Obama Treasury nominee: Hey, sorry for being a tax cheat
posted at 12:55 pm on January 21, 2009 by Allahpundit
A quickie from this morning’s Finance Committee hearing. He made a common mistake, Team Barry assures us. Except that it isn’t true, especially considering that he was reimbursed by the IMF for the taxes he “forgot” to pay. What’s his excuse, then? Simple: He doesn’t have one. Or at least, he didn’t until today, when he kinda sorta blamed … TurboTax. And momentarily sent Intuit’s shares plummeting in the process.
I use TT and pay self-employment tax and have never had a problem, but then I have an incentive to be extra careful: Unlike Geithner, I might face consequences if I make a mistake. Exit question: Should the GOP take Newt’s advice and vote against him? They can’t block him, obviously, so the gesture would be purely symbolic. Do they gain more by standing up for the taxpayer than they lose from appearing obstructionist in the midst of an economic crisis with Obama surfing a wave of Hopenchange goodwill?
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Please forgive me. I forgot to pay the interest on my mortgage. Ooops. I also forgot to pay my mortgage.
Oops again-I also forgot to pay all my credit card bills.
Thanks Obama.
Badger40 on January 21, 2009 at 12:58 PM
One law for me, another for thee.
This is disgusting. The next time our
commiedemocrap house member is at a business meeting, I plan on asking him about this… and Rangell.bullseye on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
We need a tax system that is understandable by the people who write the tax system.
lorien1973 on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
vote against him. Somebody else can do the job.
vinman on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Exit answer: Fight. You get zapped if you roll over and show your belly.
Limerick on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
What the hey…..the empty suits now are in charge!
grapeknutz on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
vote to block
vote to block
vote to block
if there’s one nominee that can be voted against, it’s a “rich white guy that didnt pay his taxes”. no interest groups to rile, and some fiscal conservatives will be happy for the gesture
plus, how could msnbc misreport THIS? “republicans voted against geitner because… um…. geitner didnt pay his taxes”
battleoflepanto1571 on January 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Nothing to see here, except the perpetual state of liberal victim hood, wasn’t my fault, its always someone else.
MDWNJ on January 21, 2009 at 1:00 PM
I guess the lesson is, always pay your taxes on time because you never know when you will be called to serve as Secretary of the Treasury.
sammypants on January 21, 2009 at 1:00 PM
That’s the steady hand we need in the treasury.
Indy-Mac killing Schumer would be proud.
lorien1973 on January 21, 2009 at 1:00 PM
What are his ties to George Soros?
Percy_Peabody on January 21, 2009 at 1:01 PM
There really are two America’s.
moonsbreath on January 21, 2009 at 1:01 PM
It doesn’t matter . . . we have a one party Marxist/socialist regime that will confirm anybody they desire and couldn’t care less about any opposition. You might as well give it up people, you’re wasting your breath and typing skills because they’ll do exactly as they please.
rplat on January 21, 2009 at 1:02 PM
i can only imagine if i behaved this way, and then asked for the job.
throw this fuxtard out of dc
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on January 21, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Tell that to the voters in Minnesota….
Hey, it’s all good.
BigWyo on January 21, 2009 at 1:02 PM
can’t we just send him a Billion from TARP? That’s what we are doing with everyone else who knowingly and willingly made bad business decisions???
EXIT QUESTION? Can’t we all just print this whole situation as proof if WE ever get audited and the IRS want’t to FINE US? Wouldn’t this be precedent setting? They guy dodged his taxes for a decade and knew it! If there was ever a fine time to levy a fine, this would be it…..
SDarchitect on January 21, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I bet if the Republicans, as a collective force, vote to block him a few Democrats could peel off also. Reid isn’t strong enough/ doesn’t have the spine to push something unpopular through without Republicans to use as shields.
BadgerHawk on January 21, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Vote. To. Deny. Him.
End of friggin story.
Youngs98 on January 21, 2009 at 1:04 PM
We obviously can’t hold a Cabinet member to the same standard the libtard media held to Joe the Plumber.
Speedwagon82 on January 21, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Lol. I’ll wait breathlessly by the phone in case Geithner gets denied the job.
BadgerHawk on January 21, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Vote to block.
D2Boston on January 21, 2009 at 1:05 PM
You should buy yourself a copy of TurboIOU. It even has a “Always enter zero for amount owed” check box so you can blame it for the mistake.
Dusty on January 21, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Turbo-Tax r hard. Me no like numbers. I can haz bailout plzkthx?
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 21, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Send a message, and set the bar.
GOP needs to stand for something.
Hell, all this guy is going to do is sign checks. Anyone can do that–might as well make it someone that has paid their taxes.
joepub on January 21, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Shouldn’t “I take full responsibilty…” mean something? Something like…taking full responsibility means realizing you’re idiocy (carelessness…whatever) cost you a wonderful opportunity?
Does this mean EVERYONE get’s a one time pass under this guy? That the IRS is about to become a kinder, gentler goverment department under his stewardship?
suntzuyou on January 21, 2009 at 1:06 PM
I never pay my taxes on time. I get hit with late fees. Big deal. They get their pound of flesh and then some.
However, if the IRS was serious about collecting them from this guy, they would have done so by now. They let him slide and so he slid. Big deal.
Blake on January 21, 2009 at 1:07 PM
I love tax cheats, after all many of the Founders were too. I just hate them to be hypocrites and cheat on their taxes and force us to pay ours.
Tim Burton on January 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Obviously this guy is more qualified to head the IRS.
gwelf on January 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Mind boggling. The epic government fail that is our tax code should be considered some sort of crime against humanity.
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
If the Rep just roll over when they know the Dems would vote against a Bush appointee with the same issues, they are just as stupid as the Dems.
As long as we keep hearing “he’s better than what else we might get” we’re going to have questionable nominees shoved down our throats. When the guy doesn’t “walk on water” are they going to use the excuse of “they didn’t want to be accused of being obstructionist?”
katiejane on January 21, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Unlike the Democrats, how about we actually make these decisions based upon what is the right thing to do, rather then what is the most politically expedient? Just a thought. This man is clearly corrupt. This man is, at best, a moron. If the Republicans vote in favor of him simply because they are afraid of some far off political consequences, well, I can be sure of one thing, they are no less shameless then the Democrats.
Zetterson on January 21, 2009 at 1:10 PM
I was paid $100,000
I was also paid $34,000 for my taxes.
On April 15th I forgot about the $34,000.
Will I go to jail?
faraway on January 21, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Well said.
Weight of Glory on January 21, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Wasnt Joe the Plumber (a private citizen who dared ask a question of the One) vilified for not paying his taxes. So much that many stated you cant listen to anything he has ever said because he didnt follow the laws..
Its sure going to be fun to find all the hypocrisy in the next few years. Remember according to liberals things like the Craig or Vitter cases were so important because the hypocrisy they were exhibiting.
CaptainObvious on January 21, 2009 at 1:14 PM
I want the republican party to show some chutzpah (I say this because they are a bunch of cowards) to vote against this man. Irregardless if there is not enough votes to block, send the message that this person’s recklessness and irresponsible behavior is not suitable for the occupation he seeks to acquire.
Would you have someone govern your finances, if he can’t seemingly do so for himself? A treasury secretary, who purposely goes against the law to not pay taxes. Come on, does that make sense?!
jencab on January 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
And if you don’t, not to worry…you’ll still be called to serve.
scalleywag on January 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
I’ve been watching these hearings. The part that scares me, not only this guy but the whole administration, is that it is pretty clear that they have no idea what they are going to do. Every specific question is answered by something like, “We are willing to look at anything. If you have a suggestion, tell us and we’ll look at it.” I want to know what the hell these guys have been doing since the election? Were they like their union brethren, sitting around waiting for the work whistle to blow before they even thought about the work they’re going to do? Sheeeesh!
genso on January 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Thumbs down all the way.
awake on January 21, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Politburo members cannot be held to the same standards as the proletariat.
Still, Geithner is just setting the stage for the boss; when things go badly, Obarfy can simply say, “Sorry, I forgot.”
Bishop on January 21, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Vote to block him. He’s not irreplaceable, anyone off the street can hand out trillions of dollars. That’s the job description of Treasury Secretary these days.
zmdavid on January 21, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Like he says, these were just careless, avoidable mistakes. But they were unitentional and he’ll be more careful. Why can’t he just be Secretary of the Treasury now?
DarkCurrent on January 21, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Vote against him. He will be confirmed anyway, but when he fails, whoever voted against him can take credit and have a perfectly good reason for having voted against him. The guy is a tax cheat.
I’ve been paying self-employment tax for years, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he knew he had to pay. It’s not a common mistake to refuse to pay self-employment tax, although not having enough money to pay it is a fairly common problem.
forest on January 21, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Hey, Media Hack, I’m waiting to see how this one can be spun into a positive.
Any suggestions? Or might the silence be because Bush had nothing to do with this oversight, so it will take just a bit longer to search for a Conservative to blame?
Yoop on January 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
He’s learning well from President The One. Turbo Tax: under the bus you go.
Mallard T. Drake on January 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Any guy who can’t figure out Turbo Tax should be promoted to handling the largest accounting job on the planet.
Chuck Schick on January 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
You have often referred to this sort of jiujitsu as “our crap politics”, and I think this is a good example. A vote is an opinion, and in my opinion Geithner has disqualified himself. So anyone with a brain and a vote should vote against him. If the majority elects him, so be it; move on and work with him.
This BS about insulting the majority by voting against their pick is crap. You don’t filibuster the guy, but if you vote for him, you have supported a tax cheat. Leave that to the partisan Democrats.
Jaibones on January 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Can someone point out to me one of Barry’s nominees that does not have ethical problems? I can’t think of any.
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
He did not pay his taxes. He screwed the system. He is in violation. He is not a clean citizen. He is greedy. But yet, he is about to be a member of the Obama cabinet. Oh, okay.
sherry on January 21, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Good point. I guess I still have to search for my lesson of the day then.
sammypants on January 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Turbo Tax should sue Geithner into the ground for slander.
Bishop on January 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Gates. He seems like a decent pick.
BadgerHawk on January 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
I’m self-employed. I have yet to neglect to pay my Federal Withholding, #Soc. Sec., Worker’s Comp or Medicare because I’m responsible and know the consequences of not paying.
This guy,with his lame apology,knew exactly what he was doing. Now, a tax cheat, will be the one determining if my tax rate goes up or down?
*head desk*
illustr8r on January 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Maybe he just thought that Obama was going to provide for him. Strike him up as the first casualty.
Sir Corky on January 21, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Voting against someone who broke the law cannot be seen as partisan, no matter how hard it is spun. Vote no.
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Turbo Tax should get an attorney.
INC on January 21, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Gates is a carryover from Bush.
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
No problem dude, you’re working for a political party who thinks public schools are a great idea for our grubby urchins, but the precious offspring of Democrat politicians, well, they need what private schools offer.
And public transport/hybrids? Great for the unwashed, filthy masses, just not something Democrat politicians should have to deal with. They scoot around in private jets and SUVs that get 5 mpg.
Democrats are the answer – because they’re more equal than you are.
NoDonkey on January 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
VOTE TO BLOCK.
Time to reforge the GOP as “fiscal conservatives”. forget the social/foreign policy stuff right now. 90% of people only care about the economy today.
FISCAL CONS–>BLOCK!
battleoflepanto1571 on January 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
You beat me!
INC on January 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
“THIS IS NOT THE TURBOTAX I THOUGHT I KNEW”
battleoflepanto1571 on January 21, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Oh wait, he apologized? Well it’s okay then. After all, we’re living in crazy land now.
Metro on January 21, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Vote to Block, I say!
Send a message to the new Chimperor that loyal opposition does not equal a rubber stamp comittee…
Not just because of the taxes, but of the way this fellow assisted in the decline and fall of CITI…
Remember all of the pricipled opposition from 2000 to 2006…
RocketmanBob on January 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
I say again, how would a Bush appointee be handled? You know the answer to that.
tarpon on January 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Simplification, fine. But from what I’ve read Geithner was fully informed that he was being paid self-employment income for which he’d be liable for self-employment taxes in his home country. And, indeed, he received a “gross-up” to enable him to pay those taxes without seeing his gross wages reduced. Beyond that, Geithner signed statements acknowledging these matters.
Tell me, what did he think the gross-up was intended to do?
He’s a lying sack. Let’s find someone else.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d stomach this guy if he’d just tell the truth and admit that he tried to get away with something and got caught. Instead, he’s trying to pass it off as an innocent mistake.
Some hacks on CNBC have been trying to laud him for his honesty for paying taxes for closed years–those beyond the three-year statute of limitations. Nevertheless, the fraud statute is six years, I think, and I’d submit that he acted at best dishonestly.
Screw him. Years ago, Lou Holtz dumped his entire backfield just before a bowl game, and his team still won going away.
Likewise, no man or woman is irreplaceable. Let’s go with someone just as bright, but also beyond reproach.
BuckeyeSam on January 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Nope, you go to either the Congress or the Obama administration, your call.
johnsteele on January 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM
So Dems deny and then get caught and apologize, while Republicans resign or get the boot. The Dems and the UN have a good thing going when it comes to being so high above the law.
Same old same old.
Hening on January 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
He is ?! Oh my gosh !!!
BadgerHawk on January 21, 2009 at 1:29 PM
That’s like choosing between the depths of hell and purgatory. I’ll just pay my taxes and stick with Wisconsin.
BadgerHawk on January 21, 2009 at 1:30 PM
First rule of dem politicians: never admit to wrongdoing, no matter how obvious it is. The press is there to assist with this mission. Admitting mistakes is for fools and republicans.
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:31 PM
you mean this is REALLY the best they can find for this job?
no good. I would vote aginst him.
wildweasel on January 21, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Geithner’s dumping on Turbo Tax, sure. If I were Turbo Tax, I’d have that version presented in the press to show that Geithner probably input incorrect information. I’m betting he identified the income as NOT subject to self-employment tax. For example, if you are a non-professional fiduciary who in a certain year receives a fee for serving as an executor of an estate, your fee will be subject to federal income tax but it’s not subject to self-employment tax. For that reason, I don’t buy this Turbo Tax excuse.
And if I were Turbo Tax, I’d be running a full-page ad demonstrating what Geithner likely did. Again, the guy accepted a gross-up from the IMF and then chose not to pay his self-employment tax.
He’s a lying sack. Get a backbone, Senate Republicans.
BuckeyeSam on January 21, 2009 at 1:35 PM
I thought his excuses were BS until I heard him blame Turbo Tax. I had used Turbo Tax for years for our taxes and a sole proprietorship. Then, a few years ago in the figuring of SEP account contributions it allowed me to make an error without the program catching it. Poor program design on that one. I figured it out on my own eventually and ended paying a CPA to correct the original finding and then file the correction and pay the back taxes and penalties and fees. Never again. It is cheaper in the long run to pay someone else to do my taxes.
bopbottle on January 21, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Ya got that right.
BuckeyeSam on January 21, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Irony in all it’s glory.
Yoop on January 21, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Ahh. I’ll just blame my accountant. I need one to figure out all the complicated ag crap for me.
I just don’t get it.
Unless Turbo Tax is AG friendly?
Badger40 on January 21, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Either he’s lying, and therefore unfit for the position, or he’s an imbecile and therefore unfit for the position.
I hope the Senate Republicans vote against him, even if it is just symbolic.
Sir Corky on January 21, 2009 at 1:39 PM
I use TT and pay SE
I had a hell of a time for several year getting partnership income to show up as SE income and had to override the software. I knew I owed the taxes, and I am not even in line to run Treasury.
Vote no
Let the Dems own this tax cheat
tommylotto on January 21, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Kyle may be on to something. He just asked Geithner to think about his answers while he was under oath and take the opportunity to amend any of his answers. Specifically, was he aware that he owed taxes for 2001-2002 before he was approached for this nomination?
genso on January 21, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Bernie Keirik was the right guy for the job too.
So was Linda Chavez.
Don’t you love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning?
drjohn on January 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM
He made a common mistake, Team Barry assures us.
What? From what I understand he didn’t pay taxes from 2001-2006. How is “forgetting” to pay your taxes for 6 years when you are reimbursed to do so be a freaking “common mistake”? What the French?
milwife88 on January 21, 2009 at 1:46 PM
I bet he was, and that he had no intention of ever paying unless he got caught. He did take the money AND got a reminder.
It is simply not plausible to believe anything else.
drjohn on January 21, 2009 at 1:47 PM
By the way, watching some of his hearing at lunch, Geithner was asked how the tax component of the stimulus package would work any better than the failed stimulus last year.
He responded that the one-time checks–at most, $600, right?–would be replaced by an ongoing reduction in withholding that would modify consumer behavior. If the tax break he’s talking about is Obama’s famous $500-$1,000 FICA tax reduction, how is $10 to $20 more a week supposed to inject money immediately into the economy?
Is Geithner listening to himself? Are these Senators thinking through his answers?
BuckeyeSam on January 21, 2009 at 1:47 PM
FiscalCons, to the Money Mobile! Engage spinal column! Begin vote to block!
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20090115/Treasury.Nominee/
My bad…he didn’t pay from 2001-2004.
milwife88 on January 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
But what is amazing to me, is this guy is a banker and an economist?
This is his area of expertise!
Either he is such an idiot, that he did not have the knowlege to KNOW that the program was wrong…
OR, he knew, and went with it anyway…
So, incompetent, or crook, either way, out the door…
And if Republicans vote to confirm this guy, they are part of the problem not part of the solution…. they will be complicit in EVERYTHING this guy does.
Romeo13 on January 21, 2009 at 1:50 PM
None of the softwares seem to be good with ag or royalty (4797) issues. I had to write my own package. There is an argument that our taxes are too complicated, but there is still no excuse for this guy pretending he forgot to pay taxes for several years.
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Go back to my original post. These guys really have no clue what will work. Leading by committee, it seems. Most of the stimulus will just give more money to already budgeted and over funded pet projects. Funny if it wasn’t so damn sad.
genso on January 21, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Someone had to say it: Vote to H&R Block.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on January 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Purely hypothetical technical question: is lying in these hearings considered perjury?
Vashta.Nerada on January 21, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I totally agree on both counts.
That’s why they should make accountants financially liable for any mistakes bcs we peons are too dumb to get all this crap.
Badger40 on January 21, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Oh, you betcha.
genso on January 21, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Taxes are indeed complex. Turbo Tax is not.
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 21, 2009 at 2:03 PM
We need to follow the example of our leaders…
DO NOT PAY FEDERAL TAXES. PERIOD.
…unless of course you ever are nominated to be in the Cabinet, then pay up…
gatorboy on January 21, 2009 at 2:05 PM
anybody else would be in jail.
But not the new aristocracy. They don’t have to pay taxes.
notagool on January 21, 2009 at 2:05 PM
What mistake did he make? I`ll see if I can manage it, get in trouble and just take my case to The One.
ThePrez on January 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
I was thinking, this is for TREASURY, it’s not for some other cabinet position. This guy should be disqualified.
INC on January 21, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Of COURSE they vote to block! Nothing in politics is more effective than a public “I TOLD YOU SO!”
fiscallyconservative on January 21, 2009 at 2:08 PM
So, when I get audited…can I say sorry?
Not a chance.
HornetSting on January 21, 2009 at 2:11 PM
If the Repubs want to regain some credibility, they might vote against a tax cheat who wants to run the IRS.
They vote for this guy, and he turns out to be either a disaster or even more corrupt than we know — it is not going to help them down the road.
BigD on January 21, 2009 at 2:11 PM
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