Tom Daschle Withdraws As Secretary of Health and Human Services
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
February 3, 2009 12:01pm CST
This news is breaking as I write this so I don't have a link to post. It was just announced on MSNBC that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name from the Secretary of Health and Human Services position following the controversy over taxes he had failed to pay until just recently. I don't want to risk misquoting Senator Daschle but he reported said he'd read the editorial in today's New York Times and he realized he'd be a distraction and the issue of health care is too important to have such a distraction. You can read the editorial below:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/02/62303386/1
This is obviously huge news and a big blow to the Obama Administration. Personally, I think he did the right thing, in fact the ONLY thing under the circumstances but I also think it's very sad and unfortunate! He made a mistake, a big mistake that shouldn't be excused or justified but I think this is a big loss for all of us. I hope someone can be found who will be as effective as Daschle would have been in this very important post but who has no "baggage" or anything to cause any distractions from the job that must be done. What do you think?
Annie
10 responses
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I haven't heard that. Maybe now Obama can take another Republican senator for this position.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Ah ha see you didn't think about what I said, if Obama is able to get more Republicans out of the House and Senate they could possibly be replaced with Democrats....
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I wonder if he now regrets having paid the money back? IMO he only did that to appease the public and get the position.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Sorry but that is, according to my friends, my real character flaw but in my defense it is my life's experience that has made me that way!! I should try to give people "the benefit of the doubt" LOL
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I'm glad he did this. It shows a bit of integrity on his part. I say that not to defend his tax issues which I consider indefensible, but I think we all know he would have been confirmed by the democratic majority so this was a choice he didn't have to make.
I just wish that scumbag Geithner would have done the same thing. He's the one who COLLECTS our taxes, yet didn't care enough to pay his own.
On a side note did you hear about that other Obama appointee who withdrew only a few hours before Daschle? Apparently she had tax issues as well.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
4 Feb 09
I'm not defending his tax issues either and I agree he had no choice but to withdraw. However, he may not have sailed through confirmation as some may think, but we'll never know now. I understand the woman who withdrew this morning had owed under $1000 due to something to do with unemployment insurance for a domestic worker and I think I heard it had happened several years ago and had long since been resolved.
Annie
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Annie,
Nice post. Well what do you know, an honest politician, who would have ever thought it? Or at least a politician who cares about the people of this country. That is good. Maybe he does deserve to be there...Perhaps we should think about that as voters. I know in my life, there is plenty of history and well they were mistakes, just because these people are on Capital Hill it is not a pedestal but bricks and mortar.
Ainge
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
4 Feb 09
I've made mistakes, too, Ainge, as have all off us or we're not human, are we? I think it's really sad that this happened because, as I said earlier, I think he'd have been excellent in that position. You're so right, everyone in any political office is a human being just like the rest of us and there's not a one of them who is perfect but neither are we. Mistakes happen, things get overlooked, forgotten or put off; the important thing is that we learn from our mistakes, admit that we've made them and not make the same mistakes again.
Annie
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
4 Feb 09
Well I'm not going to call him honest since he actually discovered he owed taxes back in June yet waited till January to pay them. What I will say is that I think he genuinely cared about Obama and determined that it was better for Obama if he withdrew. From what I've read he endorsed Obama back in 2007, before he was a front runner. I think his withdrawal showed the integrity that Geithner completely lacked.
2 people like this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Under the circumstances it was the only thing he could do. I mean really....it sends the wrong message...if he does not pay his taxes than why should we?
Looks like Daschle forgot to put this on his clearance papers Obama had all his appointments fill out. Which is bad because not only has be embarressed himself but also the president now.
I wonder who he will pick to replace him?
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I'm also wondering who will be picked to replace him. I know most conservatives don't like Daschle much but I've always liked and respected him. I've seen him on different talk shows in recent months and he's very knowledgeable about health care and how to save some of the money that's wasted by Medicare and Medicaid without taking away quality of care. I think it's really sad and a good example of a good person making a big mistake, which I think it was, an honest mistake.
Annie
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
3 Feb 09
An honest mistake? He owed the IRS over a $100,000.00
Heck if that was you or me we would be sitting in jail with Wesly Snipes. But because he is a politican it is ok. I am tired of the double standard. Politicans need to be held to the same standard everyone else is.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
3 Feb 09
This makes one more crooked politician who has had to resign due to a scandal. If the media will nor report accurately on these people it is up to the American people and the Alternative Media to do it. President Obama's nominee for Office of Management and Budget has also withdrawn because of tax problems. if these were all honest mistakes why does it take a nomination to a high office to bring it to their attention. After all he was instrumental in writing the tax codes. Maybe the IRS should Audit every elected Government official and they should resign if they have failed to pay taxes. These people are abusing their sacred trust. No wonder congress has an approval rating in the tank and President Obamas numbers are falling faster than leaves in the fall. How many more tax cheats and crooks are we going to discover before he has his full cabinet? Maybe that is why he is appointing Republicans now, at least they seem to be honest or the Republican party kicks them out of office, whild the Democrat Parrty promotes the ones who violate the laws they make.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
3 Feb 09
So I guess you can be a crook and still be Sec. of Treasury, but not Sec. of Health and Humn Services. ;~D
@rodney850 (2145)
• United States
3 Feb 09
Makes about as much sense as letting the fox guard the hen house!LOL
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
3 Feb 09
He would probably have been good in the job but he was caught with his hand in the tax bucket to the tune of well over $100,000 so I think he did the right thing in withdrawing. Maybe if he keeps his nose clean and his taxes paid there might be something further down the road of the Obama Administration for him.
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I think there is an undercurrent here that hasn't been picked up yet. He is not withdrawing to avoid scandal, but rather he is vieing for a top position in the IRS.
