Tom Daschle latest in the Obama parade of tax cheats
Every broken down Landman in town knows how to do proper withholding, but the new Secretary of the Treasury wasn't able to figure it out....according to the 'official' story. Now former long-time Democrat former Senator Tom Daschle is discovered to have somehow neglected to pay $101,000 in taxes due on benefits received from a 'wealthy friend'...in this case the use of a car and driver for three years.
Sure, you can't blame Daschle for not knowing that such benefits are considered income. It was just a favor, right? Are we taxing favors now, too? Easy mistake. Just like Geithner. And Rangel.
And the $83,000 in "consulting income" that he did not declare? Consulting income is income, too? Wow. Who knew?
No wonder these guys aren't bothered by high taxes. They don't pay them.
Seriously, though, I can't but wonder if part of the problem with these long-time "public servants" and their views on the proper levels of taxation aren't profoundly affected by how much in their own personal lives and activities is paid for by other people or entities.
Bill Clinton used to brag about how little he made as Governor of Arkansas, the inference being that he "doesn't care about money". And it is true that the actual salary paid to the Governor of Arkansas is pretty small. I want to say that it was only around $35,000 per year at the time.
But to that $35,000 you have to add all of the trappings of office, like a free residence, access to state aircraft, drivers, assistants, cleaning staff, insurance benefits. Does the Governor buy food for the Governor's mansion? I doubt it. And that is just "official' governor type stuff. Politicians at that level also have access to millions in 'campaign funds' that let them travel and entertain at will.
And on all of that stuff listed above that combined provide a jet-set lifestyle he pays taxes on the $35,000.
And it is the same at the national level. 535 office-holders with the lifestyle habits of multi-millionaires paying taxes on their $174,000 per year salary.
When so much of their lives is unaffected or impervious to the tax code, you can begin to see why they might view taxes a little differently than the rest of us.
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5 Comments
---If my neighbor helps me move some furniture ..., do I have to declare that as income because of the work he "donated" to me??
Part II. If I ride to work with a friend do I have to declare that as income since I did not have to pay for gas or a taxi?? I am confused...
If not where does it stop.????
Question: how is Obama responsible in any way responsible for this.. If so is Bush and Reagan responsible for Nixon being a crook, after all, Bush Sr. even worked for him.
Be honest in your comments.....
President Obama is not responsible for the fact that Daschle and Geithner are tax cheats. He is only responsible for naming tax cheats to cabinet positions.
In terms more direct: A day care center should have some culpability for hiring a known child molester, wouldn't you agree?
The same principle should apply when hiring a tax dodger as a tax collector.
I find this delicious. Daschle is one of the four or five most repulsive of Senators that I've seen--a single word from that smarmy little bastard could invoke a moment of perfect hatred.
I once knew a lawyer from Daschle's home state and I asked him how Daschle won election. He said that everywhere you went there was a postcard on a wall from dear Tom. Community service.
Make no mistake. He's a full-fledged leftist who thinks that laws are a tool to hurt other people and an inconvenience to him.
For he's just too big to be bothered with the laws that he voted for.
Slimy little bastard.
I have a long list of things I "hated" about Bill Clinton, but they tended to be about his politics and not so much about the man himself .
Would I suffer six hours in a bass boat , fishing and drinking coldbeers in the middle of a lake with the guy ? Hell yes !
I can't really judge a man because of his wife .
I DO ,however, get really ticked when the man pleads "poverty".
That said, if they held an election today featuring Bill "I-did-NOT-have-sex-with-that-woman" Clinton and President Obama...My vote would go for Bill Clinton in a HEARTBEAT !
My thinking is..with Bill Clinton , only the interns get screwed.