Will Tom Daschle Make It Through His HHS Secretary Hearings? And One Question He Should Be Asked…

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) is trying to keep his hopes alive to be named secretary of Health and Human Services after it's come to light that he failed to pay almost $130,000 in taxes.

The short version: Of course, he'll make it. The Senate is an undistinguished gentleman's league and all the chattering classes are saying the same thing: This is no big deal. Nobody's perfect. Who hasn't skipped out on that much in taxes? Obama owes him big time and will defend him to the mat. Etc.

Here's a question for Daschle (and for that matter, Timothy Geithner, who had tax and nanny problems of his own that didn't stop him from being named Treasury secretary): When you amended your taxes and coughed up about $140,000 in back taxes plus interest, did you feel like you were stimulating the economy as much as you would have if you had spent that money yourself?

Update: Daschle is out. One small step for Obama, one giant step for taxpayers.

Comments

[domoarrigato]

Wow, the senate republicans don't have a hair on their collective asses, if they don't ask exactly that.

[FrBunny]

HrBunny and I botched the returns and owed $600 more plus interest last year, and we started getting bills within months.

Is this someone digging deep and finding inappropriate deductions, or is this Daschle just ignoring the letters from the IRS until he needs to get a new job?

[Episiarch]

Why isn't the IRS doing a complete audit on Daschle right now?

[domoarrigato]

At least he's not being nominated to a cabinet position that the IRS falls under - cuz that would a lot worse...

[James Meaney]

Personally, I think that dude is about as corrupt as the day is long!

RT
http://www.real-privacy.us.tc

[SugarFree]

Legislators cheating on taxes would be one of the few capital offenses in SugarFree-topia.

They would be boiled in high fructose corn syrup.

[Abdul]

Why isn't the IRS doing a complete audit on Daschle right now?

Because the guy in charge is Timothy Geithner.

[Tom Daschle]

Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter.

[Wall Street Journal]

The Senate Finance Committee is also reviewing whether certain "travel and entertainment services" provided to Mr. Daschle and his wife Linda, an aviation lobbyist, should also be reported as income. The Washington Post reports that Mr. Daschle has earned more than $5 million over the past two years, including $220,000 from the health-care industry he's been nominated to regulate.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123353200827537439.html

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

I am running to tell the lobbyists in Washington that their days of setting the agenda are over. They have not funded my campaign. They won't work in my White House.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/17/campbell.brown.lobbyists/index.html

[domoarrigato]

This really chaffes my skivvies - why the hell should I ever pay a nickle of taxes ever again? The Dem leadership love to spend tax money, but they won't pay it themselves! They are as hypocritical as the Republicans, and far more blatant about it. Fuck those dudes!

[Nick]

SugarFree-topia has legislators and taxes? WTF?

[Pro Libertate]

They won't work in the White House, but they will work in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building and other buildings not called the White House.

[P Brooks]

Apparently, Senator Baucus, who has been beating the drum for tougher enforcement by the IRS for quite some time, had a nice chat with Daschle, and decided it was no big deal.

I'm expecting an announcement of a national blanket tax amnesty momentarily.

[creech]

Dearly Beloved Leader: we know those were just words you used to get elected. Not one of your supporters will be writing letters to the editor expressing their disappointment at your failure to live up to them. In fact, there will be all sorts of rationalizations made, beginning with "yeah, well what about Bush's administration?"

[P Brooks]

SugarFree-topia has legislators and taxes? WTF?

Lawns don't mow themselves.

[The Angry Optimist]

I appeal to Lord SugarFree that, in his utopia, Enterprise be declared as non-canon.

[Reinmoose]

Why can't they just come out and say "Ok, nobody really believes that the world will be a better place once I pay this $120,000 to the government, so let's all stop pretending that it will and we'll cut some things that obviously don't work"

Would NEVER happen

[dhex]

"Why isn't the IRS doing a complete audit on Daschle right now?"

haven't you read your marx? the ruling class lives by a different set of rules than the rest of us.

[Billy!]

Massive back taxes are the new "I smoked marijuana when I was younger"! Of course everybody does it, so I shouldn't be punished... it was so long ago!

But God help the average citizen caught in the act.

[Nick]

"Lawns don't mow themselves."

Hire a cow.

[Free thinking Democrat]

Cheney took million of dollars from Halibruton before it got a no bid contract. Linda Chavez hired an illegal foreign slave to keep her children. Bush got us into an illegal war that killed millions. Now the wingnuts want to keep a good man from taking a job he deserves and job that will allow him to give decent healthcare to Americans because he got a free car and driver. Yeah that is serious government.

[The Angry Optimist]

I am sure we're going to see our resident members of the reality-based community to howl in protest that two tax-cheaters have come onboard "the most transparent administration EVAR!!"...

Any minute now...

[Pro Libertate]

Free thinking Democrat,

If it were up to me, they'd all burn. Or, at least, be removed from office.

The Censor would never allow this, that's for sure.

[PC]

"Why isn't the IRS doing a complete audit on Daschle right now?"

Because Clinton didn't win the nomination.

[VM]

Nick | February 3, 2009, 9:26am | #
"Lawns don't mow themselves."

Hire a cow.

yeah yeah. you're just a shill for big udder.

[Pro Libertate]

That's an udderly baseless accusation.

[Gilbert Martin]

"Legislators cheating on taxes would be one of the few capital offenses in SugarFree-topia.

They would be boiled in high fructose corn syrup."

Now why do you want to go wasting perfectly good corn syrup like that?

Boil them in used automatic transmission fluid instead.

[SugarFree]

I appeal to Lord SugarFree that, in his utopia, Enterprise be declared as non-canon.

Granted. And I'm shaky on the new Star Trek as well. If no one knew what the Romulans looked like before TOS, why is NewSulu in a swordfight with one? (Oh, I answered my own question, didn't I?)

SugarFree-topia has legislators and taxes? WTF?

Yes, but only insofar as to create the opportunity to boil people in HFCS, known throughout history as the most dishonorable way to be put to death.

I fully believe every man's Utopia is every other man's Dystopia. If you are going to live in the broken dream of a megalomaniac, I ask you: why not mine?

[Gilbert Martin]

"job that will allow him to give decent healthcare to Americans"

You mean he's going to pay for it all out of his own pocket?

Because that is the ONLY thing that would count as him giving anything to anybody.

[VM]

now, now, ProGlib - I refuse to cow-tow to Big Korn Syrup, Big Meletory Loier, or Mr. Steven Crane.

With luck, Dashle won't be confirmed, sending him back to the boil on the tookas of Minnesota.

(remember the last administration's "fail up" appointee?)

Gilbert - hear hear! down with the automatic trannies!

[Warren]

I for one admire Tom Daschle, and intend to show my support by following his example and not paying income tax until I'm nominated to a cabinet position.

[P Brooks]

If Daschle doesn't get the job, is he going to want his money back?

[The Angry Optimist]

Granted.

Woo-hoo! Let it be trumpeted across the land: No. More. Retconning!

If no one knew what the Romulans looked like before TOS, why is NewSulu in a swordfight with one?

That's a good question.

Can we get a movie based on the Terran Empire?

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

Yes we can end tax cheating in America. Under my plan, I will target the country's most dishonest and notorious tax cheats and nominate them to serve in my cabinet. Once nominated, they will be forced to pay their taxes and work off their sins through good work in my administration.

[jeremy kareken]

Disclaimer: I thoroughly agree with Nick's implied thesis. But if the American people aren't spending when they should and are saving when they shoulldnt... Isn't frivolous government spending an option? Americans aren't buying their own cars or contraceptive education... Shame we start spending that stuff after this recession's over.

[kwais]

That title sounded like something from Lonewhacko.

[P Brooks]

Now the wingnuts want to keep a good man from taking a job he deserves and job that will allow him to give decent healthcare to Americans because he got a free car and driver.

Reinmoose- is that you?

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

One other thing. It takes a crook to catch a crook. How is the IRS supposed to catch tax cheats or HHS catch medicare crooks with honest people running them? They won't. That is the answer. They won't do any better of a job than the DEA did before I appoint Marion Barry to run it or the public indecency division at the Justice department did before I appoint Bob Gucione to run it.

[SugarFree]

Let it be trumpeted across the land: No. More. Retconning!

Agreed. Retconning is an offense on par with incestuous necrophilia and local weathermen in my lands, which stretch from that corner of my yard to that far one. No. That one, over by the wisteria.

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

Hell, everybody knows rich white men don't pay taxes. If I had to nominate honest people there wouldn't be a rich white man on my cabinet. I would just have a bunch of dumb crackers and church ladies.

[SugarFree]

TAO,

I wouldn't mind: Star Trek: The Rise of Khan as long as they could resist winks, in-jokes, stunt casting, and, of course, retconning. James Caviezel would be perfect.

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

Now if you will excuse me, the dumb ass Secret Service turned down the thermostat to 70 again. God damn it is cold in here. Didn't they hear a Hawaiian won the election and not that hilbilly from Alaska?

[Reinmoose]

Keep guessing P Brooks.

It's not quite (quite) ridiculous enough to be my handiwork.

[SugarFree]

Someone please explain this to me. I feel like there's a rat in my brain.

[P Brooks]

Yikes!

Does MamaBama know?

At least it's not an intern.

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

You get drunk with a artist friend one night and do a little exploring and it ends up on ebay. GOD DAMN AMERICA sometimes.

[Elemenope]

I am sure we're going to see our resident members of the reality-based community to howl in protest that two tax-cheaters have come onboard "the most transparent administration EVAR!!"...

Any minute now...

I'm not sure *exactly* who you're talking about, but if it makes you feel any better:

Geithner should not have been confirmed.
Daschle should not be confirmed.

I've posted on this on other sites for a while now (like, ObsidianWings) but refrained here because:

1. It was already covered
2. When it comes to Obama most posters around here are infected with "teh stoopid"

And FWIW, under Bush the Lesser this sort of thing wouldn't have even been a thing. Business as usual, as they say. And we knew about both scofflaws before they were confirmed, so...what's this problem about TRANSPARENCY you're whining about?

[Elemenope]

They would be boiled in high fructose corn syrup.

Fucking OUCH.

[Just asking]

"And FWIW, under Bush the Lesser this sort of thing wouldn't have even been a thing. Business as usual, as they say."

I guess that is why Linda Chavez was confirmed. And Zoe Baird under Clinton sailed through confirmation. Being a tax cheat has never been a problem for appointees. Is it a woman thing with you? Should only women be required to pay their taxes?

[The Angry Optimist]

The "whining" would be that we have a mess of folks claiming that Geitner's tax evasion was a "careless error". Dude, even I know that you are supposed to pay the 15.whatever% FICA taxes when you're self-employed, and the IMF gave him the money to do it. It does not past a smell test that a man who explicitly acknowledged on his IMF forms that he would pay the tax did not know he had to pay the tax.

And pimping "transparency", El, is also code for promoting honesty and straightforwardness in government dealings, and these past two yokels are anything but, with the implicit and explicit support of the White House.

And FWIW, under Bush the Lesser this sort of thing wouldn't have even been a thing

Oh, well, then...that settles THAT.

[Just asking]

If Bush did it, it must be okay then right? It is not like Obama campaigned on cleaning up Washington or on the "failure of the last eight years". Anything Obama does is to be judged only in relation to Bush, not in relation to objective ethical standards or campaign promises. Right?

[Gilbert Martin]

"One other thing. It takes a crook to catch a crook. How is the IRS supposed to catch tax cheats or HHS catch medicare crooks with honest people running them? They won't. That is the answer. They won't do any better of a job than the DEA did before I appoint Marion Barry to run it or the public indecency division at the Justice department did before I appoint Bob Gucione to run it."

Wonderful concept.

I suggest Charles Manson be appointed head of the Federal Prison system.

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

"I suggest Charles Manson be appointed head of the Federal Prison system."

Not a bad idea. But I already have one dumb cracker as Vice President. I really don't need another one in my government. I like your thinking though. Bureau of Prisons probably needs a brother running it. Maybe Suge Knight. I hear he is out of jail.

[P Brooks]

Mayor Kilpatrick knows a little more about the "corrections" system than he used to. And I think he's looking for a job.

[DearlyBelovedLeader]

Kwami is a good man and a rigtous brother. But I put him in my government and the next thing I know Michelle will have 25 text messages from him.

[Barack Obama]

"You go to Cabinet meetings with the tax cheats you have -- not the tax cheats you might want or wish to have at a later time."

[Bill]

...provided to Mr. Daschle and his wife Linda, an aviation lobbyist...

What used to kill me about Daschle's apologists was over how good he was about bringing in the pork to SD. Example: If he and his wife were such a good team, then how the heck did UND get the aerospace program?

[ed]

Another nominee (Nancy Killefer) has withdrawn due to tax problems. This is getting pesky, no?

[John C. Randolph]

Why isn't the IRS doing a complete audit on Daschle right now?

Because they don't want to piss off the majority party in the Congress. IRS wants their budget increased like any other agency, and they know that voting pro-IRS is a dicey thing for any legislator.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

I for one admire Tom Daschle, and intend to show my support by following his example

If more Americans followed his example, we'd have a much healthier economy.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

As far as I'm concerned, Geitner's tax evasion is one of his extremely few redeeming qualities. What bugs the shit out of me is that the head of the New York Fed gets the job of Treasury Secretary, where he will certainly work to increase the looting for the benefit of the Federal Reserve's owners.

This is a business-as-usual administration.

-jcr

[Thomas Jackson]

Hussein has called for a new America and with his nominees setting the example their fearless leader has set I intend to follow their call this April and will urge all my friends to do so as well.

If its good enough for president 666 and his senate of lemmings its good enough for me.

[Ska]

I posted this in another thread, but it actually makes sense here.

OT: Obama's Performance Czar Withdraws

Nancy Killefer, nominated by President Obama to be the federal government's first chief performance officer, is withdrawing from the post, the White House said. An administration official confirmed that she is withdrawing over a tax problem. "On the heels of Geithner and Daschle, she just didn't want to go through with it," the official said.

At least she has the guts to step down, unlike the bigger hypocrites who act like they had no idea that they had income they weren't paying taxes on.

[R C Dean]

They won't work in the White House, but they will work in the Hubert H. Humphrey Building and other buildings not called the White House.

That's why I call him the Parsin' President.

[Just Asking]

Ska,

Killefer is a woman. Women are not allowed to dodge taxes (see e.g. Chavez and Beard). Just good old boys are allowed to do that.

[Stretch]

Actually, a better question would be, "if you and other high ranking government and finance officials can't figure out your taxes, what makes you think ordinary folks can figure out your byzantine system?"

[John-David]

It's moot. Daschle withdrew.

[joe]

Wasn't it enough that they made him wear those glasses?

[Ska]

John-David - word.

[Travis]

I just read on Fox news that Dashle just removed himself from consideration for the cabinet post. The question remains, if there's anybody in the world who could be WORSE, will Obama be able to find him?

[Mike Laursen]

Hell, we should just say that the Federal government gets to print X dollars a year and get rid of the income tax.

[Syd]

Killefer's problem was trivial (unless there is something else going on) and she settled with the IRS in 2005. The whole amount she was behind was $298 and she paid twice that in fines. It sounds to me like she must have been having a dispute with the IRS and they slapped her.