Obama's Cabinet: Failure to Pay Taxes a Recurring Theme

Are these guys being checked out at all before they are nominated? I mean seriously, this makes two now. And these are cabinet choices! According to an Associated Press story, published late January 30, Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle has some tax questions that need to be examined as the Senate weighs his confirmation.

"Former Sen. Tom Daschle, picked by President Barack Obama to lead his health reform efforts, recently filed amended tax returns to report $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest, according to a Senate document obtained by The Associated Press."

And: "The White House acknowledged Friday that 'some tax issues' had emerged in connection with the nomination, but a spokesman said the president is confident the former Senate Democratic leader will be confirmed as the new health secretary."

Sure he is. Why wouldn't the President be confident of Daschle's nomination? If tax evader Geithner could be confirmed, why not tax evader Daschle. This seems to be a recurring theme. I wonder who'll be next? Maybe President Obama should tap House Democrat Charlie Rangel for an administration post. He's a tax evader, too. He'd fit right in. They could start a new tax evader club.

"Daschle filed amended tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007 to reflect additional income for consulting work, the use of a car service and reduced deductions for charitable contributions. He filed the returns after Obama announced he intended to nominate Daschle to head the Health and Human Services Department."

Does that sound familiar? Didn't Geithner clear up some tax "issues" after he was chosen for a cabinet post?

Seems the unreported income surrounding the Daschle issue is nearly $350,000. Wow. Throw in supposedly banned lobbyists at Defense and Treasury and it sounds like more change we can believe in.

"ABC News first reported on the tax issue Friday evening. A Daschle spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. White House spokesman Bill Burton said Daschle's role in the new Obama administration was not in danger of being derailed."

Of course not. This is quickly becoming a criminal enterprise.

I love this quote: "He was one of Obama's top advisers on health care, having seen how the Clinton administration bungled it during the 1990s, and urged Obama to make his efforts more transparent so the public had faith in them."

In other words, don't follow Daschle's tax example.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090131/ap_on_go_pr_wh/daschle_taxes