Daschle apologizes, fights to salvage nomination

[Turborama]

Source: AP

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer – 7 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Fighting to salvage his Cabinet nomination, Tom Daschle apologized Monday for failing to pay more than $120,000 in taxes and appealed to former Senate colleagues to approve him all the same. President Barack Obama said he was "absolutely" sticking with his nominee for health secretary, and a key senator added an important endorsement.

The White House both underscored the magnitude of the problem and tried to downplay it in the space of seven words. "Nobody's perfect," said press secretary Robert Gibbs. "It was a serious mistake. ..."

Nobody was predicting defeat for Daschle's nomination as secretary of health and human services, but it was proving an unsavory pill to swallow for senators who only last week confirmed Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary despite his separate tax-payment problems. It's an issue that strikes a nerve among lawmakers' constituents who are struggling with their own serious money problems.

On the bright side for Daschle, he got warm words of support from the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel that will have the first say on his fate. Daschle has been "an invaluable and expert partner" in efforts toward health care reform, said Democrat Max Baucus of Montana — an especially important endorsement since the two men have had tussles in the past over Baucus' handling of GOP tax-cut proposals, Medicare changes and other issues.

Daschle was to meet into the evening with the committee in private.

The former Senate Democratic leader, expressed his remorse in a letter to the Finance Committee, saying he was "deeply embarrassed and disappointed" about what he said was an unintentional failure to pay taxes that he owed. He recently filed amended returns for 2005-07 to report $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest.

=cut=

In his letter, released Monday, Daschle sought to explain how he overlooked taxes on income for consulting work and the use of a car service. He also deducted more in charitable contributions than he should have.
"I apologize for the errors and profoundly regret that you have had to devote time to them," he told committee members.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/daschle_taxes

[marylanddem]

1. Dr. Howard Dean should get this job.

Come on, Obama, let this dude go.

Isn't Daschle in the pockets of the insurance/pharma interests?

[onehandle]

15. Governor Dean is going out into the world to make money. nt

[FLAprogressive]

2. Tom Daschle will you please go now?

Time for an advocate of serious healthcare reform, not someone who wants to halfass it like he does.

[EFerrari]

3. This is what I don't get. Wouldn't Daschle know that if Obama were elected

that he'd be offered a spot in the Cabinet? Being such an early and vigorous supporter?

Wouldn't you clean up your act if you thought this was a possible scenario?

Did he not believe Obama would win or what? :shrug:

[jhrobbins]

23. What is going on with these established Democrats and their tax issues.

If I didn;t know it to be true, I would think it was a Republican ploy.

[davidinalameda]

33. maybe he wanted to be chief of staff

or land in another position that didn't require confirmation

[Riverman]

4. Daschle Needs to Drop out or be Put Out! A Dupe of the Insurance

Industry posing as a champion of "reforming" health care. Screw that. We need Single-Payer Medical Care Now! Get the insurance companies out of the way of medical decisions between me and me and my doctors. Insurance companies add up to 25% to the cost of medical coverage paying for their administrative charges, as well as for their advertising, lobbying, corporate offices, jets, and parties. Get them and their supporters like Daschle the hell out of the way, now!

I'd love to be able to not pay my taxes and get a pass. Wake-up Obama - this is not the change we want!

[brentspeak]

5. Daschle should first apologize for stabbing Americans in the back by supporting the Bankruptcy Bill

as well as a bunch of other spineless cave-ins and betrayals.

[Elidor]

6. He was also paid to lobby for telecom immunity

What a worthless piece of shit he is.

[DURHAM D]

10. And supporting Bush by asserting that the IWR wording was not problematic -

he was warned and he blew it off.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. Open Letter to Mr. Tom Daschle

Dear Sir:

Which is more important to you: The good of the nation or your personal stake in becoming Secretary of Health and Human Services?

If the good of the nation can best be served by your withdrawing your name from consideration for that position, would you be willing to do so? Or do you honestly believe that you are the only person on the face of this planet capable of doing a good job at that post?

We as a nation are in difficult times. Mr. Obama himself has said that each of us must sacrifice. And many of us already have. We have lost jobs, homes, loved ones. We who have already given have not received any kind of exemption from additional donation to the cause of American prosperity. You, on the other hand, Mr. Daschle, appear to have benefited handsomely. Your connections have brought you a chauffeured limousine at a time when many hard-working Americans are seeing their cars repossessed. You have had the luxury of being able to pay your delinquent taxes and penalties when many of us are seeing our wages, our social security benefits, our pensions garnished to pay back taxes, defaulted student loans, past due credit cards.

If you have an ounce of dignity and self-respect, Mr. Daschle, instead of just arrogance and hubris, I suggest you make your apology mean something and withdraw your nomination. Allow someone with better ethics, with a better record on serving the PEOPLE rather than serving the corporations, to take this position.

In other words, Mr. Daschle, to paraphrase Mr. Lee Iacocca, since you can't lead, get out of the way.



Sincerely,


Tansy Gold

[Jakes Progress]

9. But was so looking forward

to the big boost in pay that would come from his real employers after he spent a couple of years in HSS staving off national healthcare. His friends in pharma and med, as well as his buddies on both sides of the aisle who also serve those masters really, really want him in that position. He may be forced out behind the scenes, but check out the bloody fingernails where he tried to hang on to the end.

[mascarax]

16. Great letter! You should send it to him...

He really does need to step down.
I'm tired of these late "sorry's"...after they're caught, as others have noted.

But then, I wanted Dr. Dean to get this job.

[Laelth]

35. Excellent letter.

I share your sentiments though I lack the courage to express them because I fear my effort would be wasted.

:dem:

-Laelth

[dynasaw]

8. Step Down Mr. Daschle

What makes you think just by "apologizing" you'll make you seedy record go away? :mad:

[MasonJar]

11. Oh, sure! They always apologize. They are so sorry... to get caught.

Daschle was a loser in the Senate; he is still a loser.

[iamthebandfanman]

12. oh just go away Tom, theres a reason you lost ur senate race

you dont get shit done!

step outa the way and let someone who knows about health care take your spot!

[onehandle]

13. He's got this. Give President Obama his team. nt

[antimatter98]

14. More rope-a-dope Bush b.s. from Obama appointees.

"I didn't realize I hadn't paid my taxes..." (until the media found out...)

If any of us try this with IRS, we get a levy or worse..and
it shows up on our credit record.

But of Daschle and for Geithner? NOT A PROBLEM!! Come on into
the White House to run an agency!

This is the height of crass, elitist b.s., and it's shocking that
it comes from Obama's people. But it tells me a lot about
who Obama really is---and I don't like it. I voted and sent a lot
of $ to Obama and I feel betrayed---he's got the foxes in charge
of the henhouse---just as Bush or McCain would have done.

Obama's not blind. He's bought.

[Skittles]

19. yup

I could see it all along

[mikmur53]

21. RE: More of the same old same old

We are being sold out on these freakin appointments. First Geithner (sp) and now Daschle...please forgive me for being so stupid. OK we forgive you, but don't want to hire an idiot... we are the party that ousted the corruptocans....let's keep our house as clean as we can...can't do that when you hire the trash to start with.

[Laelth]

36. Welcome to DU!

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Triana]

17. Meh. Pfft! n/t

[natrat]

18. fuck you daschle you corporate whoring piece of shit

[girl gone mad]

20. What is Obama thinking????

Seriously. DUMP HIM.

Geithner was bad enough.

[defendandprotect]

28. ...about ALL of the appointments . . .few are progressives . . .

most are DINO's, DLC, or slime --- like Dachle!!

[depakid]

22. "unintentional failure to pay taxes" -hogwash

This isn't some complicated matter- and Daschle isn't that inept.

Perhaps he felt a bit of guilt over this perk, as it does have the appearance of impropriety associated with it.

[Raine]

24. I can't stand Daschle

I wish he would drop out. x(

[Politicalboi]

25. This is Bullshit

Blame the accountant and say I'm sorry and it's all better. Even Michael Moore would be a better choice.

[CONN]

26. This guy suported Iraq War... Bush enabler

A true leader...

Ahead of the vote, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle announced Thursday morning he would support Bush on Iraq, saying it is important for the country "to speak with one voice at this critical moment."


http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/

[KoKo]

27. I'm Sure he will be Confirmed...but so MUCH Baggage...and so much of Obama capital SPENT!

Is it WORTH IT? :shrug: I honestly don't know....

[defendandprotect]

29. It's worth it for the insurance companies and GOP will like this . . .

[KoKo]

30. I guess it's good to look on the "Bright Side" and be Pragmatic...???

:shrug: It is what it is...

[defendandprotect]

31. I think we have to find the "bright side" . . . where is it?

The insurance companies are being practical in buying elected officials--

what's our practical response supposed to be --- ???

We've been hearing about the "buying of government" for 30 years --- those

who warned us are reliable folk. And, yet, so many have trouble believing it--!!

Why???

[KoKo]

32. We can't WALLOW in Despair....we have to Pluck Up and KEEP WORKING!

Just to watch or listen to the McCorporate Media is a DOWNER...they haven't changed and aren't going to until Obama gets an FCC Manager in there who can dismantle the Corporatists. It will take much time...so to get ourselves down doesn't help.

BUT...we MUST REMAIN WATCHFUL and VOCAL on OBAMA'S BACK...so he DOESN'T FORGET ...those of US WHO BROUGHT HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

[defendandprotect]

34. Ignoring that we're on the wrong path will only lead you down that path . ..

No one has to "wallow" in anything to see that so many of the appointments are wrong...

in fact, and fly in the face of sanity if you're supposedly headed for liberal/

progressive solutions. If you want more corporatism, then you're headed in the right direction!


And, why? would you be watching corporate-media?

What we need to do is actually use our anti-trust laws -- and put people in office who will

execute them!

To pretend that things are going well is childish -- face up to it and maybe we can make

some progress going in the right direction!!

Unfortunately, Obama has been making executive decisions since he was President-elect . . .

that's all of November, all of December and all of January -- and most of them suck --

are Republicans who suck -- or people attached to corporations which suck!

Let's stop pretending that you can get single payer health care from a guy getting paid

by the insurance/health care industry!!

[Riverman]

37. Right On! As Yogi Berra or Casey Stengel (old time Yankees for the

younger set - baseball, not civil war) "If you don't know where you are going, you may end up there!" Obama is no more than a moderate democrat, cleary far better than Bush and Clinton. He is trying to play it safe and appeal to a broader coalition, but what is he selling out with the people who brought him to the dance, to appeal to the right? Progressives like us need to continue to fight for the correct policies and help get more true progressives elected. In the meantime, we need the equivalent of a MLK to get the folks onto the streets, the Wash. Mall and anywhere else. Even Roosevelt didn't change policies until the unions and progressives forced him to do so.

[defendandprotect]

39. Obama actually had a mandate from voters . . .

on the other hand, we all know they've been killing progressives/liberal leaders

for decades now. And, making damned sure that no one rises up again to be another

MLK or FDR.

"If you don't know where you are going, you may end up there!"

Love it!!


Of course, the 2006 Democrats also had a mandate -- as Pelosi acknowledged . . .

"to end the wars." And all they did was re-fund the wars!!

[ronnie624]

38. He has done irreparable damage to himself, his party and the Obama Administration.

The fool should have never accepted the nomination, and President Obama should have already dropped him like a hot potato.

Where's my "change"?

[kaygore]

40. Daschle is a whore. He needs to go back to the hole from which Obama dragged him.