Hope and Fail

Nominating Daschle for HHS

Adding to the new administration’s nomination troubles, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services. From ABC News:

In a stunning setback for President Obama, Tom Daschle abruptly withdrew his nomination to become secretary of Health and Human Services today, following an admission that he failed to pay about $140,000 in back taxes.

In a joint Obama-Daschle statement, Obama accepted Daschle’s withdrawal “with sadness and regret.”

“Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I,” Obama said.

Daschle, a former Senate majority leader from South Dakota, who had been one of Obama’s closest advisers throughout his presidential campaign, said his tax problems meant he had lost the faith of the American people and was therefore unable to serve.

“This work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction,” Daschle said in a statement released by the White House.

“Right now, I am not that leader, and [I] will not be a distraction,” he said.

The president had also slated Daschle to lead his health care reform efforts.

Of course, Daschle isn’t the only nominee with tax troubles, though his are more far-reaching. According to CNN:

Daschle, the former Senate majority leader, apologized Monday for failing to pay his taxes in full. He said earlier he was “deeply embarrassed” for a series of errors that included failing to report $15,000 in charitable donations, unreported car service and more than $80,000 in unreported income from consulting.

Daschle recently filed amended tax returns and paid more than $140,000 in back taxes and interest for 2005-2007.

The New York Times even called for him to withdraw. In addition to his tax problems, the paper cited his cozy fiduciary relationship with the health care industry.

The president called the nomination a mistake:

“I think I screwed up,” Obama said in a wide-ranging interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

“And I take responsibility for it and we’re going to make sure we fix it so it doesn’t happen again.”

Sure. It won’t happen again.