The excuse, you might remember, was that the W-2 or 1099 (whatever form they used) was incorrect because the clerk who did the forms was out on maternity leave that month.  Thus, the story goes, the form itself (probably sent directly to his accountants) was incorrect and the result was "garbage in, garbage out" on his tax returns.

Daschle spokeswoman Jenny Backus said he also would step down from heading up the newly created White House office of health care reform - a title he was to have in addition to being HHS secretary

Today was horrible.  Two withdrawals and then Judd  Gregg.  JUDD GREGG!!!  WHY???  I cannot imagine what the President was thinking.  Bill Richardson is looking better and better, but then I always did like him.  He sure as heck beats a conservative republican in the cabinet!  

I don't know, I'm happy with some things, not with others.  The theme of some posters who never liked Obama seems to be to find a way that everything is an example of his failings, and some people who love Obama seem to find a way to make everything he does seem good.

doing it on Faux

How long has the Daschle situation been brewing in the public arena?  Obama knew about the tax payments since before Obama was sworn in, and what did he do?  Nothing.

Did he ask Daschle to withdraw?  Not according to Gibbs - no one in the WH pressured Daschle.  So, what would Obama have done if Daschle hadn't pulled the plug?

I'm betting...nothing.

Obama says he screwed up - but he's not saying he should have withdrawn Daschle's nomination.  He really hasn't said much of anything except those magic words: "screwed up," "mistake," - you know, the same things Michael Phelps has been saying and that a lot of people want to reject as total BS.

I thought you were citing the Sirota piece as your reason for stating Obama was 'about to gut' Buy America which is what I was responding to, not what you perceive as common knowledge or what you're willing to bet on.

DOBBS: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as it calls itself, is waging an outright campaign of fear trying to block "Buy American" provisions in that so-called stimulus bill. Joining me now, two lawmakers leading a very important fight, trying to assure those buy American provisions are kept in the legislation. Congressman Dan Lipinski, Democrat of Illinois joins us, along with Congressman Don Manzullo, Republican, also of Illinois. Gentlemen, good to have you here.

What is the effect of the buy American provision that you've put forward?

REP. DAN LIPINSKI (D), ILLINOIS: Well, in the bill last week in the House, I wanted the Rules Committee to put a really strong buy American provision into the bill to bring it to the floor in amendment so that representatives would have a chance to vote on it, and unfortunately, that was not allowed by the leadership. Fortunately, the Senate has put some language in, but I'm not convinced that it's strong enough, and there's always a chance that it can be taken out.

REP. DON MANZULLO (R), ILLINOIS: I would be satisfied with enforcement of the present buy American laws. And what Congressman Lipinski and I are trying to do is to impose transparency, to give the American companies an opportunity to bid, to get the procurement officers on their toes to realize that they have to follow these buy American laws that are already on the books.

DOBBS: The Chamber of Commerce has written a letter to the congressional leadership, which has already disavowed your efforts, Speaker Pelosi naturally calling it, quote, "trade restrictive." They say -- and I'd like to show this for all of our viewers, quote, "Without sales abroad and access to inputs, many U.S. workers would be out of a job," and now I think the Chamber of Commerce, gentlemen - well, rather than tell you what I think of them, you tell me what you think of that organization?

LIPINSKI: Well, the chamber certainly doesn't do what is best for middle-class Americans and American workers. We all know what their real purpose is, to help the multinational corporations. It is sad to see that they have as much influence - and we have seen editorials and newspapers, the elites really do not like this buy American provision. But I tell you, in my district, 90 percent of the people say "I don't understand why it would not be there."

DOBBS: Congressman Manzullo, your reaction to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?

MANZULLO: I don't think they really understand what we are trying to do. Let me give you an example.

DOBBS: Sure, Congressman, Congressman, sure they do. They have been around. They bought a president for eight years, for crying out loud. They know what they're doing.

MANZULLO: When I chaired the Small Business Committee, I found out that the Army was violating U.S. law by buying berets for American soldiers from China. We held a hearing. We stopped that. That is the type of things that I want to see stopped. If we just enforce the present buy American laws that are on the books...

DOBBS: But how can -- what kind of...

(CROSSTALK)

DOBBS: What does it say, gentlemen, what does it say about this country? If an organization that calls itself the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the manufacturing of American products? Is opposed to putting money, stimulus money in the pockets of American workers and American businesses, particularly small business, which generates 80 percent of the jobs? What kind of -- what in the world is going on in this country? Are we that far gone, Congressman?

LIPINSKI: I really think that for much too long, we have seen the middle class under assault in this country because the laws have been made to help the multinational corporations. The American people, it is time that they stood up. In this stimulus, we need to have strong buy American provisions. That's why Representative Manzullo and myself are sending a letter getting signatures. If you want to call your representative, please do that. Send a letter to Barack Obama who -- his press secretary said...

DOBBS: How about Nancy Pelosi for crying out loud? She doesn't apparently know what country she is in.

MANZULLO: Lou, I have voted for every free trade agreement. I have been here - this is the beginning of my ninth term...

DOBBS: You and I are not going to get along well, Congressman, telling me that.

MANZULLO: Just a second. Dan Lipinski has voted against every free trade agreement. What we are saying here is that at the minimum; at least let's enforce the present buy American laws that are on the books. Let's -- let's encourage the procurement officers at the state, local and federal level to buy American.

DOBBS: Congressman, I have known you a long time. Can I raise my hand and just ask this? Can we move past the minimums in this country and start talking about the right thing to do, the intelligent, responsible thing to do, and start putting the country -- you have the guts to go out and put that buy American provision forward. Let's have the guts together to make it stick and mean something. What do you think of that?

MANZULLO: That's what we did. We have done that several times. For example, it's federal law that when the Defense Department buys titanium, it has to be U.S. We stopped the importation of a lot of Russian titanium just by enforcing the laws that are on the books.

DOBBS: Well, you left U.S. in Chamber of Commerce, didn't you?

It is exactly the same thinking that goes behind a statement like:

And [Obma has] been running the economy (none / 0) (#72)
by jbindc on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:12:15 PM EST
since at least November.

Hardly.

If Daschle withdraws on his own, then it doesn't look like Obama is caving in to pressure.

We the people are putting the pressure on Obama to stick to his promises of accountability and therefore he should cave in to our pressure.  

Geithner's situation was made even more obscure by the fact that the organization sent him W-2s instead of 1099s.  My understanding is that the mistake he made is made pretty chronically by employees of international organizations like the World Bank.