Will Daschle Go Down?

By Mark Riley

Former Senator Tom Daschle has become the second Obama Administration nominee to get caught up in a tax mess. Having to pay back taxes of about $34,000 didn't derail the nomination of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. But Daschle's liability is well over $100,000 dollars, and his bid to become Secretary of Health and Human Services could be different.

Congressional Republicans are now trying to use Daschle, Geithner, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's withdrawal of his name for commerce secretary to question the president's vetting process. In addition, the failure of politicians to pay taxes is an issue that resonates with the public in ways few other issues do.

People have every right to compare their own situations to those of these bigwigs and question why they seem to get away with simply paying what they owe. The appearance of a double standard is hard not to note.

Still, in Daschle's case, interesting politics seems to be at work. Senate Republicans aren't ready to say his nomination is dead in the water. That would be despite the fact that a report released Friday by the Finance Committee says Daschle questioned his accountant about possible tax problems back in June. He didn't tell the Obama transition team about his liabilities until weeks after he was nominated.

On the other hand, there are reports that one powerful Democrat in the Senate might want to see Daschle go down. Montana Senator Max Baucus has reportedly had a long running feud with Daschle on a number of issues. Some say Baucus has been slow to come to his former colleagues' defense as a result.

Daschle's supporters point out that he voluntarily reported his tax problem to the IRS when he realized the perks he was getting from a media mogul were taxable income. He's already paid the money he owed, they argue, so this shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Political intrigue aside, the average American must wonder what would have happened if Tom Daschle was Joe Public, and didn't have the money to pay off the liability so easily.

What do you think? Will Tom Daschle's tax problems sink his chances of getting an Obama cabinet post?