Another Swing and a Miss

President Obama ran a campaign promising change.  He ran promising openness and a ethical administration while denouncing the Bush administration.  However, the reality seems to be quite different (like so much of Obama’s campaign rhetoric vs. reality).  So far, Obama’s track record for ethical nominees is closer to a bad SNL skit rather than an administration that the American people can be proud of.

- Bill Richardson withdrew his name to be Commerce Secretary due to a grand jury investigation into political favors to donors.

- Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner failed to pay more than $40,000 in payroll taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund.  This is the person who was placed in charge of collecting taxes from the rest of us?  What would happen to any of us for not paying $40,000 in taxes?  I doubt we would get a promotion.

- Tom Daschle, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, had to withdraw his name today as pressure mounted.  The problems Daschle faced were due to his filing more than $140,000 in back taxes and interest (he failed to disclose more than $300,000 in past income, including the use of a car and driver for three years).

- Nancy Killefer had to withdraw her name today as well due to tax issues.  She “failed for a year and a half to pay employment taxes on household help, has withdrawn her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government.”  Chief Performance Officer?  Seems like with her tax issues she fits right in with the rest of Obama’s picks.

I thought it was patriotic to pay taxes?  Someone get Vice President Biden on the phone!