Obama Appoints Another Tax Cheat

I'm beginning to think that tax evasion is a requirement to work in the top positions of the Obamessiah's administration:

So, Woodward was right when he hinted about further problems along these lines for Obama.

Daschle was "given" a car and driver to use by a wealthy Democratic friend. (I need to get me one of those.)

He, um, assumed he did not have to pay taxes on it.

Why on earth would he assume such a thing? It's ridiculous.

But wait...as is so predictably and depressingly normal with corrupt Democrats...there's more:

Former Sen. Tom Daschle, picked by President Barack Obama to lead the administration's health reform efforts, recently filed amended tax returns to report $128,203 in unpaid taxes and $11,964 in interest, according to a Senate document obtained by The Associated Press.

The White House acknowledged Friday that "some tax issues" had emerged in connection with the nomination, but a spokesman said the president is confident the former Senate Democratic leader will be confirmed as the new health secretary.

Daschle filed amended tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007 to reflect additional income for consulting work, the use of a car service and reductions in charitable contribution deductions. He filed the returns after the announcement that Obama intended to nominate him to head the Health and Human Services Department.

How much unreported income did he earn to have to pay almost $150,000 in back taxes?

$353,552

Kind of an unforgettable number to most people.

Of course, there were 10 Republicans in the Senate who still voted for Geithner's approval; Michelle Malkin wonders how they'll act on Daschle:

What, pray tell, will these apologists for tax evasion do with Tom Daschle? Like Geithner, Daschle pleads ignorance – and only paid back taxes and interest during the vetting process for his Health and Human Services Secretary nomination.

I'll give you three guesses, but none of them will really be necessary.

Anyway, first Daschle 'forgets' to pay taxes on a car and driver -- and I'm sure we're not talking about a Pakistani with a taxi cab here -- then he 'forgets' to pay taxes on over $350,000 worth of consulting fees he was paid. Naturally, the consequence for these oversights is to be appointed to the President's cabinet.

Two pieces of professional...ahem...analysis:

No wonder Democrats are so callous about higher taxes—they don’t care about them because they just don’t pay ‘em. The Cabinet should be expanded under Democrats—we’d get more compliance with the law that way.

Still, there is always a silver lining. One good thing about electing a Democrat as President is that, as he nominates fellow Democrats to senior positions in the Executive Branch, millions of dollars in unpaid tax liabilities come to light and are belatedly paid to the IRS, with interest. It is, perhaps, the most tangible advantage of electing Democrats to office.

First there was Bill Richardson, then there was Tim Geithner, and now there's Tom Daschle...gosh, these Democrats are so forgetful. Which party was it that had the culture of corruption again? 'Cause I keep forgetting.

There's my two cents.


Sources:
http://minx.cc/?post=282070
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/01/022690.php
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/31/what-will-the-bend-over-republicans-do-with-tax-cheat-tom-daschle/
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OWM4MjQ0OWU1ZTZkN2U1ZGUzZGMxMDM2ZWYyMWM4YzQ