Obama admits he 'screwed up'

[philw]

<http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25006843-1702,00.html>

Barack Obama admits he 'screwed up' over Tom Daschle's withdrawal

PRESIDENT Barack Obama admitted "I screwed up" after his political soul mate and pick to lead health reform Tom Daschle withdrew in a storm over personal tax issues.
On Mr Obama's worst day in the White House so far, he also lost another nominee - Nancy Killefer, who he had named as Government budget watchdog, and termed one of his most "important'' appointments - also over tax issues.

The twin bombshells overshadowed Mr Obama's bid to showcase his economic stimulus plan in a flurry of television interviews and reflected the potential traps he has set for himself by promising a new era of ethical Government.

"I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes,'' Mr Obama said in an interview with CNN.

"I think this was a mistake. I think I screwed up. And, you know, I take responsibility for it and we're going to make sure we fix it so it doesn't happen again,'' he said.

Mr Obama had hoped to pile pressure on senators debating his massive stimulus plan, but the distractions scuppered the media offensive as he was forced to face down ethics questions instead.

Earlier, Mr Obama said he accepted the decision by Senator Daschle, one of his earliest supporters, with regret after the former senate majority leader decided he could not escape a row over his payment of $US128,000 ($197,000) in back taxes plus some $US12,000 in interest.

Senator Daschle said did not want to be a distraction for Mr Obama's ambitious plans to reform healthcare.

"Lives and livelihoods are at stake,'' he said in a White House statement, even as many of his former Senate colleagues said the row may have blown over and he would likely have been confirmed.

also   <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25006666-26397,00.html>

AN embarrassed President Barack Obama admitted he had "screwed up" after his political soulmate and choice to lead health reform Tom Daschle withdrew in a storm over personal tax issues.

On Mr Obama's worst day in the White House so far, he also lost another nominee _ Nancy Killefer, who he had named as government budget watchdog, and termed one of his most “important” appointments _ also over tax issues.

The twin bombshells overshadowed Mr Obama's bid to showcase his economic stimulus plan in a flurry of television interviews and reflected the potential traps he has set for himself by promising a new era of ethical government.

“I don't want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes,” Mr Obama said in an interview with CNN.

“I think this was a mistake. I think I screwed up. And, you know, I take responsibility for it and we're going to make sure we fix it so it doesn't happen again.”

Mr Obama had hoped to pile pressure on senators debating his massive stimulus plan, but the distractions scuppered the media offensive as he was forced to face down ethics questions instead.

Earlier, Mr Obama said he accepted the decision by Mr Daschle, one of his earliest supporters, with regret after the former senate majority leader decided he could not escape a row over his payment of $US128,000 in back taxes plus about $12,000 in interest.

Mr Daschle said did not want to be a distraction for Mr Obama's ambitious plans to reform healthcare.

“Lives and livelihoods are at stake,” he said in a White House statement, even as many of his former Senate colleagues said the row may have blown over and he would likely have been confirmed.

The White House denied that it had any role in the decision, or that he was pushed to decline the post of secretary of health and human services and White House health czar.

“The decision was made by senator Daschle,” said spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Mr Daschle's demise came hours after Mr Obama's nominee for White House budget czar Killefer withdrew her nomination, reportedly over her failure to pay past unemployment taxes for household help.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner had earlier survived a controversy over his own unpaid taxes though his confirmation was delayed. He was eventually sworn in last week.

Mr Obama tried to keep the focus on the economy as he named Republican Senator Judd Gregg as his commerce secretary.

“Our economy is shrinking, unemployment rolls are growing, businesses and families can't get credit, and small businesses can't secure the loans they need to create jobs and get their products to market,” Mr Obama said.

“With the stakes this high, we cannot afford to get trapped in the same old partisan gridlock.”

The Senate meanwhile took up debate in earnest on the stimulus bill, with Democratic leaders promising to give Republican amendments a full airing.

Republicans complain they were shut out in the House of Representatives, and did not offer Mr Obama a single vote when the package was passed last week.

Obama political strategist David Axelrod was on Capitol Hill to lobby senators, and raised the prospect of small changes to the bill.

“We want as many votes for this package as we can possibly get _ Republican, Democrat, but the key obviously is to pass it,” he said.

“I think he's very pleased with the direction in which we're moving. Obviously there are going to be nips and tucks along the way.”

But Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell dug in for much bigger changes to the legislation.

“Everybody agrees that there ought to be a stimulus package, the question is, how big and what do we spend it on?” he said.

“The House bill is an embarrassment, the Senate bill on the floor is not markedly better, our goal will be to pare it down and to target it right at the problem.”

The maneuverings on the stimulus bill are consuming the Obama administration so the focus on difficult confirmation fights are an unwelcome distraction.

Other Obama nominees like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder have sailed through confirmation votes despite early ethics questions.

ok so he has Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer  with "tax issues"  got to be a good start

I also heard that there was some tax issues with the treasure or something like that  am not sure about that.

[alfsauve]

Oh yes, he hasn't quite stuck to his guns on ethics.   Here's the other two cases.  They were confirmed already.

First was the Secretary of Treasury, Geithner, who owed back taxes and when audited only paid those for which the audit covered, even though everyone knew he owed for more years as well.   Then just before he was nominated, he paid the rest.  HE'S NOW THE CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR

Then there is Deputy Sectary of Defense, Lynn, who was a lobbyist for Raytheon.   Remember Obama's pledge not to allow lobbyists in his administration?    Forget that.  He waived the ethics contract so Lynn could be in charge of procurement for the DoD!    Get that, a lobbyist for the largest defense contractor is now in charge of procurement.

[Timothy]

If those two tax cheats were his 1st choice, who the hell is gonna be his 2nd?

What a putz...

[Pathfinder]

Not to mention his 1st choices for other spots, like Hitlery, Holder, the beyond-PETA guy becoming the regulatory czar, etc. etc. etc.

We are witnessing the destruction of a way of life here folks, kind of the final nails in the coffin.

[ericire12]

Oh yes, he hasn't quite stuck to his guns on ethics.   Here's the other two cases.  They were confirmed already.

First was the Secretary of Treasury, Geithner, who owed back taxes and when audited only paid those for which the audit covered, even though everyone knew he owed for more years as well.   Then just before he was nominated, he paid the rest.  HE'S NOW THE CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR

Then there is Deputy Sectary of Defense, Lynn, who was a lobbyist for Raytheon.   Remember Obama's pledge not to allow lobbyists in his administration?    Forget that.  He waived the ethics contract so Lynn could be in charge of procurement for the DoD!    Get that, a lobbyist for the largest defense contractor is now in charge of procurement.

That Geithner thing is a travesty. I heard on talk radio yesterday that if any avg Joe working for the IRS has any errors on their tax returns or files late or anything like that they are fired. The justification is that they are supposed to be held to a higher standard...... guess that rule doesnt apply for Obama's boyz.

Lets not forget about Gov Richardson either.....

Corruption you can believe it!

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

More former lobbyists:

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/03/the-list-of-lobbyists-in-the-obama-administration/

   Here are former lobbyists Obama has tapped for top jobs:

 * Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
    * Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
    * William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
    * William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
    * David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
    * Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
    * Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
    * Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
    * Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
    * Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
    * Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
    * Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.


--->This doesn’t count Tom Daschle, who never registered as a lobbyist but got paid $5.2 million for his political connections in pursuit of preferential treatment for his clients in the health-care industry.

[ericire12]

More corruption.....

Obama names “most fined” Washington State bureaucrat to HUD
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/04/obama-names-most-fined-washington-state-bureaucrat-to-hud/

[ericire12]

Comedy Gold:

Tom Daschle's 1999 Comments On "Tax Cheaters"


http://youtube.com/watch?v=u0u0LHuB4-4

[runstowin]

An incompetent and dishonest Messiah, say it ain't so.

[WatchManUSA]

HE MADE A MITAKE?  YA THINK?

This is a pretty basic ethical issue.  This does not inspire confidence! 

If he knew about the tax issue then the nomination should have never been made.  If he didn't know about it then his vetting process was bad.  Once he heard about the tax problem he should have immediately pulled it.  So was it a mistake, incompetence or a fundamental disregard for the rule of law?

I don't expect BHO to have a cabinet that represents my political views.  After all elections matter and the one who wins gets to call the shots.

However, I do expect that the people he has in the administration live by and be measured by the same rules we all are judged.

If BHO can make such a “MISTAKE” on this issue what else is he going to mishandle?  Iran just tested a small ballistic missile for cryin' out loud!

I think I made a mistake...ethics and most Democrats.  Ethical standards can never be applied when you have none in the first place.