Jamie Court

Jamie Court

Posted February 3, 2009 | 03:04 PM (EST)

Why Is Daschle Out and Geithner In?

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Tom Daschle explained his withdrawal from twin posts as the point person on ObamaCare and secretary of Health and Human Services by stating he did not want to damage the President's universal health care overhaul.

Of course Daschle should have been more careful and concurrently paid the more than $100,000 he owed in taxes for the use of a car and driver.  Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner should also have known that he owed the IRS $34,000 in back taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund  from 2001 to 2004. The question is why is Geithner, who now oversees the IRS, confirmed as Treasury Secretary and Daschle out as ObamaCare cheifain?

Wall Street and K-street don't have a problem with Geithner. Daschle, on the other hand, has worried a lot of drug company, HMO and medical establishment lobbyists with his book, Critical, that calls for a public health care program  to compete with the private market. I recently opined on the need for such a Medicare expansion in an LA Times oped.  Daschle's also talked tough about the waste among private health insurers, the profiteering of drug companies and the need for curbing excessive end of life care under Medicare that fails to improve the quality of life, but costs taxpayers a fortune.  The medical-insurance complex had to be concerned about Daschle's power.

Geithner was said to be irreplaceable, so he was confirmed.  Daschle isn't irreplaceable for health care reformers, but Obama would make a big mistake in appointing a replacement with any lessor convictions on the topic of a public health care option and curbing the medical-insurance establishment's waste and greed.  Obama should send a signal to K-street, who no doubt had a hand in Daschle's demise, by appointing an even stronger voice for patients to the post.  

Tom Daschle explained his withdrawal from twin posts as the point person on ObamaCare and secretary of Health and Human Services by stating he did not want to damage the President's universal health c...
Tom Daschle explained his withdrawal from twin posts as the point person on ObamaCare and secretary of Health and Human Services by stating he did not want to damage the President's universal health c...
 
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geithner worked for kissinger, daschle did not. that was the difference.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:54 AM on 02/07/2009
- Robin08 I'm a Fan of Robin08 21 fans permalink

Uh Jamie Court -- how do you figure?

Daschle appeared to be palling around with, taking money from and to some degree doing the bidding of medical insurance types. He may have outlined some critcisms in his book but I'm not aware of anything in Daschle's political background that suggests he's a fighter ready to go toe to toe for a cause he believes in. He seemed to be more of go along to get along type politician I'm I wrong in this perception?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:56 PM on 02/04/2009
- jerrypl I'm a Fan of jerrypl 57 fans permalink
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It was not Geithner who put the millions on pallets and lost it over in Iraq, but the Pentagon. It did not come from the New York Fed, but the Pentagon.

Anyway, Daschle pulled himself out. Geithner stayed firmly in. Daschle should have stayed in and took the heat. But he chose not to. I don't blame him.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:52 AM on 02/04/2009

Can someone PLEASE ask Mr. Geithner where the 10 billion dollars he put on wooden pallettes and sent to Iraq only to mysteriously disappear is?

WHY is no one asking this man what happened? And if he's planning another pallette shipment of cash to Afghanistan?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:50 AM on 02/04/2009
- MsMicki I'm a Fan of MsMicki 2 fans permalink

It's sad that the Geithner, Daschle interest story goes beyond intelligent thinking for most. People are too busy getting consumed in the Rethugs revenge tactics and the punditry of those who are not feeling any pain in the economy.

I will take the tax issues (that were paid) against torture, invading of countries that were not our enemy, illegal wiretaps and the horrible treatment of our men and women who have served this country over this type of scandal, anyday.

Where were all these antennas for the last 8 years. I bet if we start with Congress, and then on to the Senate, you will find a whole lot of "scandals" regarding taxes. Obama's taxes were paid. I don't think in he personally would be the one to look at all of his nominees taxes for the last 5 - 10 years. Obama thought that good people didn't make slips like that. That's how he does it.

2 weeks in office and my beliefs have come true. The man will be hounded for every little thing for the next 8 years. But that's okay, because when things started looking better in about a year, he will still be riding on the wings of his favorability. I still believe he only wants to do whats right for this country.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:37 AM on 02/04/2009
- joeinvt I'm a Fan of joeinvt 10 fans permalink

In Dasche's case, his failure to pay taxes are the least of it. Does anyone really believe that rich people just like to give ex-Senators stuff, like limos and drivers, for nothing? Geithner situation is quite different.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:42 AM on 02/04/2009
- Leper I'm a Fan of Leper 11 fans permalink
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The problem is finding people of principle who have not previously displayed that characteristic.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:58 AM on 02/04/2009
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The unpaid taxes were just part of it. Here's why Daschle's out:

"He made more than $200,000 in the past two years speaking to members of the industry that President Barack Obama wants him to reform.

The speaking fees were just a portion of the more than $5.2 million the former South Dakota senator earned over the past two years as he advised health insurers and hospitals and worked in other industries such as energy and telecommunications, according to a financial statement filed with the Office of Government Ethics."

http://www.startribune.com/politics/38773547.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsl

Daschle's tax problems coming on the heels of Geitner's problems and Richardson's exit, sent the wrong message from a President wanting the appearance and substance of responsibility.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:01 PM on 02/03/2009
- Manx I'm a Fan of Manx 18 fans permalink

I vote for Howard Dean but that's unlikely given Rahm Emanuel's dislike for him.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:42 PM on 02/03/2009

Couldn't agree more ! In fact I've set up a blog - www.geithnergate.com - where people can vote on whether Tim Geithner should be US Tresuary Secretary - so far its 81% no. Please visit and cast your vote !

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:42 PM on 02/03/2009
- LRM216 I'm a Fan of LRM216 4 fans permalink
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Your link is not taking me there.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:36 PM on 02/04/2009

It seems that with Obama unwilling to fight hard for Daschle's position, and what was most likely a well choreographed withdrawl process, that the real issue here is that health care reform has been triaged and set aside in consideration of the more critical patient, economic stimulus. The only action by Obama that would get me to believe he hasn't as a practical matter, abandoned health care for the foreseeable future, would be to replace the HHS Secretary nomination with an equally high profile and passionate believer in real health care reform.

The sickest, uninsured, excluded and most economically devastated by the broken health care system among us, may have just been slipped over the side of the lifeboat, in favor of those who still have a ticket to ride and can still afford it (health insurance and care).

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:30 PM on 02/03/2009
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I think it's because they don't want healthcare for us. I saw him on c-span, he really understands the healthcare issues and can articulate it like no other. I want Tom Daschle in. I think we should start a boycott to say we want him in there somehow. someway!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:21 PM on 02/03/2009

How about John Conyers? He helped to start a PAC dedicated to advocating for universal healthcare. http://www.healthcare-now.org/

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:00 PM on 02/03/2009
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I see where this is going, Jamie, however, Daschle is not your guy. He was/is the health insurance industry's tool. No conspiracy here, just plain ol' greed on Daschle's part.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:53 PM on 02/03/2009
- mommadona I'm a Fan of mommadona 169 fans permalink
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Uh..Daschl­e dropped out.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:16 PM on 02/03/2009
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