Daschle Excuse Doesn't Wash

Update: Couldn't Obama and the Dems have at least waited a year before demonstrating how corrupt they are?

Based on the paragraphs in Daschle's letter below we are to believe he raised a tax issue with his accountant "earlier in the year" and it went ignored by his accountant and Daschle until the vetting process uncovered additional problems. So it would seem that without an appointment, he would never have paid those tax monies, no? And his letter may provide some insight as to why he waited a month to report this in the first place.

Last fall, when I was being considered for this position, the Presidential Transition Team’s vetters reviewed my records. During the course of those reviews, the vetting team flagged charitable contributions they felt were deducted in error. When my accountant realized I would need to file amended returns, he suggested addressing another matter I had raised with him earlier in the year: whether the use of a car service offered to me by a close friend might be a tax issue. In December, my accountant advised me that it should be reported as imputed income in the amended returns.

One thing we know for certain at this point, his 1099 was altered between his learning of the issue and the time he came forward. Why not give a new President the benefit of knowing the full scope of the issue right up front? Question: What did Obama really know and when did he know it? 

I am not sure I buy the statement that Daschle withheld this all that time. That alone would be cause enough for Obama to cut him loose would it not? Do you really want a high level appointee who doesn't tell you right upfront about serious problems that might embarrass you too? Or do you want one who first plays CYA for himself instead, leaving you on the hook for looking like a poor vetter of staff in your first month in office? But Obama didn't cut Daschle loose. Hmm. He must have some powerful friends.

What a coincidence this, huh?

At about the same time, the friend’s company, a consulting client, informed my accountant of a clerical error it had made on the Form 1099 it provided to me and reported to the IRS for 2007. In an effort to ensure full compliance and the most complete disclosure possible of my personal finances, we remedied these issues by filing amended tax returns with full payments, including interest.

Comments

[Fred Beloit]

Daschle's back taxes are urgently needed to fund this bag of crap designed to reopen closed military bases in congressional districts at a cost of $180 mil a year. Alcee Hastings, who probably has such a closed base in his district is the happy spender of your money for these potential concentration camps of the future. But Kentuckey? Sorry Charlie, nada for you. We now have a big media supported administration and congress in charge.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-645

From Alcee's past via Wiki:
"In 1981, Hastings was charged with accepting a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence and a return of seized assets for 21 counts of racketeering by Frank and Thomas Romano, and of perjury in his testimony about the case. He was acquitted by a jury after his alleged co-conspirator, William Borders, refused to testify in court (resulting in a jail sentence for Borders).

In 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives took up the case, and Hastings was impeached for bribery and perjury by a vote of 413-3. Voters to impeach included Democratic Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, John Conyers and Charles Rangel. He was then convicted in 1989 by the United States Senate, becoming the sixth federal judge in the history of the United States to be removed from office by the Senate. The vote on the first article was 69 for and 26 opposed, providing five votes more than the two-thirds of those present that were needed to convict. The first article accused the judge of conspiracy. Conviction on any single article was enough to remove the judge from office. The Senate vote cut across party lines, with Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont voting to convict his fellow party member, and Arlen Specter voting to acquit.[1]"

[Lala]

Car Service? He calls a chauffeur and limo car service?

Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter. ” Sen. Tom Daschle, (D) Congressional Record, May 7, 1998, p. S4507.

BTW he's another one with a "Homestead" problem in Wash. DC just like Charlie Rangel has.

[Fred Beloit]

We are now told Daschle's sorry. But this is so unnecessary. Even the future head of the Treasury couldn't find a decent, competent accountant. There just aren't any more of those great old eye shade guys around. It really is a shame. Wonder if the tax code might be too complicated for honest folks like G and D?

But wait a second. Aren't guys like this responsible for making the tax code so complex only a quantum mechanic could make heads or tails out of it? Yes they are. Apology not accepted, get these crooks out of government now.

[Neo]

I'm waiting for the announcement that Geraldo Rivera has finally found the secret vaults of "Al" Capone which, to the surprise of everybody, contains a letter in which the 1930's organized crime figure states that he is sorry that he "forgot" to pay his taxes. The letter would further state that he is a registered Democrat and he should therefore be given a "pass" so that he could continue his many business ventures in the great city of Chicago, rather than die of cardiac arrest (possibly associated with the complications of third-stage neurosyphilis) eight years after completing his sentence for tax evasion at the federal prison located on the island of Alcatraz.

They said that if I voted for John McCain, the federal government would be run by criminals. They were right.

[Jumbo]

For those on the right: When you admit Bush screwed the country, it's citizens, and the rest of the planet then you can say what you wish about someone else. Any other topic coming out of your pie holes is irrelevant and stoopid. Your choice created a firestorm, say your sorry for supporting this debacle. Maybe then God will let you into the Kingdom of Heaven. If you cannot admit you supported a loser and a criminal, God will punish you.

[James Goad]

HAHA: To whom it may concern, you better quit excepting the apologies of any of these people, D.R.or I who cheat and lie to the people about there taxes. If it was me I would be in jail. Something has to be done with these people to set example, we the tax payers are fed up with this B.S. James Goad.

[M J Pike]

Obama must have a pea brain, who knows nothing about anything. Is he insane? To insist so strongly on these appointments. Obama is scaring me. I pay double taxes, and how is that fair. Thanks idiot asses

[mark l.]

"If you cannot admit you supported a loser and a criminal, God will punish you."

love to hear about the 'will of god' from a moron. Did he speak to you in a dream? I lost a dog when I was young, could you ask him what happened to it?

[AJ in So.Cal]

He's sorry? Only because he was caught and put into a corner. When we, the common folk, don't pay taxes, the IRS contacts our employers and garnishes our wages. Senators and politicians have a different set of rules. Every taxpayer in the USA should speak out and be outraged that thus far, two appointees of Pres.Obama have failed to pay their taxes. Are you not disturbed by this? Is it just me?