February 3rd, 2009
07:54 PM ET
8 years ago
Obama: 'I screwed up' on Daschle appointment
President Barack Obama is interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday admitted he made a mistake in handling the nomination of Tom Daschle as his Health and Human Services secretary, saying Daschle's tax problems sent a message that the politically powerful are treated differently than average people.
Watch: Pres. Obama one-on-one
Daschle, the former Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, withdrew earlier Tuesday as news that he failed to pay some taxes in the past continued to stir opposition on Capitol Hill.
"I think I screwed up," Obama said in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper. "And, I take responsibility for it and we're going to make sure we fix it so it doesn't happen again."
From CNN Politics
- With cameras banned, CNN sends sketch artist to White House briefing June 24, 2017 01:42 am
- Surrounded by lawyers, Trump back in familiar stance June 23, 2017 10:00 am
- 5th GOP senator won't back health care bill June 23, 2017 10:04 pm
- Who gets hurt and who gets helped by the Senate health care bill June 23, 2017 05:09 pm
- House Intel: No sign yet Comey memo will be turned over Friday June 23, 2017 05:00 pm
- Why Democrats can't quit Nancy Pelosi June 23, 2017 04:16 pm
Thank You President Obama. We love you and do not ask john McBush to help hr still running for Sarah
Also ........He is still hot even when he screws up. .... i like him even more.....
We've all done it but how many of us can admit it? How many people can really say, "sorry" and mean it?
Yes, he did. And yes he did. and yes he does.
Another reason why I voted for him.
And by the way, I've screw up too. And I'm sorry. And I mean it.
Well, at least he admitted he screwed UP. Unlike Bush who screwed US.
This is the reason you do not elect someone that has no experience. His mistake is being arrogent and saying yesterday he stands behind this pick. He only admitted a mistake when Daschel resigned. This does not show any leadership. A leader would have asked him to stand down. This has happened 3 times ,at least, in his cabinet picks and not once did this man step up and ask these people to resign. And he talks about being integrity to his administrationl I'm sorry Mr. Obama but if this is your idea of integrity your better go back to the dictionary and look up the word. The American people were duped by a slick talker who could give a speech. All fluff and no substance and you bought it hook, line and sinker.
I am very impressed with Obama on this and I didn't even vote for him.
Tom Dashcle should be ashamed of himself, but of course he has no shame. The nerve of the man, fully knowing that he cheated the government and the american people, and then went ahead and accepted the nomination?? And what were the Obama vetters thinking after finding out about his tax evasion, to still let him thru? and what was President Obama thinking when he did not immediately rescind his nomination instead publicly giving him his support? Now I know why rich people pay less taxes.. they know all the loopholes and they just plainly omit reporting all their earnings.
Not his first mistake and won't be his last!
we love you it will be better all around with you
John McCain, the "maverick" shows what a maverick really is, unstable and unpredictable. He will say whatever will bring attention to him. If the Republicans care about this country they will stop their sour grapes screaming and get busy helping the President craft an appropriate stimulus package that most can be happy with. They have been a nasty bunch for 8 years now and this divisiveness needs to stop!
Recently I did type a comment. Where is it????It hasn't showed up yet. That's why I hit the submit comment again.........
To all you people that love the Obama brand Koolaid
What about Tim Geitner?
If he was truly sorry he would fire Tim Geitner today. And get rid of the lobbyists hold top positions in his administration.
May be I will break it down more for all you uncritical groupies...
If your kid steals money from your wallet and apologized and yet he kept the steal some, is his apology worth anything?????
On the jumbo loan too? hehehe. Good luck. We the people demand HOPE or really screw him over too!
The first and it hasn't even been 1month in office! He should have set the precedence earlier with the appointment of Finance Secretary.
President Obama should admit he really needs help finding qualified honorable people for the Offices the hold. Shows he's human, doesn't. JDBMIOOP USA
To all you people that love the Obama brand Koolaid
What about Tim Geitner?
If he was truly sorry he would fire Tim Geitner today. And get rid of the lobbyists hold top positions in his administration.
May be I will break it down more for all you uncritical groupies...
If your kid steals money from your wallet and apologized but he keeps on stealing, is his apology worth anything?????
On the jumbo loan too? hehehe. Good luck. We the people demand HOPE or really screw over too!
On the jumbo loan too? hehehe. Good luck. We the people demand HOPE or really screw it over too.
A president is a leader and as such should exhibit some sense of backbone. A leader does not say "I screwed up".
Thank you.
None of you understand what is really going on. It is not about Republicans or Democrats. It's not about the "Right" or the "Left". Bush and Obama are both front men working for the same people who control our government. If Obama's agenda is all about change, then why are the same people who are members of the Trilateral Commission, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve, Wall Street and Council on Foreign Relations being appointed to key positions in Obama's administration? I urge American's to take a few moments to research where these appointees are coming from and prove it to yourself.
It's time we all wake up to what is really going on... and join together as American's who love our country. The power elite and New World Order has stolen our country right out from under our noses while we were preoccupied with watching football, American Idol and reading the tabloids. We need to get off our butts, help wake others up to the truth and take our country back from these criminals. If we don't, America is destined to become a third-world nation. And when our children and grandchildren ask us why we did nothing to save America, we will have to tell them that it just wasn't important to us
To Slider, billy-bayou, Joe Paleface, Debby, No Incumbents 2010, and a couple of other idiot commentors:
It appears that you enjoyed this free-fall ride that President Bush took the nation on during the last 8 years. When the nation begins swinging back up, do everyone a favor and take a flying leap back down. I think people like you enjoy it down in the pits!!! Fools!!!
GW was responsible for the death of nearly 5000 American citizens in Iraq as well as hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens. Not once has he even come close to admitting causing a disaster.
As usual, because I critcized repubicans you have chosen not to post my comments. So much for fair and balance, CNN.
I love you Anderson, Erica, Wolf, Campbell and CNN itself..... Larry King as well but he needs to retire.... lol...
Now that I am done with telling how much I admire you, dear Anderson, as good, great, excellent and blah blah blah your interview was with President Obama, the opening scene was was terrible. It is YOU who should have been sitting and President walking-in versus the other way around. Bad call from the producers but I am surprised that either the President or you yourself, two of the smartest people out there did not correct it......
What a bunch of mindless idiots we have posting on here....how can you people thank the President for being a ding-dong!? Four people he picked couldn't pay their taxes like every other American citizen does. Are you kidding me? Obama is one smooth talker – like most attorneys are. How many more liberals are out there that can't pay their taxes? When tax time rolls around this year I would like you mindless sheep to try these same tactics and then call on the almighty Obama to save you.
Maybe if more of US (and that means a "regular joe blow citizen" and politician) admitted our personal accountability for the situations we find ourselves in, we wouldn't have the financial mess that the whole world is in right now!
For once we have a leader humble enough to say he screwed up when he did. We didnt see that in the past 8 years,.