"I screwed up"

Posted on February 3, 2009
Filed Under Political Rantings |

At last, some admission of poor judgement from Obama on recent nominees for cabinet posts. Tom Daschele’s nomination was withdrawn after it became clear that failure to pay federal taxes was going to remain an issue dogging the Obama administration.

Barack Obama on Tuesday gave up his nomination fight for Tom Daschle and a second high-profile appointee who failed to pay all their taxes, fearing ugly confirmation battles that would undercut his claims to ethical high ground and cripple his presidency in just its second week. “I screwed up,” he declared.

“It’s important for this administration to send a message that there aren’t two sets of rules - you know, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks who have to pay their taxes,” Obama said in one of a series of interviews with TV anchors.

“I’m frustrated with myself, with our team. … I’m here on television saying I screwed up,” Obama said in an interview on NBC’s “Nightly News with Brian Williams.” He repeated virtually the same words in several other interviews.

Nancy Killefer’s nomination as a chief performance officer (to make the entire government run better!,) was also withdrawn. However, another cabinet member with tax problems, Timothy Geithner (as treasury secretary) belatedly paid $34,000 in income taxes after his name was proposed. He was confirmed.

Applaud Obama for pulling these nominees. But why were they proposed in the first place? Isn’t Obama the one who pledged to change government and bring a new era to Washington? One of high ethics along with “hope and change?”

Style aside, Obama is just another Chicago machine politician.