Change We Can Believe In?
by Francisco Gonzalez ~ February 2, 2009
Bill Richardson. Tim Geithner. Tom Daschle. These three men represent three major appointments in the Obama Administration.
As a candidate for President, Barack Obama promised us that he would “change Washington” and do away with “the politics as usual.” His pick of 36-year Senator, “Mr. Inside the Beltway” himself, Joe Biden, as Vice President, should have given us all a forewarning that Obama wasn’t seeking change, only political gain.
First, Obama appointed New Mexico Governor and former Presidential candidate Bill Richardson to be his Commerce Secretary (folks, that’s a Cabinet-level position). But Richardson was forced to step down from his appointment before he could even be considered for confirmation. Why? Apparently he had engaged in some “pay-to-play” dealings, as he was involved with a company that has done business with the state government of New Mexico.
Then came Timothy Geithner. Some viewed Geithner as a great pick, being that he was President of the Federal Reserve. We can debate whether being President of the Federal Reserve is credible on one’s resume these days, but he was cited as one who was intelligent, someone who could help get this country back on track. President Obama nominated Geithner to be his Secretary of Treasury (a cabinet position first held by Alexander Hamilton). The Treasury Department also oversees the IRS. But, there’s just one problem. Geithner made a “mistake.” For several years, he forgot to pay his taxes.
At his Senate confirmation hearings, Geithner admitted that he had not paid $35,000 in self-employment taxes for several years. Now on the one hand, that’s either tax evasion (which is a crime) or as Geithner claimed it was simply an honest “mistake.” Well, either you’re breaking the law or you’re making mistakes with your own finances. How on earth can our nation decide to put THIS GUY in charge of the nation’s finances during a time where we face such economic challenges? Well, neither our new President Obama nor the Democrat-controlled Congress thought this was as big of a deal as most Americans did. They confirmed him and he is now our Secretary of Treasury.
Third on Obama’s naughty list for cabinet picks is our old friend, former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle, who Obama nominated to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services. But, wait. Another tax problem. You’ve got to be kidding me, right? Nope. Daschle recently filed amended tax returns to report $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest, according to a Senate document obtained by The Associated Press. Daschle’s confirmation hearings are set to begin as questions circle both him and our new President. All of these people have one thing in common: Barack Obama.
Obama’s Vice President, Joe Biden, told us many months ago on the campaign trail that it is “patriotic” to pay higher taxes. So long as those taxpayers aren’t in the Presidential cabinet, one supposes. It is amazing that those who call for higher taxes (liberals) think it’s ok when one of their own gets caught cheating on their own. If these were Wall Street capitalists caught cheating on their taxes, they’d be locked up. But, inside the beltway of the Obama Administration, not only are you free from jail time, you get a new job in the President’s cabinet. The only hope for those who believe in low taxes and less government is that maybe these hypocrites will realize how burdensome it actually is to pay one’s taxes and have a self-conversion which would bring some real change to Washington by reducing the burden the American taxpayer has to carry while these hypocritical politicians usurp more power.
Is this change you can believe in? Is this the change Obama promised?