Tom Daschle's nomination

Today's excellent editorial of the San Francisco Chronicle on the issue.

PS. I have just read that Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination to be US health secretary. In a statement, Obama said he regretted the way he had handled the case. "I've got to own up to my mistake which is that ultimately it's important for this administration to send a message that there aren't two sets of rules," he said, according to a transcript. "You know, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks who have to pay their taxes."

Does anyone important in Washington pay taxes? Or is that civic duty - like jury duty or serving in the military - now something that only the "little people" in America, those without deep pockets and connections, do?

Tom Daschle is the latest Obama appointee to make the American middle class feel like suckers. Daschle's confirmation as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services is in jeopardy over his failure to pay $140,000 in back taxes and interest, as well as the odious revelation that he's been raking in cash ($5 million in the last four years alone) "advising," "consulting," "speaking" and "fundraising" for a string of industry clients seeking influence with the government. Included in that string of clients were many members of the health care industry that Daschle would be expected to regulate, as Health and Human Services secretary, and eventually, retool, as the architect of Obama's health care plan. Daschle's wife is also an influential lobbyist.

Daschle's troubles are unlikely to deter the Senate from approving him. For one thing, Daschle was once the Democratic leader in the Senate, and it'll be hard for the Senate's 58 Democrats to tell him no. Also - and here is where things get really odious - by the standards of Washington, Daschle's misdeeds really aren't that bad. Treading the well-worn path from Capitol Hill to K Street (where Washington's lobbyists reside) is a longstanding and bipartisan tradition. And the taxes? Pfft. Let them eat cake!

But here's where Obama needs to remember his campaign promise to restrict the influences of lobbying. Daschle, for all of his experience and knowledge of health care, has disqualified himself from this important position because of his own personal greed. The Senate should reject his nomination.