President Obama and the nation suffered a loss today when Tom Daschle, the former Senate Majority Leader, and nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary in the President’s cabinet, decided to withdraw his name because of a tax problem that embarrassed him and would have made his confirmation hearings more contestable, although it was clear he would have been confirmed.
Daschle was considered the right person to promote a national health care plan after more than sixty years of constant failure to bring about such a program, dating back originally to the Truman Presidency. Therefore, it is a significant blow to the ongoing plans for national health care legislation. Obama set such a high standard for ethics that the result is he has faced problems with several nominees and some have withdrawn in addition to Daschle, the most significant being Bill Richardson.
Obama must quickly find a replacement for Daschle, as the issue of health care is one of the most important goals of his Presidency, and he must seek out the best possible candidate to fill this position sooner rather than later. I would like to suggest Dr. Howard Dean, the former Vermont Governor, presidential contender in 2004, and recent head of the Democratic National Committee who brought about the 50 state strategy that led to the Democratic victory in the 2008 Presidential election. No position has yet been offered to Dean, and it seems to me his nomination would be an excellent choice for this cabinet post!
How Daschle thought his tax-evasion would not become an issue just shows how these "professional politicians" walk around with blinders on. And why, with the history over the last few decades, with nominees being done in by these tax issues, would any politician avoid paying their taxes? I like your idea of Howard Dean as the replacement nominee. Tell him to cut his retirement early and get back to Washington. We need to doctor to be IN.