Daschle and Killefer, Two Small Victories.

Obama is clearly learning the rules of Washington very quickly. Not even the waters of the Potomac are parting for the "One" or his merry band of cohorts and tax cheats.

It's hardly news at this hour, but Tom Daschle has thrown in the towel on his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Three hours before Nancy Killefer, nominated by Obama to be the government's first chief performance officer, withdrew her nomination also. Both were citing tax problems.

The GOP had made it quite clear that there would be stiff opposition to Daschle's appointment. Senator John Conryn had some pretty blunt words for Daschle on Tuesday morning, "If Senator Daschle cares about President Obama's success and the success of this new administration," Cornyn said, "he ought to remove this distraction."

Daschle as it ends up, owed $128,203 in taxes and $11,964 in interest. While Killefer, had a $946 tax lien placed on her home, by the District of Columbia, for failure to pay unemployment compensation tax on household help.

The President has taken a more humble tone with this situation, versus the "I won!" attitude we heard almost two weeks ago.



My guess is when Princess Pelosi said that Congressional Democrats were going to clean Washington up, she never figured it would turn out to be the GOP cleaning up her own party for her.

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Yahoo News: Obama performance chief Killefer out, citing taxes

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Tom Daschle:Tax Problems, Go Figure

Surprise, surprise, surprise, Tom Daschle owes back taxes. Another Democrat caught cheating on taxes and claiming it was due to ignorance. But, don't worry, now that it matters he has paid what was owed. Doesn't that make you feel better?

From Fox News,

FOX News confirmed that Daschle alerted the Senate Finance Committee, which will oversee his confirmation hearing, that the matter involves more than $100,000 in back taxes and interest for a car and driver that was provided to him for four years by Leo Hindery, "a wealthy Democratic donor and longtime friend of Daschle's."

Daschle "incorrectly assumed" the use of the car and driver was not subject to taxation. But the White House says he discovered the error during preparation for his confirmation and filed amended tax returns with the proper payment and interest.

Please, don't fret none, the White House is all over it. Their response has been printed out on the newly created form letter for Cabinet nominees with tax problems.

The White House issued a statement Friday night affirming that Daschle "is the right person to lead the fight for health care reform."

"Senator Daschle brought these issues to the Finance Committee's attention when he submitted his nomination forms and we are confident the committee is going to schedule a hearing for him very soon, and he will be confirmed," it says.

Yawn, this isn't news anymore, it's expected.

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Geithener Approved and Sworn In.

Tim Geithner was approved by the Senate, in 60-34 vote, as the new Treasury Secretary despite ample evidence of tax "lapses." Geithner is now the sole person responsible for spending that is related to the Highway Robbery Bill ver 2.0. (I.E. Obama stimulus package)

Dontcha' just love having a guy who says not paying 4 years of taxes was an "oversight?" Most people are just worried about him leading the IRS, I am worried about him leading the whole damn Treasury Department. Hopefully he won't have another oversight like forgetting where the $1 trillion we are about to drop is.

For the full story:

Business Week-Senate confirms Geithner as treasury secretary

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