns in the room?
Prof.Althouse,
I have been following your blog and i know that you are not a hard-core/blind Obama supporter, even though you picked him over McCain.
So what is it that you feel President Obama should do.?
He obviously had no problems with Geithner's tax problems. With Richardson, he did not do the due diligence before nominating him for Commerce Secretrary.
With Daschle, he has now taken the "no one is perfect" lame excuse.
So at what point do Obama supporters wake up and take notice that their man does not really have high ethical standards for his Cabinet appointments ? especially for some one who talked about "change" and the new kind of politics ??
How low is the bar now ? As long as you have'nt been sentenced to jail before ?
How come Obama gets a pass on this ? I understand and expect that from his MSM. and from hard core supporters like one of my friends who wondered how Richardson thought that he "could get away" - (notice how he never question's Obama's judgement on the Richardson fiasco.)
Also, for those people who may be interested in things like these, Obama has signed an executive order to continue with the program of rendition for terrorists/suspects.
Change you can hope to believe in ?
re: Screw the Pitchforks, workable link hopefully:
Screw the Pitchforks
My husband keeps muttering "Live free or die. . ." under his breath. This is going to be a looong four years.
I wonder what President Obama is doing right now?
Surfing the internets and reading the Althouse blog and especially my comments?
Or perhaps boarding Air Force One for a flight to Kentucky?
Or napping on the couch and then falling off because he choked on a pretzel?
Or discussing if it is possible to find a squeaky-clean Cabinet nominee to replace Daschle (who has been a lobbyist himself?)?
Or just texting his friends with his Blackberry?
"These really ARE the best people the Democratic Party had to offer. You the voters said so."
And sadly, their Republican colleagues appear to have no problem with this to date. In the interest of "comity" and providing the new administration with a quick path to staffing up (unlike, say, 8 years ago), they're fast becoming a tragicomedy instead.
In DC, apparently, "Voter" is the butt of all the jokes.
When's Rove testifying? What is he hiding?
Or Cheney? Who was at the energy meeting with Cheney? What is he hiding?
Pot calling the kettle black.
AJ Lynch said..."I wonder what President Obama is doing right now?"
Well, unlike yourself, his hands aren't down his pants.
And the W-H-I-N-J-N-G continues.
Obama WON.
YOU and the rest of the wingnuts...LOST.
GET OVER IT.
The Repubs may be hoping that everytime Geithner or Daschle are mentioned or seen, people will think "tax cheater," and vote accordingly.
The S-P-E-L-L-J-N-G lessons ought to continue as well.
DAVE - If a typo is all you've got...it proves my point.
Try this one on for size:
A-S-S-H-O-L-E.
Shorter Michael,
It is okay for Democrats to lie, cheat, and steal because REPUBLICANS are evil.
Michael, your comment defines *YOU*, not Dave. Therefore, go back to your blankey and corner and resume sucking your thumb while the adults discuss Democrat MALFEASANCE here.
Plagiarizing Michael is such a hoot!
libhom,
On what planet is Daschle considered a conservative?
Obviously, on the lib-homeworld.
"And the W-H-I-N-J-N-G continues.
Obama WON.
YOU and the rest of the wingnuts...LOST.
GET OVER IT.'
Hmm, I wonder how long this sort of comment will continue? Seems to have a limited shelf-life, and most of the other customers in that particular store are already avoiding it. But not our Gene-Michael. A little bit of mold never bothered him.
Are the democrats so drunk with power they do not see the danger of ramming through an unpopular, partisan, boondoggle, spending package on top of sheltering tax cheats during a serious economic recession? I understand the republicans look like chumps, but this is getting ridiculous.
DBQ said...On the other hand the elite political insiders, can "forget" to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for years and years with no consequences. No tax liens. No ruined credit.
you'll appreciate these true storys. my wife use to work for the IRS:
1. as a condition of employment (except apparently the Politicals), IRS employees sign a statement agreeing to have their taxes audited.
2. on april 16th (at least during Reagan years) they ran file compare between "Tax returns filed" and "Payroll Names" any non matches in the payroll file got to see their boss ASAP
Now my suggestion to raise taxes, cut workload and improve morale.
Each election, they publish the "Plum book" listed political jobs
every President sets up a www site, asking for folks to send resumes in.
yeah, I know there isn't a match between those resumes and Plum book fills, but stay with me.
Add a certificate on the www site, stating that as a conditin of submitting the resume, I acknowledge that I owe no taxes and agree to have my taxes audited for the last 5 years.
benefits :)
1. raises revenue
2. cuts down resumes submitted
3. sets the proper tone
VeniVidiVici said:
"And sadly, their Republican colleagues appear to have no problem with this to date."
There are probably some prominent Republicans who haven't been paying their taxes either.
And what's funny is if a brouhaha got started about who is and isn't paying their taxes, you can bet the GOPers would be forced to resign in disgrace even as Geithner and Daschle move into their new offices.
"On what planet is Daschle considered a conservative?"
- - - -
On the same planet on which Obama is considered a moderate Democrat.
- or -
On planets on which the words "liberal" and "conservative" retain their classical meanings.
"YOU and the rest of the wingnuts...LOST. GET OVER IT."
Now pay your taxes, wingnuts.
Because we don't.
Daschle should be replaced by this Nobody guy. He sounds perfect for the job.
I'm ready, willing and able! Plus, I need a job.
Professor, you might want to rethink that "Obama scandals" tag. You might want to break it down into 5 or 6 different categories, or maybe "Obama scandals Jan 09", "Obama scandals Feb 09", etc.
We deserve the same treatment by IRS.
Sign the petition for Tax Holiday for Unemployed at: http://ue09.blogspot.com/
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