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Statement on Sebelius

4.2.09 @ 9:27AM

A group of leading conservatives, representing the broader conservative movement, has released this message:

Gov. Sebelius May Not Pay Her Own Taxes, but Has No Qualms About Using Tax Dollars to Pay for Others’ Abortions

Disclosures that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, faces tax problems provides yet one more example of the incompetence that has characterized the Obama administration's transition process. By disclosing that she was forced to pay over $7000 in back taxes after her nomination, Gov. Sebelius joined the ranks of Obama nominees who thought they were above paying taxes, a group that includes her predecessor as nominee for HHS, Sen. Tom Daschle.

Gov. Sebelius may not pay her own taxes, but has no qualms about using tax dollars to pay for others’ abortions. Even before she reported her tax issues Gov. Sebelius was manifestly unqualified to run America's health care system, as illustrated by her coddling of the abortion industry at the expense of Kansas women's safety. With her background, Gov. Sebelius can only be expected to politicize the office of HHS. Gov. Sebelius's difficulties illuminate an emerging pattern: that Obama nominates non-experts who cannot be relied upon to solve their own tax problems, let alone govern effectively.

Obama Nominees See Taxes As Other People’s Problems

• Obama nominations with tax problems are by no means limited to Gov. Sebelius and Sen. Daschle at HHS. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, OMB performance officer Nancy Killefer, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk have all demonstrated an inability to get their own personal tax affairs in order, and yet Obama expects us to believe they are capable of governing a nation of more than 300 million people.

Gov. Sebelius Even Opposed Parental Notification

• More acute than her tax problems, Gov. Sebelius is not to be trusted with any aspect of citizens' health care. As a member of the Kansas House of Representatives in the 1980s and 1990s Gov. Sebelius voted to weaken or eliminate even such modest measures as parental notification, waiting periods and informed consent. As governor, she twice has vetoed bills attempting to protect the health and safety of women by more tightly regulating abortion clinics. Gov. Sebelius has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and they have conducted fundraising activity on her behalf. Clearly, Gov. Sebelius has a track record of politicizing common-sense health issues.

Gov. Sebelius Can’t Be Trusted On Her Own Taxes, But Wants to Run 16% of Economy

• As Secretary of the HHS, Gov. Sebelius will be tasked with implementing Obama's massive health care changes. Someone so indebted to the abortion industry that she vetoes common-sense provisions is incapable of administering any meaningful change or reform in the health care sector.

Gov. Sebelius is unable to manage her own affairs or the affairs of her state. It is ironic that the same woman who pledged in a confirmation hearing to crack down on medical fraud to signal that there was ‘a new sheriff in town’ would ignore our tax laws until she is nominated to the Cabinet. Obviously, she is incapable of running the HHS. All who have a stake in America's health care system should call on their senators to vote against Gov. Sebelius's nomination for HHS.

This message was issued by:

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council
Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America
David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president, Susan B. Anthony List
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform
Tom Minnery, svp of government and public policy, Focus on the Family
Don Wildmon, president, American Family Association

View all comments (11) | Leave a comment

Bob| 4.2.09 @ 11:22AM

The anti-intelligence social conservatives strike again. Here are the errors:

_Charitable contributions over $250 are supposed to include an acknowledgment letter from the charity in order for a deduction to be taken. Out of 49 charitable contributions made, three letters couldn't be found.

_Sebelius and her husband took deductions for mortgage interest that they weren't entitled to. The couple sold their home in 2006 for less than what they owed on the mortgage. They continued to make payments on the mortgage, including interest. But since they no longer owned the home they weren't entitled to take deductions for the interest. The same thing happened with a home improvement loan. Sebelius said they "mistakenly believed" the payments were still deductible.

_Insufficient documentation was found for some business expense deductions.

This is why no one trusts Republicans anymore. This is not big stuff and would not be caught by programs like TurboTax. Palin's use of government transportation and being paid for the use of her home is far more serious.

This has nothing to do with taxes -- it has to do with anti-abortion. This is why social conservatives are hurting the party.

ruth| 4.2.09 @ 11:40AM

Ha ha ha ha ha . Bob defends the indefensible--rampant democrat corruption--but you'd better believe he's a republican. You'd better believe it, because he has told us so many, many times before. Jackass troll--go home. You are such a sorry joke.

Bill Bailey| 4.2.09 @ 12:40PM

Bob, get lost you socialist troll. We don't care what you think. Go jump off a tall building.

Bob| 4.2.09 @ 12:46PM

...and the sycophants continue to reply. Palin's corruption is far worse than Sebelius. But in her case it is acceptable? If we RINO's don't take over the party soon, it is all over for Republicans.

And Bill -- ditto...

Aren't any of you educated enough to participate in intelligent discourse?

Truth to Power| 4.2.09 @ 1:13PM

Why would anybody want to have intelligent discourse with a troll? What does that even mean?

Bob| 4.2.09 @ 2:27PM

"Why would anybody want to have intelligent discourse with a troll? What does that even mean?"

This is exactly your problem. Do you even know the definition of a "troll"? I am a RINO and am a fiscal conservative. I was against the bailouts and would have let GM file bankruptcy. I've said a great number of times that that Obama budget overreaches. That said, I am libertarian when it comes to social issues, just like a great many Republicans.

The fact that you don't want to have intelligent discourse and to understand the part of the party that is the swing vote in elections, tells me you probably lack the intelligence to perform such an act. This predilection against intelligence is what is wrong with the Republican party and why you continue to vote for losers like McCain, Palin, and Bush. Rather than understand that tax cuts do not raise revenues, you'd rather stick your collective heads in the sand and not understand the truth. You'd walk of the edge of a cliff for Rush/Hannity without even questioning their facts.

In the end, ignorance cannot win. I'm here because I think it is important for you to hear from Republicans like me.

Willey| 4.2.09 @ 2:30PM

Bad joke and a loser like all liberal democrats. Morally bankrupt.

Truth to Power| 4.2.09 @ 5:31PM

I know what a RINO is but Bob is a troll. Of all our trolls I like the Interloper the best. His insults are sometimes clever. Bob is a tedious soul which I suspect is his real self coming through.

Angel| 4.2.09 @ 5:51PM

Interloper is a one-trick pony troll. If you're not a demo/lib/marxist--you're a racist. Tedious. Harp and Mathews are A-hole trolls. Bob is somewhere in the middle

Your Majesty| 4.2.09 @ 6:49PM

This statement is a great example of why conservatives can't get their message across: awful message, lacking focus.

The message should be: "Democrats don't pay their taxes, want to raise yours, and know better than you how to spend your money." (And it should be brief.)

But the very first sentence mixes in abortion, which is a complete non-sequitur. Isn't usurping 1/6 of the economy enough of a reason to distrust the Democrats? Why dilute this message?

I'm not saying abortion isn't important -- just that it doesn't need to be a part of this statement. If you have a sledgehammer, why use a flyswatter?