Obama Cabinet Nominee Back Taxes: Daschle Edition

For a former Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle is pretty stupid. Even though he suspected he might have to pay $128,000 in taxes on a car and driver (which were courtesy of the equity firm he was working for) all the way back in June, Daschle never told the Obama transition team when he was selected to head the Department of Health and Human Services last November. Instead, he told them about it a few weeks ago. While Daschle is "deeply embarrassed and disappointed," you can't blame one Democratic senator's aide saying to the NY Times, "It’s totally shocking. Why do we have to continue to have the same story over and over again with these nominees?” Daschle will meet with Senate members today to discuss the matter; Politico suggests that some think Senate Finance Committee member Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), who defended back taxes-owing Timothy Geithner, is slow-rolling Daschle because, well, he doesn't like him.

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By Jen Chung in News on February 2, 2009 11:00 AM

Comments [rss]

Pull My Finger

Democrats think they should not have to pay taxes. Just everybody else they raise the on.

SP

Yeah, like Joe the Plumber and Mitt Romney. Oh wait...

Pull My Finger

BUT THEY NEVER MADE A STINK ABOUT HOW PAYING MORE TAXES MAKES YOU A BETTER AMERICAN FUCK HIM

Toby von Meistersinger

All politicians are corrupt, but some politicians are more corrupt than others.

AvenueHebrew

See, here you have a guy who far more obviously blew off his tax obligations and is playing dumb. I still stand behind Geithner on his error, as he took ownership of the problem immediately and settled it; Daschle's clearly known about this and sat on his hands. It's embarrassing.

EastRiver

I still stand behind Geithner on his error, as he took ownership of the problem immediately and settled it

?????? First, the IRS audited two years of Geithner's returns. Second, knowing the error on those returns Geithner did not do anything about the previous years he made the same mistake. It was only after being nominated that Obama's staff caught the problem and Geithner paid up for the other years. So when exactly did he "take ownership of the problem"?

Wza

Turbo Tax's fault for politicians

Jail time and/or penalties for regular folks.

God bless America!

Steven

What a joke. Nothing changes it seems.

Felix Hoenikker

But, but, it was Turbo Tax's fault....

WTF with the Elton glasses, dude?

(oh, per wiki:

Red Glasses

In October 2008 Daschle began to regularly wear bright red glasses. He stated that this was done to show his solidarity with the fight for women's heart health and to symbolize change in America's political landscape.)