So it appeared as if Tom Daschle was going to get by on an Obama get out of jail free card and be confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services.

Now we learn that Daschle has “withdrawn”. Bullshit. Obama offered continued support AFTER it was found out that Daschle owed some $140,000 in back taxes, interest, and penalties. AND Daschle and friends apologized lightly, chalked it up to a simple mistake, and were prepared to endure through the confirmation.

This is what likely happened:

• Obama meets with his close advisors.
• They tell him that there is considerable public outcry over Daschle’s tax problems and point out that offering more than 1 free sleeze-pass (which he blew on Geithner already) would bite him the ass.
• Obama contemplates political ramifications. Smokes a cigarette.
• Obama concludes he has nothing personal to gain with the nomination and tells his team to pressure Daschle into withdrawing.
• Obama decides he will admit fault in the nomination, try to play it cool and sincere like JFK, and emerge as a stout arbiter and protector of ethics and reform in Washington.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs stated that:

“In the interest of getting” the person he thought could accomplish his goals, “the president trumped the principles he laid out in the campaign” on ethics. (source: USA Today)

From interviews yesterday, Obama said:

“Did I screw up in this situation? Absolutely. I’m willing to take my lumps,” Obama said in an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams. In interview after interview with network anchors, Obama said there are “not two sets of rules” for people — and said that average taxpayers deserve to have public officials who pay their taxes on time. (source: Mercury News)

You’re damn right they do. But where’s your principles on Geithner, President Obama? Chirp chirp go the crickets…

Obama now realizes the political suicide of the 900 billion dollar stimulus pork bill, which has zero Republican fingerprints on it. He’s upset with Pelosi for that miscue and Harry Reid because he’s a troll. Despite a campaign promising no-lobbyists, Obama has allowed several lobbyists to his administration, including the right hand man for tax dodger Timothy Geithner, a man by the name of Mark Patterson (formerly a Goldman Sachs VP for government relations - ie. lobby master). There has been no accountability for the bailout funds and the general population is starting to catch on to this fast one they are trying to pull. He knows that his executive order to close Gitmo is a HUGE risk, which could send numerous detainees back to the battlefield and terrorist drawing boards. His approval rating is starting to slip.

Things aren’t looking to good for the anointed one. Welcome to the Presidency.

So he makes Daschle withdraw. Feigns integrity with the rest of the Dems in a wannabe-JFK apology. Throws in a limit on executive pay to companies receiving bailouts to try to ease any public concerns. Plans his next moves.

Business as usual.