But that doesn't address the ethical problem because Obama was insisting on the Daschle appointment even after Obama knew Daschle had failed to pay all his taxes.
Obama's Picks Don't Change the Culture in Washington
After South Dakota's voters defeated Tom Daschle for re-election in 2004, he pocketed some $5 million advising clients how to seek influence with the government while, at the same time, technically avoiding the label of lobbyist. Then, he failed to pay $146,000 in taxes on that handsome income.
Meanwhile, Daschle became what The Washington Post said was one of Obama's "closest and earliest political allies." So Obama selected Daschle to run the huge Department of Health and Human Services, where he would oversee the health-care companies that had been paying him so generously. Obama planned for HHS Secretary Daschle to play a dual role with an additional perch called the White House Office of Health Reform, where he would coordinate the federal takeover of the entire U.S. medical system.
Even after it became publicly known that Daschle had failed to pay all his income taxes, Obama defiantly declared that he was "absolutely" standing by Daschle. Obama urged Daschle to continue his campaign for confirmation by an obedient Democratic Senate majority.
It was not until Obama's biggest cheerleaders, the big-city newspapers (which Bernard Goldberg says have a "slobbering love affair" with Obama) criticized this notorious lapse in ethics that Daschle withdrew.
Obama nevertheless did not promise to cut off dealings with Daschle, who can now go back to his lucrative job of representing the health-care industry.
In giving up his attempt for Cabinet confirmation, Daschle said, "I remain one of its (health-system reform) most fervent supporters."
Obama has tried to dig himself out of this hole by conceding that he "made a mistake" and "screwed up." But that doesn't address the ethical problem because Obama was insisting on the Daschle appointment even after Obama knew Daschle had failed to pay all his taxes.
Posted on 2/14/2009 6:56:01 PM by TMassApproved 2/20/2009 2:46 PM