Obama's first failed appointment

[TheMercenary]

So this may be number two in his error list. The guy clearly did not pay taxes and was actually paid for and signed a statement to the effect that he knew money the government was giving him was to pay Social Security taxes, but yet he still did not pay it. No double standard here. This could clearly have been business as usual for people who worked for that orgainzation, as in everybody does it, which may be fine for the average cheat, but not everyone is being nominated by the President elect.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/...transition.php

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123187503629378119.html

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive.../01/022552.php

[piercehawkeye45]

Nah, I think it is a great pick. Just switch the government with China and Social Security taxes with United States debt. Perfect choice.

[TheMercenary]

If the parties were switched there would be an burning in the square and a meltdown on the internet.

[piercehawkeye45]

That is why Obama is a genius. He knows Republicans are on a shorter leash than Democrats, hence why he picks Democratic cheats.

[TheMercenary]

Double standard. Makes him look very bad.

[piercehawkeye45]

It makes him look bad to people that already see the double standard, majority of them are not Obama supporters.

[TheMercenary]

And that was a pretty small number of people who did not vote for him, right?

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

And that was a pretty small number of people who did not vote for him, right?

The way I see it is that public opinion of Obama isn't going to change much until he does not live up to his expectations. Every president is going to surround themselves with questionable people and the only people that care are the people that already don't like him.

[classicman]

I think what bothered me more was that he didn't finally pay till Obama had spoken to him about his potential appointment. That was one report I heard. IIRC they laid out the timeframe pretty well. I dunno, CNN could have been biased on it, but they a re usually pretty good.
I think its great that Obama was so organized and made all the potentials fill out those questionnaires. This seems like an issue where the guy told Obama what the deal was and Obama made a decision to go forward anyway. I think it'll probably turn into a non issue just like the Clinton stuff. Perhaps its just the GOP flexing what little muscle they have left.

[TheMercenary]

By JOHN D. MCKINNON and BOB DAVIS
Timothy Geithner, whose nomination as Treasury secretary has been delayed by his past failure to pay taxes, was repeatedly advised in writing by the International Monetary Fund that he would be responsible for any Social Security and Medicare taxes he owed on income he earned at the IMF between 2001 and 2004.

Current and former IMF officials said the fund provided numerous warnings to U.S. employees about payroll taxes. According to IMF documents released by the Senate Finance panel, Mr. Geithner regularly received information about his tax obligations.

Mr. Geithner didn't make any Social Security or Medicare tax payments on his income during the years he worked for the IMF, though he did pay income taxes. After the Internal Revenue Service audited him in 2006 and discovered the payroll-tax errors, Mr. Geithner corrected them for 2003 and 2004. Only after Mr. Obama picked him for Treasury secretary last fall did Mr. Geithner pay the Social Security and Medicare tax he owed for 2001 and 2002.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1231...cle-outset-box

Sounds like a person with questionable standards to me, esp if you are going to be in charge of guiding Treasury.

[classicman]

I understand that, Merc. Apparently there was confusion (can you believe that about our income tax structure) about those 4 years.

IIRC - When he was notified by the IRS he paid for 2003 & 2004. The issue was that there was a statute of limitations about the other two years and his lawyer was negotiating with the IRS about 2001 & 2002. When Obama started talking about the appointment - he paid up. AGAIN - IIRC.

[TheMercenary]

One of the biggest problems with the whole thing is that we, as average taxpayers, are rarely given that much leeway unless we hire a lawyer to interface between you and the IRS. I am pretty sure he will still be confirmed. It just taints his pick and will keep him under a microsope, something the Sec of Treas does not need in these troubled economic times.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

...will keep him under a microsope, something the Sec of Treas does not need in these troubled economic times.

I think thats EXACTLY what is needed - especially now.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by classicman

I think thats EXACTLY what is needed - especially now.

We need to put every politician under that microscope.

[classicman]

Yup - and hold them accountable - We really need to have some serious consequences. Too many times they get caught and then there is no punishment. The sentence needs to be quick and PAINFUL! A lot of examples need to be set and soon.