Obama: "absolutely" standing by Daschle

[onehandle]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he "absolutely" stands by Tom Daschle's nomination for secretary of health and human services.

The president gave the one word answer Monday about the matter during a meeting with Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas on the economic stimulus plan making its way through Congress.

Specifically, Obama was asked whether he still backed Daschle in light of the disclosure that the former Senate majority leader failed to pay more than $120,000 in taxes.

Daschle is Obama's second Cabinet choice to face tax problems.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_daschle

[FLAprogressive]

1. I think he's an "absolutely" terrible choice.

[nancyr]

10. I agree.

[katty]

15. agree

[truthrocks]

20. Tell Obama Daschle Must Go!

Email, Call or FAX:

www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Comments: 202-456-1111

FAX: [phone]

Do It Now!!

[peacock]

26. Daschle not appropriate for Sec. of Health

Done! Just submitted my comments for what they are worth.

[Donnachaidh]

2. guess we can forget universal health care in the future

Daschle is going to be pushing insurance down the throats of the public.

Good little doggie Daschle. He knows who butters his bread. :sarcasm:

[sandnsea]

4. Subsidized insurance

was also the plan proposed by Hillary so there was never much of a hope for single payer. We can get universal health care through subsidized insurance, it just isn't going to be sustainable. We'll probably have to go that way before people figure it out though.

[Donnachaidh]

9. there's also going to be groups that will probably be quietly un-subsidized

Because their *costs* would be prohibitive.

Those of us with pre-existing conditions are REALLY in trouble with this nomination. This is so NOT change it's incredible. I wonder how many people are feeling betrayed by the growing list of empty promises made? HealthCARE was the number one concern in polls during the election. And to put this *lapdog* of the insurance companies in this post is outrageous.

[sandnsea]

25. Mine is subsidized

My husband and I have a $1,000 a month insurance pool that is 90% subsidized.

[Bolo Boffin]

6. Yep.

Time to get organized and FORCE Obama to get actual health care reform.

[tekisui]

3. That is disappointing.

[sandnsea]

5. Yes, it is

I could overlook one, especially because the tax laws seemed a bit obscure, but this one is disgusting.

[Common Sense Party]

8. Which tax laws seemed obscure? n/t

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

22. The tax laws on the company car...

... it is hard to quantify the absolute value of such a "perk". You do realize that some states allow people tax breaks on their gas hog SUV's as long as a private person has a "business license or sales tax license" and put a commercial license plate on the said vehicle(s)?

If my CPA tells me that the tax filing he/she prepared for me is correct, I tend to take their word for it. My employer's accounting department is in the same vein. Daschle noticed or was informed of something that could be "fuzzy" and had it looked into over 6 months ago. He paid up, he didn't run out of the country.

I find it comical that so many are jumping to conclusions over this issue. I have been through an IRS audit, I let my CPA take care of it because he was correct. But I still had to pay the IRS "interest" for not giving them what they wrongly accused me of owing. It seems the IRS has folks that aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer and do not always understand the tax law or it's intent. But I digress...

Most posting here act as if no law abiding citizen is ever accused of using "fuzzy math" on their tax filings.

[global1]

7. So Maybe We Have To Flood The WH With Calls Saying That He Should......

dump Daschle.

[defendandprotect]

28. Yes . . . I think it's a good idea to remind and encourage DUers to call in . . e-mail, whatever -

EVERY DAY

EVERY DAY

EVERY DAY

[Triana]

11. unwise. n/t

[galileoreloaded]

12. The worst part for me is that it is not a policy decision I disagree with...

but the integrity of the person helping construct the policy decisions. That is the most troubling. I guess I expect people whom make decisions for me to have clean hands.:shrug:

[cobalt1999]

13. Obama will never publically back down.

If he doesn't want Daschle, you'll see Daschle withdrawing himself and Obama reacting "disappointed but accepting his decision".

[Donnachaidh]

17. I don't care HOW it happens -- I just want Daschle GONE.

F*ck this *Gotta seem tough and save face* bullshit. He's a corporate lapdog who will do anything for the corporations he's beholden to. And that WILL include throwing America's sick and disabled under the bus. And he'll do it with a smile on his face. :grr:

[bertman]

21. What happened to taking responsibility for a poorly-vetted choice? I guess our President

is saying that it really doesn't matter to him that Daschle conveniently "forgot" to pay $120,000 in taxes and worked as a "go-to-guy" for the big Insurance and medical companies. This is all about political payback.

It's sickening. So fucking much for change.

[depakid]

30. Which is appropropriate

though each time he does it- his ethical stature is diminished, and the more he looks like just another smarmy politician- hypocritical and untrue to his word.

[Mari333]

14. ugh. nt

[Cleita]

16. Tom Daschle the same one who wants to invent a Federal Health Board

modeled on the Federal Reserve Board to take care of our health care problems? You know the same Federal Reserve Board that brought us the banking crisis....that Tom Daschle? Unfortunately, Obama agrees with him and apparently is as much in the pockets of the for profit health care insurance industry as Daschle is. We need a board of physicians and health care professionals to bring us a workable plan, not the parasites who have caused this crisis to begin with.

[acmavm]

18. Bwahahahahahaha. So predictable it's almost not funny anymore.

[Skittles]

29. yup

[theFrankFactor]

19. Panetta and Daschle Will Turn out to be Terrible (IMUHO)

Daschle blew before and he'll blow now same with Penetta. Horrible and disappointing choices. Panetta was a sidestepping, double talking wimp and Daschle was Reid 1.0.

[Jakes Progress]

23. Heck of a job, Tommy.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

27. "Big Mistake" followed by even BIGGER MISTAKE . . .

Why shouldn't Obama want to get rid of this liar, sneak, cheater --- ?????