# Disappointed with Obama's nominations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289 "2009-02-03T18:40:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/1 "2009-02-03T18:40:50Z")
Today we see two more high profile nominees withdraw following questions of personal improprieties. Seems to be adding up to be a pretty substantial list, including Richardson (withdrew) and Geithner (confirmed). Whether or not you consider the alleged improprieties inherently significant, the fact is they should have been expected to loom large in today’s confirmation arena. Frankly, I am surprised that there have been this many questionable nominations, as Obama’s team seemed to avoid missteps so consistently throughout his campaign. If nothing else, it allows the opposition to allege ethics issues, and distracts from the important matter at hand. Sure, Daschle, Richardson, et al may have been very competent nominees for the positions at issue, but does anyone seriously think they were the ONLY people who could have filled the suits? Anyone else in the least surprised/disappointed by these developments? Will this have legs, or will it quickly disappear? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/2 "2009-02-03T18:44:18Z")
Yeah, I’m a bit disappointed. The vetting process seems to have disappeared lately. How could Daschle’s taxes have gone unnoticed by everybody? I know Team Obama wants experienced people in key positions, but come on! Let’s take some time and really check people out before offering them a position. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/3 "2009-02-03T18:46:46Z")
I for one am very pleased that he cut them loose. He could have stood by Daschle and possibly gotten him through. The Senate has shone little propensity to feast on their own. Not sure if he did this for expedience (i.e. Clinton’s don’t ask don’t tell fiasco) or he actually believes in the “new era of responsibility”. I’ll willing to go with the latter. So far I think he’s trying very hard to walk the walk. I think he’s OK right now. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/4 "2009-02-03T19:49:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > How could Daschle’s taxes have gone unnoticed by everybody? I’m curious about what actually goes INTO vetting. I know there are background checks but apparently they don’t extend to unpaid taxes; Daschle didn’t inform his potential boss about it until recently even though he’d been aware of it for months. While this happens to every president to some degree you do get the sense Obama’s people hurried through this. Getting the transition done fast was a good goal, but not something that should be done sloppily. That said, Daschle might have been nominated even if they knew. He and Obama are close and have shared staff. Whatever went down here I think it’s good that some things have stayed the same in politics: Tom Daschle is still a loser. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/5 "2009-02-03T20:13:29Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m curious about what actually goes INTO vetting. I know there are background checks but apparently they don’t extend to unpaid taxes; Daschle didn’t inform his potential boss about it until recently even though he’d been aware of it for months. You really gotta wonder about these long time players who KNOW they have a skeleton like this in their closet, yet they figure no one is going to find it out about THEM! ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/6 "2009-02-03T20:24:57Z")
I am disappointed that Daschle has withdrawn. By all accounts he seemed a great fit for the job and that ought to have been the primary consideration. Getting health care legislation is a huge, huge task and you need the absolute best person for the job. It was worth sticking with Daschle at the cost of a few days of bad publicity. His tax problems seem pretty minor and inadvertent to me and 6 months down the line would anyone really care about them? All the indications seemed to be that he would make it; my guess is that it was Obama who pulled the plug and I think it was a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/7 "2009-02-03T20:38:03Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > I am disappointed that Daschle has withdrawn. By all accounts he seemed a great fit for the job and that ought to have been the primary consideration. I’ve heard others say this and I’m curious (since I admit I don’t know a lot about the guy.) Why was he such a great fit? I (and otherse) had always thought Howard Dean would be a great guy for that position. He’s a former physician and healthcare has always been a priority for him. I get the feeling he wasn’t chosen because he’s a pariah of the democratic party. They left him out to dry and want nothing to do with him, even though he DOES have good ideas that work (his 50 states plan was instrumental in getting Obama elected.) ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/8 "2009-02-03T20:51:52Z")
I’m a little disappointed with the appointments because it does seem that the problems were discovered during Obama’s vetting process. If the problems came up the people should have been dismissed for the simple principle of it. My disappointment is negated a bit by fact that it was shown the light of day for all to judge for themselves. There is some effort to answer the questions rather than ignore everything. Answering the questions always makes stories go away much faster than denial. [WaPo - Geithner](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011403682.html) > [@](#): > > Obama aides said the IRS told Geithner in 2006 that he had no other tax obligations after paying what he owed for 2003 and 2004. They said Geithner did not know that he owed money for prior years until the matter was uncovered by the Obama transition team in November. [WaPo - Daschle](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003793_pf.html) > [@](#): > > A White House aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Daschle’s tax problems were “discovered during the vetting process, and the Obama team became aware of it as Senator Daschle prepared to submit his nomination papers.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/9 "2009-02-03T21:07:25Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I get the feeling he wasn’t chosen because he’s a pariah of the democratic party. How do you figure Dean is a pariah? He was chairman of the DNC for four years. You can’t be more of an insider than that. Daschle does have some health care experience, and as I said, he and Obama are close: Obama’s chief of staff formerly held that position for Daschle, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/10 "2009-02-03T23:21:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Daschle does have some health care experience, and as I said, he and Obama are close: Obama’s chief of staff formerly held that position for Daschle, for example. He also lobbied to get Obama early Secret Service protection. > [@Alienhand](#): > > I’m a little disappointed with the appointments because it does seem that the problems were discovered during Obama’s vetting process. If the problems came up the people should have been dismissed for the simple principle of it… What principle? Don’t hire the best man for the job when it comes to building our nation’s health care system because of a mistake that is irrelevant to his position? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/11 "2009-02-03T23:29:28Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > He also lobbied to get Obama early Secret Service protection. I think that was Durbin. But Daschle was advising Obama during the campaign and even before it, if memory serves. He was supposed to be a liason to the Senate, I’m sure, so we’ll see who they choose to replace him. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/12 "2009-02-04T01:53:39Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > What principle? Don’t hire the best man for the job when it comes to building our nation’s health care system because of a mistake that is irrelevant to his position? Nope, this one. > [@](#): > > Obama told NBC “I’m frustrated with myself” for unintentionally sending a message that there are “two sets of rules” for paying taxes, “one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks.” According to the Whitehouse website, the health care reform plan is already in place. Converting the plan to legislation and getting it through is what is left to be done. I find it very difficult to believe he can’t (or won’t) be involved as a special adviser. I’ll have to wait to see who is appointed before I exclaim Daschle was the best option for that task as well as overseeing its implementation. Health care reform is on the 100 day agenda so having a controversial appointment may not be the best for getting it through. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/13 "2009-02-04T02:29:06Z")
Finding skeletons does not bother me, and the fact that he cut them loose early is a GOOD sign. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/14 "2009-02-04T02:37:42Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think that was Durbin. But Daschle was advising Obama during the campaign and even before it, if memory serves. He was supposed to be a liason to the Senate, I’m sure, so we’ll see who they choose to replace him. You’re right it was Durbin. > [@Alienhand](#): > > Nope, this one. > > > [@](#): > > > > Obama told NBC “I’m frustrated with myself” for unintentionally sending a message that there are “two sets of rules” for paying taxes, “one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks.” When ordinary folks make mistakes on their taxes they just pay them back. No one resigns from their job because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/15 "2009-02-04T05:48:21Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > When ordinary folks make mistakes on their taxes they just pay them back. No one resigns from their job because of it. Exactly. The double standards go the other way; cabinet nominees are put under far more scrutiny than ordinary people. Which is OK; they should be expected to meet high standards. But that doesn’t mean they should lose the job over relatively minor matters like this especially when they are otherwise highly qualified. A few days of bad publicity and hard questions were sufficient punishment for Daschle. As for Daschle’s qualifications: 1. He knows a lot about health care and has written a book about it. 2. He is personally close to Obama 3. He is an experienced legislator from the Senate which is the likely stumbling block. No other person has this combination AFAIK and I doubt someone as good will be found. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/16 "2009-02-04T05:52:16Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Finding skeletons does not bother me, and the fact that he cut them loose early is a GOOD sign. I agree. The real problems are those who appear to deny their own skeletons. Or do they think their own shit doesn’t smell? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/17 "2009-02-04T06:03:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > How could Daschle’s taxes have gone unnoticed by everybody? Honestly, it sounds like the vetting team did find out about Daschle’s issues, even after the IRS did not. The question is why they didn’t cut him loose at that point, rather than trying to put a band-aid on the issue by filing amended returns. I guess that’s the problem with vetting: you either take a chance and accept some dirty laundry and hope it gets through the Senate (like Geithner), or you go with the best perfectly clean candidate who may not be very good at the job. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/18 "2009-02-04T14:07:39Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > No other person has this combination AFAIK and I doubt someone as good will be found. I’ve worked in the federal government for 22 years and seen my share of appointees come and go. I have yet to see a single presidential appointee that I felt was uniquely qualified for a particular position. I think the cost imposed by distractions such as nannygate/tax issues outweighs any unique qualifications any individual might bring to a particular position. So - yeah - I have difficulty imagining a scenario where going with the best qualified “clean” candidate would not be the best decision. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/19 "2009-02-04T22:33:26Z")
The former secretary of my agency resigned on the basis of corruption charges sothe current one basically needs to show up and not take bribes to do a better job ;). I think it seems to be an okay choice-basically a former Clinton staffer who worked at the agency during the Clinton years. Like I said…it CAN’T be worse than the last 3.5 years of my career. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/20 "2009-02-05T03:48:39Z")
I think Obama started out well with his choices and it doesn’t bother me that stuff comes to light in the vetting process. It’s easy to say you wanted the person’s talent but he/she didn’t pass the vetting process. However, I’m extremely disappointed in Geithner’s support and I think he should be thrown under the next bus driving down Pennsylvania Avenue. If the past is any indication, he will be cut loose if he stays on the front page for any length of time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289.md?page=2)