Unbelievable: Obama appointee withdraws because of … tax problem
posted at 11:21 am on February 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
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How many does this make? Geithner, Daschle, now Killefer — is that it? It feels like more, thanks to Rangel and, allegedly, Caroline. Almost makes me regret that Team Barry couldn’t push Princess through to the Senate so that we could dump that one on him, too.
Almost.
When her selection was announced by Obama on Jan. 7, The Associated Press disclosed that in 2005 the District of Columbia government had placed a lien on her home in the upscale Wesley Heights neighborhood. The local government alleged that just three years after she left a high-powered Treasury post she began to fail to pay unemployment compensation tax for a household employee. And she failed to make the required quarterly payments for a year and half, whereupon a lien for $946.69 was placed on her home.
During that period, Killefer and her husband, an economics professor, had a teenage son and daughter, but she had two nannies and a personal assistant to run her life when she was on the road, she told Harvard business students back then.
The job she was up for? “Chief Performance Officer.”
Follow the timeline here. Daschle knew he had a tax problem last June; Geithner knew he had a tax problem no later than November. Killefer’s problem dates to 2005. Point being, none of this came as any eleventh-hour surprise to Obama’s vetters … and yet all three were nominated anyway. Exit question: Why? Killefer is expendable but Geithner and Daschle are both crucial to The One’s plans; the former’s his economic quarterback and the latter’s his point man on universal health care. If you know you’re going to have this problem with both of them, why hand the media an irresistible narrative by trying to sneak Killefer in there too? Doesn’t this make Daschle’s nomination even more precarious?
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“I call for an immediate tax audit water boarding of all 535 members of Congress, before they pass this monstrous stimulus bill. My guess is that more than half have tax problems.”
MDWNJ on February 3, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Now THAT is a stimulus plan that I can support!!!!
Gohawgs on February 3, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Someone tell me Ashton Kutcher’s about to show up on TV and tell our country we’ve been punk’d.
Chuck Schick on February 3, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Wait till msm sent teams and teams out to dig Republicans for tax ‘errors’.
Sir Napsalot on February 3, 2009 at 11:57 AM
tax auditGohawgs on February 3, 2009 at 11:58 AM
This is just too funny!!
Her husband teaches economics? No wonder she new how to scam the system.
And then, as if it can’t get any better,
One nanny for each kid? Was the “personal assistant” taking care of the husband she wasn’t home also? If she needed all of these people to “run” her lfe, then what kind of life did she have? Can’t be much of one now that she jumped under the Obama bus….
Hmmm, how do I get these kind of people?
JohnnyD on February 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM
worst start to an Administration in US history.
“Change” and “Hope” weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
lavell12 on February 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Yep, it’s becoming quite apparent exactly who’s responsible for this mess!
4shoes on February 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Note to liberals:
Be careful what you wish for…
Bevan on February 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Joe the Plumber’s taxes matter but the One’s cabnet members don’t, unbelievable.
lavell12 on February 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I suspect someone already has-but they are dead now.
Badger40 on February 3, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Probably they thought the media wouldn’t run with the story?
fiscallyconservative on February 3, 2009 at 12:02 PM
You guys. These are all just innocent and innocuous errors. We need unity and unification in this country. All this partisanship and tearing down of Obama for other people’s transgressions is just petty and stale. Your politics are no longer applicable, go sit on the sideline and let the winner rule.
James on February 3, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Great post.
Matticus Finch on February 3, 2009 at 12:09 PM
And libs had such a problem with Joe (The Plumber) for his tax lien.
Sir Napsalot on February 3, 2009 at 12:14 PM
So when the Risen Lord raises America’s taxes, what percentage of his administration can we expect to actually pay?
Lehosh on February 3, 2009 at 12:17 PM
We need a good compare/contrast Youtube on this.
Need to absolutely rub it in the face of the Libs and MSM.
Fox News, are you reading???
jp on February 3, 2009 at 12:18 PM
…I claim the Rangel Rule!
ChipDWood on February 3, 2009 at 12:19 PM
She can’t play with the big boys..
Wade on February 3, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I have a feeling that the idiot messiah is going to start crying during his press conferences (if ever has any) looking for some pity to distract people from his criminal incompetence and plain, old criminality.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Gee, I wonder how it is that the IRS has failed to take action for collection of all this unpaid revenue… couldn’t be politics could it?
Maxx on February 3, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Yesssss! A great comment that deserves repeating on this thread. Kudos to you, MDWNJ.
marybel on February 3, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Ms. Killefer’s Letter of Withdrawal ….
“kind of distraction”? Are you kidding me?
Lying Tax Cheat = Inartful Distraction. Hey, thanks for that heartfelt apology Nancy.
OMG, I never thought it would be this much fun watching these incompetent clowns tripping over their previously hidden past. I’m busting a gut.
fogw on February 3, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Isn’t a cheif performance officer of gov’t an oxymoron?
Fuquay Steve on February 3, 2009 at 12:26 PM
No wonder the Democrats are always about raising taxes and then raising taxes even more, they don’t pay the taxes anyway, why should they care?
Maxx on February 3, 2009 at 12:27 PM
She seems borderline illiterate, too. What the heck is an urgent agenda, or urgent duties? The rest is just off the charts. If her tax problems hadn’t taken her down, writing letters like this could have.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I think the combined unpaid tax obligations of all these democrats goes a long way towards explaining the Bush era defecits.
Vashta.Nerada on February 3, 2009 at 12:28 PM
It will never happen because he is a true narcissist (I’m talking about the actual psychiatric pathology here–not just calling him “conceited.”)
As such, all of this is not his fault. It can never and will never be his fault. That’s how narcissists operate.
When you have some time, check out Dr. Pat Santy’s posts on malignant narcissists. Truly frightening stuff. And it has The Messiah’s name all over it.
IrishEi on February 3, 2009 at 12:29 PM
In this country, I thought winners govern not rule.
BuckeyeSam on February 3, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I’m wondering about something: Are Tax cheats preferred by the Obama administration?
LFRGary on February 3, 2009 at 12:37 PM
You’re probably right, Irish, and I agree with you on the idiot messiah’s psycho-pathology. We did all get to see this as he really loved pretending to be the President so much during the campaign and the transition. But I still think we’ll see him crying, if he thinks that it’s the only way for him to retain power and get what he wants. He’s already tried to be intimidating, but he’s too stupid to really pull that off.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 12:38 PM
OT: For years, so many on the Left suffered from Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS).
Now that the Left must crawl out from under its collective rock to govern and all these shenanigans are coming to light, I wonder if we’ll see signs of a new syndrome: Post-traumatic Bush Derangement Syndrome. It can be described as the anger members of the Left direct at Bush now that their personal conduct is being called into question.
BuckeyeSam on February 3, 2009 at 12:38 PM
There’s a reality show somewhere with all these tax-cheating nominees. It’s almost hard to believe; guess no one learned from Kimba Wood. Oh, but then again she was a woman–they have to be twice as perfect.
redfoxbluestate on February 3, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Obviously, you’re a victim of the old-school civics curriculum rampant in the pre-1980’s public school system.
This is the change we need.
/sarc
BobMbx on February 3, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Now it makes sense. Democrats don’t mind raising taxes because in their experience only dopes pay taxes anyway. And they may be right. I feel like a dope for paying…
petunia on February 3, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Abc news has this front paged as breaking news.
Where’s the popcorn?
ladyingray on February 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM
DASCHLE OUT!!
alflauren on February 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
MSNBC reports: “BREAKING NEWS: Daschle withdraws his nomination for health and human services secretary”
SMACKDOWN! YEAH BABY!! DON’T HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE, VOTE FOR ONE!!!
HotAirJosef on February 3, 2009 at 12:51 PM
I’m betting that BHO goes for a child molester as his next nominee.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Yep, Daschle out.
Vashta.Nerada on February 3, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Actually, I was hoping Daschle stayed in.
No doubt, he discovered that having BO 100% behind him meant that BO was in a better position to push him under the bus.
Better to have the spectacle of the Obama cabinet featuring two tax cheats, with Rangel holding up his end in the house.
JudetheFossil on February 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Geithner must be feeling like that Iraqi guy on the bridge that Schwartzkopf had pointed out, right before the bombs hit.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
How long until the Obama media sychofants start blaming the GOP for his withdrawal?
3…..2……1…….?
roninacreage on February 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I can’t decide if you’re serious or not. If you are, then where the hell were you the last 8 years? Sorta doubt you lived by that rule of thumb.
teffertoes on February 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Mendacious twit takes the pipe…
Hope and Change canceled…
Film at 11… not so much…
phreshone on February 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Um….seriously?
DeathToMediaHacks on February 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Siren on Drudge and “Daschle Out”
http://www.drudgereport.com/
Pulchritudinous Patriot on February 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Yeah, baby…change I can believe in!!!
uncivilized on February 3, 2009 at 1:01 PM
The idiot messiah should show some real guts and nominate Caroline Kennedy, now.
progressoverpeace on February 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Can’t remember if it was tax-related, but you forgot Bill Richardson.
bilups on February 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Yup, ready to lead on Day 1.
teffertoes on February 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
If taxes weren’t important to those charged to vet the filthy bastard’s nominations; I say it’s time to take a very close look at the filthy bastard’s taxes. I’m guessing he’s a tax cheat too.
highhopes on February 3, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Damn, buddy – this ain’t a football game or “Wheel of Fortune” – we’re talking about people who are going to be responsible for OUR money, OUR health, OUR well-being. Just because you libs managed to hire a dumb-a** to run things, don’t think WE’RE going to let him get away with dumb-a** stuff without calling him on it.
uncivilized on February 3, 2009 at 1:05 PM
I call for a blue-ribbon panel to review the tax filings of all Congressmen and members of the Cabinet, including the President himself. This panel will be composed of the fifty American citizens that paid the most in personal and business taxes over the last five years. Anyone they indict will be removed from office immediately, and the panel will thoroughly vet their replacement.
To paraphrase Rostand: Avoid some taxes, and you are a greedy Republican. Cheat the IRS by a thousand dollars, and you are a criminal. Cheat them by hundreds of thousands, and you’re a Democrat politician.
Doctor Zero on February 3, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Nope. Richardson got caught in a pay-to-play scam where he steered state government business to a particular company (which also was a big contributor to filthy bastard’s campaign)
highhopes on February 3, 2009 at 1:06 PM
VP Joe Biden: “Paying taxes is patriotic.”
Heh!
Conservative_SAHM on February 3, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Obama wants a diverse cabinet and that means at least one of the filthy bastard’s nominations need to be above ethical reproach.
Seriously, has anybody ever seen such a collection of criminals in one place at the BEGINNING of a presidential administration?
highhopes on February 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM
1-800-829-0433
this is the number to call IRS FOR TAX CHEATS
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 3, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Remember in November and December when all the media twits were calling for a shorter transition period since Barry was ready to take over and lead from day one? What was his administration doing during this time?
PatMac on February 3, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Okay, let me get this straight…
Obubba and the Libs want to pass over $1 trillion in new spending; money they will borrow because we don’t have it and then tax you, me, my/our children and my/our children’s children to pay it back.
And, Obubba thinks it’s just fine to load his cabinet up with people who cheat and don’t pay their taxes because these individuals are the most capable, ethical and intelligent ones to do the job.
Am I getting this right?? Does anyone else see the irony in this?? Is anyone in the MSM going to see the irony in this?? That last one is a rhetorical question. The hippocracy of this is laughable. Except this is no joke; this is our future and the Dems/POTUS are playing around like it’s no big deal. Of course this is from the guy who has the gall to wag his finger at the Wall Street execs for bonuses while throwing a party with $100/lb steak and cranking the heat up in his office, cuz he’s from Hawaii and is a whimp when it comes to real weather. Oh yeah, and he’s also the same guy who said the folks in DC needed to toughen up and deal with the cold, and that people shouldn’t get used to keeping their thermostats at 72 degrees. But I failed to initially catch the nuance in that last one…it’s okay to keep it at a tropical 80%!! Exit question: “Who will apologize to my kids for the tax burden the politicians are about to bestow on them?” THIS IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT I THOUGHT IT WAS!!
timajin on February 3, 2009 at 1:57 PM
I want to hear some more about how McCain should have “vetted” Joe the Plumber before he was allowed to ask Obama a question on his own front lawn.
Jim Treacher on February 3, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Now they call themselves unpatriotic. And they complain when we call them they unpatriotic for their treasonous acts.
Corsair on February 3, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Write your congressional representatives to demand tax audits of every nominee and high-level advisor in the Obama administration.
notagool on February 3, 2009 at 3:17 PM
I
hatelove to belabor the point, but – “Change we can believe in”?RightWinged on February 3, 2009 at 4:02 PM
So when is Wesley Snipes up for nomination?
ClassicCon on February 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I want al capone nominated
a. he is dead so that means acorn registered him as a democrat
b. he was jailed by the irs so he is a natural one to lead it
jcila on February 3, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Entitlements.
Johan Klaus on February 3, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Tell you what, you do it and give that excuse to the IRS.
Johan Klaus on February 3, 2009 at 5:12 PM
I do not think so. Obama is not the Kaiser yet.
Johan Klaus on February 3, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Do you know what sarcasm is?
Jim Treacher on February 3, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Well we tried to go after The One’s own transgressions, James, but the media covered for him. No white and/or Republican who’d spent 20 years in a racist church, hung out with terrorists and terrorist spokespeople, made business deals with crooks, said the courts should be involved in redistributing income, supports the murder of babies that survive abortions, etc. etc. etc. would even hold office, much less be elected f-ing POTUS.
As for your “let’s unite”… Why? Just because? Did you unite behind Bush? “Just unite”, for the sake of doing it sounds like building a Nazi movement of some sort (and I’m not so convinced that’s totally off base, given that I’ve never heard a coherent argument from an Obama supporter, on just why they support him… or heard them name a single accomplishment he’s had, except getting elected). James, your mindset is terrifying. Take a deep breathe, read your comment again, and just think about how silly and brainwashed/zombie-ish you sound.
After you get done that exercise, consider that this all but admitted socialist wants to destroy our economy and bury us many more generations deeper in debt than we already are for the sake of STD studies and “carbon capture” (even though global warming is a proven hoax).
Now, I know logic, facts, and reason are beyond folks like yourself, or you’d never have been suckered in in the first place, so I guess I’m wasting my time trying to wake you up… But it was worth a few seconds to mock you and blow off a little steam.
RightWinged on February 3, 2009 at 5:31 PM
JAMES WAS BEING SARCASTIC.
Jim Treacher on February 4, 2009 at 3:41 AM
Dumbass politicians who can’t be bothered to have their act together don’t deserve to be nominated to important/any positions within the government.
Dave Rywall on February 4, 2009 at 7:50 AM
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