Opening the New York Times on Tuesday morning, former senator and nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle made up his mind.  The second nominee for a cabinet post to face tax problems did the right thing by withdrawing from the nomination.  The former Senate leader Daschle failed to pay $128,000 in taxes mostly on a personal car and driver provided by a firm he had consulted.  Had Mr. Daschle joined the cabinet, he would be yet another former lobbyist in the Obama administration.  President Obama had spoken against lobbyists working in his White House during the campaign.

It seems that some rules can be broken–even if they are self imposed rules.  I urge the president to refrain from further breaking of campaign promises.  We must keep in mind that the president is, after all, a politician.  However, his supporters will only tolerate so much.  Personally, I liked the former Senate majority leader, but he made a huge error and should have been cut off much sooner.  Tim Geithner, recently confirmed Treasury secretary, had similar tax problems but he passed because he was seen as the only one who can fix the current economic problem we face.  I’m sure someone else will be able to take Daschle’s place and solve our health care problems too.

Editorial - The Travails of Tom Daschle

Daschle Ends Bid for Post; Obama Concedes Mistake