Where was the Media and Outrage when Bush's picks were skated through confirmation?

[berni_mccoy]

Many many people have had mistakes on their taxes and have been audited. This is no reason for a disqualification. And yet, two nominees have been disqualified because of it.

How many people in Bush's administration were guilty of much, much worse, and only after they were appointed, did damage and led to disasters like the Iraq War and Katrina did anyone say "How did these people get into office?!?".

These people had no business in the administration. And yet, fully qualified people are being labelled as disgraces because they made mistakes many Americans make. Why wasn't McCain disqualified from being President when it was found he hadn't paid taxes on one of his 11 houses.

What the media and politicians are doing is complete hypocrisy. Those who are pushing the extreme requirements on being a nominee are the ones who turned a blind eye to the Bush Administration. And there is no way I will believe that they are making up for the mistakes of the past by being thorough now. This is nothing more than selective witch-hunting.

[Captain Hilts]

1. True. A mine company official in charge of enforcing mine safety...etc. nt

[Avalux]

2. Maybe Obama set the bar on this?

We all know Bush's circle was closed; no information got out about his cronies and anything amiss would have been buried 10 times over.

Obama is the opposite - he wants full disclosure and a transparent administration. He's the one that set the standard and that's why some of his nominees are having to deal with their skeletons in public. If he wanted, Obama could have covered up Daschle's tax problems - all the others too.

And I'm sorry - I have a hard time believing Daschle's tax negligence was a mistake. If I don't pay my taxes I have my wages garnished and may even go to jail. There shouldn't be a double standard.

I'm not upset about it at all.

[berni_mccoy]

3. He *DID* Pay his taxes. He forgot to include the services he received from a driver

This is something you don't receive a form for.

If you've not done anything other than 1040EZ, then it's not something you should be judging him on.

[WinkyDink]

6. Yep, because he just doesn't have access to knowledgeable tax experts.

[berni_mccoy]

7. Moronic Simplification of reality (same tactic the right-wing uses to disgrace good people)

His "tax expert" would have to know that he had been given the services of a driver, usually an unreported expense. If the employing company didn't put in on his 1099-Misc, and he didn't realize he needed to tell his tax accountant of this service, and the tax accountant didn't ask, then it most certainly would have been mis-reported.

The IRS probably found it because of a corrected 1099-Misc and Daschle's tax accountant didn't get the update.

Even "experts" make mistakes. That's why the IRS audits. The IRS doesn't audit with presumption of criminal activity, which is what too many DUers here are assuming and what the RW is pushing as a meme.

[WinkyDink]

10. OFGS, I'm not "disgracing" Daschle (who, you will notice, took himself out of contention)..

I don't think he's a criminal---those ARE YOUR WORDS. But since when do I have to think he's all that and a bag of chips?

YOU are the knee-jerker here. AND, may I add, the one to resort to the MORONIC ad hominem attack.

[uponit7771]

12. Most companies give unannounced contributions, it's just DassHoles was 6 figures

[phleshdef]

4. "fully qualified people are being labelled as disgraces", Some DUers are joining in on that effort

Its disgusting to see how some are going right along with the exaggeratory spin that the media is pumping, making mountains out of molehills and what not.

[FrenchieCat]

8. That's part of the problem, isn't it......

That we echo the fucked up media like we don't know any better.

After what they did to us, some here kisses the media's ass by parroting their talking points
even louder than they do and hope that no one notices.

[berni_mccoy]

9. Yes, that's a big problem here lately.

[Clear Blue Sky]

5. Ashcroft got through but it was hardly skating.

[panAmerican]

11. Sorry, but I think Obama's the hypocrite here.

He was voted in on a ticket of change - change of politicians who feather their nest at the public trough, and are tone-deaf to how their own words of support for smarmy politicians like Daschle thoroughly grate the nerves of ordinary citizens like me.

And for Obama to similarly absolve Daschle, and dismiss his corruption with "just words" appall me. I didn't vote for Obama so he could continue in the same vein as the Bush administration, regardless of whether the media provides him cover.

Like most people who voted for Obama, I started out saying, "Give the guy a chance." But how many more such nominees must we tolerate?!

• Clinton's family's finances and overseas donors to the Clinton Library? Zero transparency.
  
  
• Holder's role in Marc Rich pardon? An oversight.
  
  
• Geithner's hand in the HORRIBLE mishandling of the first half of the TARP and maneuvering of Bear Stearns' takeover? Overlooked.
  
  
• Lobbyists given special waiver to serve in top Admin roles because they're so freakin' special? Hardly a flutter.
  
  
• Johnson as a Veep vetter? Why, he's uniquely qualified!

I'm just tired of this bullsh!t. There aren't many more appointments to be made. When you overload the top positions with so many people who wouldn't get away that that crap as regular citizens, it doesn't bode well for the administration.

[uponit7771]

13. For the most part his picks have been on the up and up, if all we can pick out is 5 people who...

...should'nt have been placed on the list.

Thx