Obama admits errors over cabinet

[jonren]

"Tom Daschle was to become the new secretary of health, and Nancy Killefer was Mr Obama's choice to oversee budget and spending reform.

They both withdrew when questions were raised about their tax affairs."


news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7868824.stm


These two are no loss. They were obviously prepared to serve as long as their tax cheating was not exposed. Another example of politicians 'at the trough' on both sides of the Atlantic.

[justmyopinion]

It was refreshing to hear him say that he screwed up ie take responsibility

[Marshall]

There's a representative (Charles Rangel) who hasn't paid taxes for years on a rental property he owns. He finally paid up after public outcry. These people think they are elitists for some reason.

Here's a new bill being introduced in his name:
www.examiner.com/x-2304-DC-Republican-Examiner~y2009m2d3-Rangel-Rule-bill-introduced-for-tax-cheats

[limeylily]

These two are no loss. They were obviously prepared to serve as long as their tax cheating was not exposed. Another example of politicians 'at the trough' on both sides of the Atlantic. - Jonren

As I remember the story, the FBI managed to get Al Capone arrested and imprisoned on tax evasion charges. Will any of these crooks be prosecuted, I wonder, or will they get away with their ill-gotten gains like the Labour MPs who sold peerages and the Labour members of the House of Lords who took bribes for amending legislation?

[Gort]

Obama is going to take the hump when they dont tell him about the Roswell saucer crash....Ha hah

[flatandy]

It's nice to have a head of government who doesn't pretend he's completely infallible and understands that some decisions he makes are cock-ups, rather than just trying to continue pretending that everything is fine even though it's apparent it's not.

Can't remember the last time we had one of those in either the US or UK. It's refreshing.

[ricklinc]

Closest we had was Blair and his endless apologies for the mistakes and sins of others. His apology for the slave trade was so inspiring. Never heard him apologise for the 45 minutes lie though.

[flatandy]

Yeah, but that was him apologising for stuff other people did a long, long time ago. Not exactly the same as apologising for (or even admitting) his own mistakes.

[jonren]

"It was refreshing to hear him say that he screwed up ie take responsibility"


Something our PM should read and take to heart. According to Clunk, he has never made an error.

[anotherlevel]

Obama probably didn't know his appointments had tax problems when he chose them for the posts so really no error, i have taken a wait and see stance on Obama but to me he is making really good noises, his announcement of salary caps for the bailed out bank execs is in my opinion a good start, a pity our PM didn't have the guts/ingenuity or whatever to do the same, but there again he is too busy saving the worlds banking system the to solve the issues at home.

[Woolf]

Not exactly the same as apologising for (or even admitting) his own mistakes.

How dare you even suggest that St Anthony could make a mistake, he was and is God's envoy on Earth.

Well, that's his opinion of himself.
Everyone else thinks he is a Grade A cnut.

[Marshall]

I agree that Obama acted like a stand-up guy in taking the blame.
What's with their vetting process though? Shouldn't the last question be something like "anything you haven't mentioned that could become an issue?"

[vania]

Probably is but so many people think they won't get caught out. Look at all the politicians involved in sex scandals.

[lawrence]

Looks like we got another tax evader in the prospective labor sec , Solice. What is up with all these tax cheats ?

[Marshall]

Not her, her husband. Holding out for 16 years for less than $8k for crying out loud.
I wonder if he paid penalties and interest? Seems like that only applies to us peasants outside of the beltway.