Joe Biden: None of these people are patriots
“We can’t send a message to the American people that we’ve got two sets of rules — one for prominent people and one for ordinary people.”
President Barack Obama, today
Responding to the withdrawal of Tom Daschle to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
FOX News
Can I not pay my taxes and get a Presidential appointment? Just until the book deal comes through?
Michelle Malkin: Obama: “I screwed up”
Yes, it’s a little late to be worrying about sending a message about “two sets of rules.”
Two sets of rules?
Oh yeah, I guess you can only get away with not paying your taxes if you’re going to be Secretary of the Treasury.
Team Obama Can’t Justify Geithner
Amanda Carpenter, TownHall
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tom Daschle withdrew his name from consideration to become Health and Human Services Secretary because he didn’t want to be a “distraction” from the president’s agenda. Gibbs said Nancy Killefer, who was on track to become the federal government’s chief performance officer, resigned on Tuesday for similar reasons…Obama’s Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, however, also had tax problems. He failed to pay $34,000 in taxes while working for the IMF. Gibbs said Geithner’s transgressions were not a deal-breaker because “Mr. Geithner has gone through a process..he has gone through the full Senate with bipartisan support.”
Okay, but didn’t he get that “bipartisan support” when he was the only tax cheat up for nomination? Or at least the only one we knew about at the time?
Why, Mr. President, is there one set of rules for Timothy Geithner, yet another set of rules for Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer?
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It’s only fair of me to post a response here to say that all three of these tax-evasion fiascos are a shock and disappointment to me. I voted for President Obama and I know he is not fully responsible for making these selections, but the buck does stop with him.
Bad judgment. Mistake. Either way, not what was preached. I sure hope Geithner is one heck of a cabinet member. Still, $34k in unpaid taxes by the incoming Secretary of TREASURY is off-putting.
Report away. Draw conclusions. Do what you do on this one, Michael. You won’t get an argument from me…
… at least no one died as a result, let alone 8,000 Americans (sorry, had to give a little perspective).
- Tom
The 16th Amendment is questionable. That being said, there are probably a lot more people in government that don’t pay taxes. Get upset about the IRS agents that don’t pay taxes. And as for Obama’s “I messed up”, did we once ever hear it from George W. Bush?
I’m sure there are a lot who don’t pay taxes Stella. In fact if Obama keeps nominating them, we won’t need the stimulus bill, they’ll be able to pay off the deficit.
And this is not about George Bush. It’s about Barack Obama who promised to be different (he hasn’t), he promised change (his staff is like a Clinton fraternity reunion), he promised transparency and allowing the American people five days to review ANY bill online. He’s violated that twice in three weeks.
He promised bipartisanship and then when challenged wouldn’t negotiate but said “I won.”
This is just the first three weeks of his administration. Not a good start now is it?
“Not ready to lead” is ringing pretty true.