Without question Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner didn't pay
some of his taxes. Even though the IMF warned him about
them and reimbursed him for them. One can argue whether
this was an honest mistake, but it looks a bit
dubious. However, give him teh benefit of the
doubt. He also didn't go back and pay what was due on
previous years after being audited. Certainly this was a
conscious decision: the IRS hadn't noticed and/or the
statute of limitations had run, so big whup (or whew, that's a
relief!) probably was his reaction. Until that wonderful
Cabinet nomination came along, at which point he quickly paid.
Did Geithner, a former high-ranking official in the Clinton
Treasury Department, really not know he wasn't paying Social
Security and Medicare taxes after he moved to a new job at the
International Monetary Fund in 2001?
What was he thinking when he signed papers pledging that he
would pay those specific taxes? And what was he thinking when
he accepted the IMF's customary reimbursement for taxes he had
not paid?
Those questions are why we have confirmation hearings.
Geithner's problems are serious, and they deserve a complete
airing. But there is a bigger issue in the Geithner
situation, and it is this: Should an offense that would have
sunk a nomination in years past be considered acceptable today?
There's no doubt that Geithner's tax problems, even what we
know about them before a full public hearing, would have killed
a cabinet nomination in 1993, or 1997, or 2001, or 2005.
The real questions are: have the rules changed only for
Democrats, and only during economic emergencies? Only time
will tell.
There are different rules for an apostle of the messiah than for
a mere cabinet appointee. This would have blown up if this had
been a Clinton nominee. What we are seeing is an epic, Soviet
style dive by the Messiah Stream Media.
You should read what Accuracy in Media has to say about Geithner
in a couple of articles, here:
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/why-are-the-media-protecting-geithner
and here:
http://www.aim.org/aim-column/media-fiddle-while-america-burns
Interested Consrvative| 1.18.09 @ 11:08AM
Linda Chavez.
History starts over Tuesday. This is B.O., that is A.O.
bluecollarbytes| 1.18.09 @ 12:39PM
"The real questions are: have the rules changed only for
Democrats, and only during economic emergencies? "
Democrats have long had different rules than Republicans. They've
'earned' them because they are selfless god-like figures, not
like the selfish rich Republicans who wish to destroy the world.
And if you believe that it may not be to late to invest with
Bernie Madoff.
Vladimir Posner| 1.18.09 @ 9:50AM
There are different rules for an apostle of the messiah than for a mere cabinet appointee. This would have blown up if this had been a Clinton nominee. What we are seeing is an epic, Soviet style dive by the Messiah Stream Media.
ConservativeWanderer| 1.18.09 @ 10:23AM
Vladimir, if you think that a Clinton nominee with Geithner's problems would have had a rough time, imagine a Bush appointee with the same problems!
Deborah| 1.18.09 @ 10:36AM
You should read what Accuracy in Media has to say about Geithner in a couple of articles, here: http://www.aim.org/aim-column/why-are-the-media-protecting-geithner and here: http://www.aim.org/aim-column/media-fiddle-while-america-burns
Interested Consrvative| 1.18.09 @ 11:08AM
Linda Chavez.
History starts over Tuesday. This is B.O., that is A.O.
bluecollarbytes| 1.18.09 @ 12:39PM
"The real questions are: have the rules changed only for Democrats, and only during economic emergencies? "
Democrats have long had different rules than Republicans. They've 'earned' them because they are selfless god-like figures, not like the selfish rich Republicans who wish to destroy the world. And if you believe that it may not be to late to invest with Bernie Madoff.
Lester| 1.18.09 @ 12:45PM
Liberals own fairness. It is their private property. Thus, whatever they do, is fair.
ruth| 1.18.09 @ 2:29PM
Liberals have decided that they own fairness. Who's going to stop them, the objective media?
sidnee| 12.12.09 @ 12:14PM
jack wills
ugg new arrivals