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Tax-Hiking Dems Defend Daschle

By Doug Bandow on 2.2.09 @ 5:44AM

The theory must be that it's okay to raise taxes if you can take your own private tax cut.  At least, that would explain why the Dems, who almost all want most of us--you know, "rich" people who earn more than the minimum wage--to pay more in taxes, are defending Tom Daschle.  Reports the Washington Post:

Many Democrats rose to his defense yesterday.

"If all you knew about Tom Daschle was that he used to be a senator and he made a mistake and had to pay over $100,000 in back taxes, you would have a right to be skeptical, even cynical," said  Sen. Richard J. Durbin (Ill.). "But if you know Tom Daschle, you know better."

One longtime friend blamed Hindery's company, InterMedia Advisors, for the tax oversight. Daschle did report the $1 million annual consulting fee he received from the private equity firm. He asked his accountant last summer to look into whether the Internal Revenue Service considers the free car and driver to be compensation, Washington lawyer Frederick Graefe said.

"If there was no 1099 [form] from his employer for the car and driver, how was he to know it was taxable?" Graefe said. "His integrity is beyond reproach."

Maybe it all is innocent.  But we know what the Dems would be saying about a GOP nominee--even worse, two GOP nominees--who hadn't paid up until his or her nomination was moving forward.

Maybe Republicans should vote yes if the Dems agree to support legislative giving the rest of us the right to "forget" to pay our taxes until we are nominated for high office.  Seem fair enough?