Wednesday, February 4, 2009

One change we believe in

"This was a mistake. I screwed up."

That's what President Obama said Tuesday about having pushed for former Sen. Tom Daschle as secretary of health and human services despite Daschle's not having paid some $140,000 in income taxes and some other ethically challenged actions.

"I've got to own up to my mistake, which is that ultimately it's important for this administration to send a message that there aren't two sets of rules," Obama said. "You know, one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks who have to pay their taxes."

Wow.

Remember that April 2004 news conference in which then-President Bush said he couldn't think of any mistakes he had made in combating terrorism or conducting war in Iraq?

At least, with Obama -- the guy who promised probably more change than he can deliver -- one thing has changed. The man will 'fess up now and again.

Let us hope this attitude lasts. Voters are more likely to respect someone who will honestly say, "I goofed," than someone who insists he was right all along. Note: In his final news conference Bush did admit to numerous errors. It probably didn't cost him any respect and may well have gained him some. After all, any president is going to make mistakes along the way, and most of us understand that. Just be big enough, when you make one, to admit it and move on.

-- Posted by Mary Newsom

7 comments:

Chris said...

How refreshing!

Anonymous said...

Tim Geitner didn't pay his taxes either but he got his cabinet position. Daschle should have been a shoe in. That seems to be a requirement to be in BO's cabinet and also a Democrat trend...Don't pay tax=Get cabinet position. Stupid leftists!!!

Anonymous said...

Bush didn't try to hire THREE tax cheats in the first two weeks of his presidency. You try to compare war in Iraq to hiring thieves (in Daschle's own words). If you don't see the difference in scale of issues then something is wrong with journalism today.

Anonymous said...

Three tax cheats plus one that voted to abolish the Commerce Dept. and now will be heading it. Also, Obama insisted that it would be irresponsible and hurtful to the country for him to interfere in matters of State while Bush was still president. Now it turns out that the lying SOB was working behind the scenes with Syria and Iran while lying to the American people.

Anonymous said...

I saw a bumper sticker the other day. It said "I'll give your president the same respect you gave mine"

Anonymous said...

You would think that if you elect a guy that has no experience, has never accomplished anything in his life (except become a Senator in an area that has just shown that you have to be corrupt to get anywhere), only promises "hope & change", nothing of substance, that you would get... exactly what we have, a lying, incompetent moron!

Anonymous said...

Taxes are a penalty on progress.