Comments on: Obama team defends Geithner

By: MEP

MEP — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:51:37 +0000

They will have to turf Geithner (he really should honorably resign) and face the fact that their vetting process was really the" Old Washington " in cya mode.Cut these losses and move forward. Obama needs to read Mark Twain's " The Gilded Age". Not much has changed. Obama must swiftly cut the diseased part of his team away if they will not go. Many exceptional others await his summons.He needs to show the leadership he promised the American people.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:43:05 +0000

There's nothing unusual or wrong with tax evasion is there?

By: gregg45

gregg45 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:42:39 +0000

dont worry .. the almighty will just veto veto,,, veto,,, already ... with the vetos,,, this will be the reign of the vetos,,, i am so glad i changed my vote last year,,, first time in 30 years,, i see a fake when one speaks,,, so ,, hope it all happens for you all on the day of infamy,, hope you get what you wished for the next day

By: John G

John G — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:38:24 +0000

How's that for economic recovery? Don't pay your taxes and hire illegal immigrants to work for you-you'll have plenty left over at the end of the day!

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:22:41 +0000

You'd think after this DQ'd 2 Clinton nominees in 1993, they'd learn.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:19:30 +0000

Why pick him? He can't figure his taxes. Let's get someone from H&R Block – they got people that can figure taxes.

We need the best and brightest to move the country out of the economic problems. He might be the greatest sweetest man on earth but if he can not catch the details of his own taxes and makes a $43,000 mistake do we want him to be in charge of $1 Trillion in Bailout/Stimulus?

By: No laughing matter

No laughing matter — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:15:46 +0000

What a JOKE! This is unbelievable to say the least! Shame on Obama and his "vetting" process. How can Obama honestly think that a man who can't take care of his own finances can take care of our withering economy?? Everyday it looks like Obama is more of the same; He is still better than McCain would have been though. Just goes to show there really is no hope for America's future unless there is a total shift of power in Washington to good, pure, unselfish, honest, and intelligent men who aren't motivated by politics but are motivated by the love of our country to better it at any cost even at their own careers. Until that happens I hold no hope. This is just stupid!!

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:00:38 +0000

when you work for the IMF you don't need to pay income taxes. once geithner relaized that he hadnt been paying social security payments either, however, he paid back what he owed PLUS INTEREST.

as for the illegal employee: she worked for him LEGALLY for (i think) three years. her green card expired. 3 months later she became a citizen.

yeah, two mistakes. but not the end of the world.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:11:31 +0000

Imagine that ANOTHER corrupt politician. Turn on the lights at the Obama cabinet meeting and they will all scramble under the cabinet.
There is no change here–same old crap. Then you have the Bill and HIlliary show brewing along with the old team of characters from the Clinton administration. I suspect there will be a "buyers remorse" here shortly with this administration.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:44:46 +0000

I have a problem with anyone holding public office that does not pay their income taxes, but especially in his role as Treasury Secretary. He will be in charge of IRS and Social Security. Will he let other people slide, too? Hiring employees is complicated, but there are responsibilities that need to be attended to. I do not need a Saint to be in office, just an experienced taxpayer.

By: No Hillary = No Obama

No Hillary = No Obama — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:44:31 +0000

Double standard? I am supposed to pay quarterly taxes. When I can't – I file my income tax and ask for the installment plan. Usually, the IRS is agreeable. However, if a payment is late or missed – they are right on it – if it goes on too long, the threats start coming – liens, bank account seizures – they don't fool around.
So this guy doesn't pay thousands of dollars in income tax for several years and the IRS is clueless? Yeah right. Good pick Obama.

By: Larry Diguardio

Larry Diguardio — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:43:47 +0000

Obama has never been concerned with crime, having come from that hell-hole of Chicago where "everybody does it" - did he, too? So what: a little crime here or a little crime there? This is the best he can come up with?

By: Tate

Tate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:18:13 +0000

Is there anybody Obama know that is not a crook! What a mess this is and he has not even gone to Washington yet.

By: jaye

jaye — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:43:48 +0000

This is much ado about nothing.

By: Waiting for Jan. 20

Waiting for Jan. 20 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:20:26 +0000

Lifetime tax audits for everyone in this discussion thread! Yay!

Just kidding!

OK, it *is* unbecoming for a Treasury Secretary to have not paid taxes for a period of self-employment and for a housekeeper. It's natural to wonder if he'll mess up with details of managing the Treasury Department, too.

On the other hand, I wonder if the pool of people qualified to be a Treasury Secretary includes anyone who hasn't neglected (or intentionally avoided) paying some taxes. Affluent people really seem to have trouble paying taxes for their housekeepers and gardeners! LOL!

By: Florida John

Florida John — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:20:16 +0000

Of course they found that it was a complete error. If he can not manage his own finances, how can he be incharge of ours???????????

By: Ernie in LA

Ernie in LA — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:05:28 +0000

It's amazing to read the comments from people who voted for Obama that are disappointed in him even before he takes office. I think there will be many more.

By: Timothy

Timothy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:01:44 +0000

I just love watching the Obamabots people start throwing out the excuses and saying that Americans should rally behind him and than blaming republicans in the same sentence. HeHeHe If this were a republican, they'd be calling for his head. Breaking the law is just that, it doesn't matter if you're republican or democrat.

By: Alex from Texas

Alex from Texas — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:58:24 +0000

Maybe the immigration certificate of his housekeeper will be found in Hillary's office after the investigation is over on this one as well.

Clinton lost Mike Espey and Henry Cisneros in the early part of his admin as well for stupid stuff. Dems or Repubs...it's all the same.

"Change is relative"...there is no change here.

By: Ennis, LA

Ennis, LA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:54:26 +0000

Another Obama scandal...yikes! First Richardson, now this.
Not to mention the flap over his successor! Barrack...you
should have waited till you got sworn in first before you show
a lack of preparation and maturity.

By: NM Ray

NM Ray — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:47:09 +0000

I am a Democrat. I am proud I voted to get rid of the stupid incompetent crooks that the last Republican administration brought to Washington. I do my own taxes. I pay my taxes. I have always paid my taxes and – one time – I was informed that I had underpaid my taxes, I paid my taxes promptly.

I think that I know at least a dozen CPA's in New Mexico who can pay their taxes correctly. There are probably many, many more competent people who could run the Treasury Dep't without any questions as to whether they had paid their own taxes and the taxes on their employees.

Change means that now its time to do things right. Let's set an example for the Stupid Republicans.

By: thomas

thomas — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:46:33 +0000

The senate finance committee has know about all of this since Dec. 5th and they are now just bring it up why? If the Transition team and Mr. G eithner were the one who brought it to there attention then and he has paid all the raxes then what is the problem, I want to know who leaked the infro to the Wall St Journal. Any Republican want to step up.

By: Paulsons Bagman?

Paulsons Bagman? — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:43:54 +0000

Change?This was Paulsons bagman, or was he Bernachis shoe shine boy?I dont trust this guy as far as I could throw him and I voted for Obama.

By: CA Indie for Obama

CA Indie for Obama — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:41:57 +0000

bush had many cabinet picks that went sideways...
Miers, Bolten (recess appt), Brown etc.
seems to me that this article should have been posted in Nov or Dec, so I wonder about CNN's timing of a story that is over a month old.

so I guess my "comments awaiting moderation"
if they are posted at all.

By: feckless

feckless — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:40:06 +0000

Still waiting for the republican who calls for investigating and enforcing the law against the current president, and I will go on waiting.

If Geithner or Wrangel broke the law with criminal intent jail them, if they did not STFU.

The second any of you idiot anti-obama trolls call for prosecuting any of the THOUSANDS of violations of the law in the last 8 years, then you can preach to us about the technical mistakes of Mr. Obama's appointees.

Bush and Cheney have admitted to authorizing torture, a crime against humanity, but you the propaganda victims here think any picayune non-issue is a stop the world event, as long as its a democrat thats in the cross hairs.

By: christinep

christinep — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:40:06 +0000

Zoe Baird & Kimba Wood discovered the import of a similar (and, possibly, lesser) situation in '93. This is for Treasury Secretary. One would think that all $ dealings involving a nominee would be squeaky clean. What givies with the "vetting?" We need to hear more.

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:39:39 +0000

This is disgusting to say the least. Will you explain to me how the IRS can waive penalties for 2003 and 2004; and how this man gets by with not paying self-employment taxes when due and still remains a nominee for Treasury Secretary. One standard for Washington elites and one for the average Joe American. What a joke!

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:35:24 +0000

Get him out of there.

By: I Choose Liberty

I Choose Liberty — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:33:09 +0000

Matt (January 13th, 2009 6:23 pm ET):

So I am indeed questioning his competence and not his honesty, so what is your response to me?

By: Mr. Lugo

Mr. Lugo — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:28:44 +0000

I'm a blogger who loves saying CHANGE. I CHANGE into CHANGE and have a cup of CHANGE. Then I sit down on my CHANGE and type useless CHANGE on my CHANGE because it makes me feel like a CHANGE. Once I have spent about 3 CHANGE on my CHANGE, I'll head upstairs, I'll brush my CHANGE, say my nightly CHANGE, and go to CHANGE.

See how annoying that is?

By: chris - New York

chris - New York — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:28:42 +0000

if this CRIMINAL, thats right, CRIMINAL, is allowed to be our treasury secretary than we are going to be much worse off in the coming years. For individuals who say this is a non-issue. wow... you are blinded by your infatuation with stupidity!

By: geraldine

geraldine — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:25:55 +0000

I love the irony of an administration that is bent on increasing taxes for the "rich", made of rich people that don't pay taxes.

Ahh well – at least he looks good in a bathing suit and gives good speeches. What more can you ask for, really?

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:25:09 +0000

It would nice, if everyone would stop being critical on Obama's new cabinet choices. Obama learned tough politics from being in Chicago.
Our future President did say we all have to work together in order to
re-establish our financial economic tenure. How can the United States
show the world we're a successful country without financial economic failures? Obama said,"Yes we can"! Failure is not an option for our nation!

By: Change? Yeah Wright

Change? Yeah Wright — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:23:50 +0000

Obama gets way to much credit for his intelligence. First Richardson and now the Treasury Secretary pick Geithner did not pay his taxes? Wow, I think I would rather take another 8 years of Bush then what has already happened under the so so called "Change" under the Obama administration.

Unreal

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:23:06 +0000

This was a routine back taxes issue people. The IRS regularly waives the penalties when someone amends and pays the back taxes. If it was a situation in which you could legitimately claim it shows corrupt behavior he'd have been prosecuted, but he wasn't and isn't going to be. His ability to do the job is certainly put in question based on messing up his taxes, but not his honesty. Read the linked document so you know the facts or STFU.

By: j

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:22:50 +0000

First Charlie Rangel, the top Democrat who writes our tax laws, doesn't know how to pay his taxes. Now we find out the Democratic nominee to run the Treasury doesn't like to pay his taxes... This must be why Democrats feel the need to increase taxes- to make up for what they don't feel like paying themselves.

By: Bill in PA

Bill in PA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:21:22 +0000

I support Obama but this guy should be history. If this was a Republican he would be tarred and feathered.

By: once upon a horse

once upon a horse — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:21:19 +0000

Joe the Plumber didn't pay his taxes and all it got him was a book deal, fame, and a journalism job. Must be the way to go now I guess.

By: lib4

lib4 — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:20:22 +0000

I love the Republican “watch dogs” who have crawled out of the wood work since November 3 2008. After 8 years of ignoring the absolute malfeasance by GWB and his band of merry thieves; Republicans are now all of a sudden concerned with “governmental improprieties”. Oh the irony.

The fact that Mr Geithner and the Obama team DISCLOSED this information to Congress PRIOR to the hearing indicates they were aware of the issue and chose NOT TO COVER IT UP, unlike some members of a certain political persuasion.

Is it unseemly that he failed to pay taxes ...YES of course...but is it an automatic disqualification for the job...I say NO.

Repubs you really need to pick your battles b/c if this is the best you can come up with consistent basis its gonna be a long 4-8 years.

By: Voter from California

Voter from California — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:18:53 +0000

We need a person who can handle financial matter 1–% by the book, correctly, no mistakes, in charge of the treasury! Pick someone else Obama, so far your change is nothing but the same old stuff. I voted for you and still believe in you. Please don't let us down.

By: Dick

Dick — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:18:32 +0000

Does this mean that I don't have to pay my taxes. How could this criminal even be considered for Treasury Department leader? We have lost it. All of these politicians are just plain crooks. If this guy had any balls he would take his name out of consideration for the job. I guess CHANGE means keep all the old crooks and hire some more. I am glad that I am 66 years old so I don't have to put up with this much longer.

By: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:17:17 +0000

I want my penalties for not paying self-employment taxes waived, TOO!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:17:09 +0000

Seems like Obama does not care about ethics or moral issues when he picks up the Cabinet members. Idiots.

By: Timber

Timber — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:17:05 +0000

Are you kidding me??!!!

People are coming down on this man for these fairly low level deeds, yet totally blew off Obama and his racist pastor, dealings with the terrorist fellow, connection to corruption galore in Chicago, etc, etc and elect him president! Am I crazy?!!

By: reggie

reggie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:16:42 +0000

Obama can leave the shady friends behind. No place for them on the national scene. Keep them in Illinois.

By: John S.

John S. — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:15:38 +0000

$42,000+!?!?! That's almost as much as the median annual income of American families. Of course, this is just chump change compared to the billions of taxpayer dollars he doled out to his friends on Wall Street.

No wonder Democrats (even the rich ones!) don't mind raising taxes...they don't plan on paying them! Thanks for looking out for the little guy, Dems.

By: Lynn in NM

Lynn in NM — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:15:30 +0000

That's #2. How many more are we going to see? I haven't seen any "change" yet. Can't be that a politician fibbed, can it?

By: sarah

sarah — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:14:58 +0000

This is so stupid. YAWN. WHO CARES

He should still become Sec. of Treasury.

By: reggie

reggie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:14:31 +0000

NEXT! We don't need someone like that in the administration. Surely, there are capable, HONEST, people ready to serve.

By: NP

NP — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:14:23 +0000

Dear President-Elect Obama,

A suggestion from the Democrats in Congress...

You might be better off nominating Mr. Geithner's housekeeper for Secretary of the Treasury!