Daschle Dasch-ed on IRS and Lobbying Rocks

It’s too bad, he was a good man for the job, but today Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration as the next HHS Secretary. CNN reported that Mr. Daschle’s pragmatic reasoning: “But if 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction,” he said.

“Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction. The focus of Congress should be on the urgent business of moving the president’s economic agenda forward, including affordable health care for every American.” Later, on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show, the President explained his disappointment, “Ultimately, I campaigned on changing Washington and bottom-up politics,” Obama said. “And I don’t want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards — one for powerful people and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes.” He took the blame as well, “I think I screwed up. And, I take responsibility for it and we’re going to make sure we fix it so it doesn’t happen again.”

From Critical to Resting Comfortably to D.E.A.D. After Daschle’s collegial meeting yesterday with the Senate Finance Committee, I thought he would survive, but there really is nothing to add to his own words, or to the President’s. Daschle was becoming a major distraction, and, given the President’s ambitions there, HHS needs – as I wrote last Friday – a “squeaky clean” HHS Secretary, particularly in light of other nominees, like Timothy Geithner, who ran into difficulties. Texas Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said today that Daschle was “[Treasury Secretary Timothy] Geithner on steroids,” and Senator Jim DeMint, (R-SC), observed that President Obama was “losing credibility” the more he backed Daschle. Wingnut criticism? Yes. But accurate? Yes.’

It’s interesting, though. I’m pretty certain it’ll be possible to find a highly qualified replacement who is free of tax issues. Yet, I wonder how many people are there who are eminently qualified for the top health care policy position who do not have ongoing

personal and business relationships within the health care industry. Daschle’s ties were many, indeed, but they appear (right now, anyway) to have been unsullied. But the criticism of his relationships with health care stakeholders was also rising and, in the end, Daschle did the right thing.

Bloomberg.com reported tonight that names “being mentioned by lawmakers and activists to lead the U.S. Health and Human Services Department include Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius; U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut; Mark McClellan, a doctor and economist who served in two previous administrations; and former Democratic Party chief Howard Dean.” None, except Dean, would appear to have Daschle’s political clout.

Wingnuts, Shut Up! I will not, however, listen to wingnuts swoon, complain, and wag their fingers. They’re now saying in sonorous voices, “See, campaigning is easy; governing is difficult.” The party that wrecked our country through a policy of nongovernance wherever they could get away with it is in no position to wag a single digit. The party that aided and abetted the very worst and most dangerous corruption cannot be heard on this one. As you hear them wax prosaic on Daschle, Geithner, and others, don’t ever forget that theirs was the party that sought to deconstruct government, to not use government effectively, and, in fact,to actively misuse it.

Remember, if Obama were Dubya, he’d now be calling the Arabian International Horse Association for a replacement HHS Secretarial nominee.

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