Daschle withdraws nomination

Posted: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:49 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Barack Obama

From NBC's Athena Jones

Breaking News: Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name to be President Obama's HHS secretary. More information to come.

*** UPDATE *** Obama issued this statement: "This morning, Tom Daschle asked me to withdraw his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. I accept his decision with sadness and regret."

"Tom Daschle has devoted his life to public service and health care reform, so that every American has access to health care they can afford. I had hoped that he could bring this passion and expertise to bear to finally achieve that goal, which is so essential to the progress of our economy and the well-being of businesses and families across our nation.

"Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I. But that mistake, and this decision, cannot diminish the many contributions Tom has made to this country, from his years in the military to his decades of public service. Now we much move forward, with our plan to lift this economy and put people back to work."

*** UPDATE 2 *** The statement from Daschle: "I have just informed the president that I am withdrawing my name from consideration for Secretary of Health and Human Services. To be chosen by President Obama to run the Department of Health and Human Services and to lead the reform of America's health care system is one of the signal honors of an improbable career."

"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. Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction. The focus of Congress should be on the urgent business moving the President's economic agenda forward, including affordable health care for every American."

"We need the best care in America to be availabe to all Americans. We need this effort to succeed. Lives and livelihoods are at stake. I will not be the architect of America's health system reform, but I remain one of its most fervent supporters. Thank you."

*** UPDATE 3 *** The White House confirms that Daschle will not stay on in the White House role as health care czar created for him.

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Comments

Thank you, Sen. Daschle. You did the right thing.

Gail, TN (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:52 PM)

THANK YOU !!

You did the right thing, Tom

Now, how about Howard Dean ?????
He's just the man Obama should be bringing into the Cabinet

No more Republicans

Bi-Partisanship is over rated

Send Mitch McConJob back to the Rescue Mission !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:54 PM)

The Obama team has looked MAGNIFICENT during the Transition

But, it seems like they've been dropping the ball lately

Do a better job of vetting your candidates

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:55 PM)

good,,,,,,,Now quit appointing Senators or lobysist...Break up this elite club and get down to business....I listen to Barney Frank who was involved with fannie may and freddie, hes still around, must be part of the elite club and we can go on with more.....If we ..Start sending out the pink slips to the elite it could get scary they will all be gone and who will run washington, hmmmm not a bad idea

Russell Fox Wells, Me (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:58 PM)

Oval office.......Please, I know I picked you guys to vet these people, NO MORE DEMOCRAT TAX CHEATERS!!

Can't you see this is making us look STUPID???????

Pete, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:58 PM)

My faith has been restored....

Thank you ... Now can we be a little more careful with the replacement nomination????

Taking Responsibility - Change I can believe in (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:58 PM)

Russell Fox Wells, Me (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:58 PM)

Daschle was the man for the job. Obama needs to pull Gregg's nomination.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:01 PM)

If you were lucky enough to be presented the honor of being picked to be in President Obama's administration!!

Then be honorable enough to withdraw - should you brought shame or case doubt to it.

Thank you GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:03 PM)

Why have no Republicans selected turned out to be tax cheaters?

Why have no Republicans selected turned out to be tax cheaters?

Why have no Republicans selected turned out to be tax cheaters?

No More Democrats, "The Corrupt Ones"
No More Democrats, "The Corrupt Ones"
No More Democrats, "The Corrupt Ones"

Thank you Mr. President.

Me Re Peat, Doster, GA (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:03 PM)

Smart move. Even if it was all innocent the mere appearance of impropriety was causing problems for him and the President. Now, maybe Howard Dean should be nominated for HHS. As and MD he has an understanding of what is needed.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:04 PM)

This is so ridiculous. My interpretation is that Daschle is a victim of hypocritical obstructionist mainly that stupid Hannity and big fat wind Limbaugh's efforts to cause the Obama administration to fail.
First of all, he did volunteer the information. Secondly, how many others on that Hill don't have skeletons in their closets?
Thirdly, the people that are complaining about the pattern of tax dodgers; has any one forgotten McCain did not pay taxes for 5 years. Same scenario; oversight!
Finally, it's time to get on with the people's business and realize no one is perfect. Kept listening to that stupid Hannity and big fat wind Limbaugh and the government will be at a standstill forever.
Btw: President Barack Obama has kept most of promises. How many did George Bush keep?
www.politifact.com

Released presidential records

Require new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.

Overturned Ledbetter vs. Goodyear

There was an Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel; which banned lobbyists’ gifts to executive employees as Promise Kept. Daschle was not a lobbyist.

Appointed Republicans to the cabinet

And then there’s Gitmo

So take it easy; Republicans don’t want to pay taxes anyhow. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Change does come easily.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:04 PM)

The Democrats are dropping like flies and President Obama just nominated his third Republican to a postition.

There is a little bit of political twilight zone going on here, don'tcha think?

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:04 PM)

CORRUPTION IS A DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF WHICH ALL REPUBLICANS SHALL BE CONDEMED! The word "liberal" is code word for "hipocrite"!

John Doe (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:04 PM)

I agree, this was the right thing to do. His failure seemed much more evasive, in my opinion. Apparently his accountant informed him last summer? At any rate, water under the bridge. He has been a strong advocate and party leader; but we need stronger leadership now. He can still perform in an advisory capacity.
^^^^^
PS. Bush actually profited from insider trading when he left Harkin Energy (which failed under his 'leadership') and no one on the right had any problem with that. Not that two wrongs make a right. Well, obviously, two wrongs make a Bush; but I digress!

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:04 PM)

Mr. Geithner...paging Tim Geithner. Please pick up the house phone

Robin Flannery, Riverhead, New York (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:06 PM)

Good for Mr Daschle - now can we move on and get this position filled. I do like the idea of Howard Dean in this position. He proved himself as DNC chair, and has a great yell!!!!!!!!

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:07 PM)

I like how Mr. Obama keeps referring to these crooks as "making mistakes." They knew what they were doing. Mr. Obama looks more and more stupid with each passing day. Latest polls have his approval ratings way down. Now, if only HE would resign!!

B...b...but it was only a mistake! (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:07 PM)

Okay Joe Scarborough - who is the next Democrat you're going to hold to higher standards than any standards you expected from anyone in your own party, going all the way to Newt, which is going back a long way.

Which by the way is why we're in the mess we're in. All you in the Republican Party looked the other way for years, giving President Bush your stamp of approval. And you're still doing it.

Tom Daschle would have done a great job. Something you know nothing about from your own party.

Tom Daschle is a loss. Did that even occur to you? Too bad no one stood up for him in the GOP. Nor would they. It's loyalty to party, not to country.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:08 PM)

Pick Gov.Howard Dean of Vermont for Sec'y of HHS

He is a medical dr., is honest, made Obama's victory possible and will do a great job.

Please start this conversation!

Marla Ferber (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:09 PM)

Another thing that hasn't changed. The president goes on record as "absolutely" supporting a nominee through thick and thin.

Then accepts the withdrawal with regret. I hear echoes.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:09 PM)

I feel bad about this. This was a witch hunt.

It does not smell right.

Somebody is pushing buttons and keeping President Obama off kilter. It happened during the campaign also.

HE WON. FACE IT!!! And it is obvious to me that there are certain folks that do not want to see a change in Healthcare and Oversight.

Why can't we all get behind this man and help him make his decisions, his way, rather than nitpick, criticize and harass.

I see that the ugliness of the last 8 years is still here.

Andrea, New York City (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:10 PM)

Obama would have earned some political capital if he was the one to withdraw the nomination. Would have sent a message that he doesn't tolerate tax cheats in his 'ethical' administration.

H R Block (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:10 PM)

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:11 PM)

Now let's see today we have not only one, BUT TWO appointees that have withdrawn due to tax issues. And lest we forget Geitner's faux pas.

So much for change......actually, it's just more of the same.

And as for Howard Dean, we have erased him from the DNC and Obama has no use for him now that he's won. You won't see that crazy coot Dean in an Obama administration ever. Not even Obama would stoop that low.

At least we won't have to look at Daschle's clown glasses for the next four years and he can go back to his chauffered rides and making millions from the health care people he was going to "reform"! Doh!

Paul, Syracuse, NY (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:11 PM)

Well thank goodness for that. Now we can have someone who's perfect...because perfection and politics always goes hand in hand.

yawn (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:12 PM)

This is a small victory for all of us. Daschel was too busy trying to find ways for the government to decide what type of medical treatment you get to pay his own taxes.

Now, how about a financial team that pays therer taxes too? Too hard?

bob smith, corruptalot, usa (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:12 PM)

Thank goodness! This whole Daschle thing was pi**ing me off. Rich guys not paying their taxes somehow reminds me of the old administration.
Daschle may have been good at his job, but he just isn't honest enough for me - I don't believe he was entirely guilty of fraud, but he wasn't totally innocent either.
Obama keeps his promise - kind of.

Teach (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:12 PM)

Howard Dean for Health Secretary - brilliant! I second that nomination!

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:13 PM)

So it's okay for the Treasury Secretary to have tax problems because he's in charge of the IRS but if the Health and Human Services Secretary has a tax problem? Well, you must be kidding me? There's no way he could serve the country.

see right through (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:13 PM)

I see Joe Scarborough couldn't wait to get on the phone to Andrea Mitchell and gloat about this. All I can say is at least they never found a dead body in Tom's office.

Obama Fan (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:14 PM)

I agree, Tom did the right thing by resigning. Who knows what was said prior to the announcement. It is possible that President Obama encouraged Tom to resign. Who knows.

All that being said, Tom will likely be a senior advisor in the Obama Administration. Tom's knowledge of health care is a resource that still should be tapped. But not as HHS Secretary.

All in all, it has been a good day for the President. Holder is confirmed and received great support from the DOJ. Holder will take politics out of the legal system. Watch out Karl Rove, Cheney, Bush. There is a new sheriff in town. Habeas Corpus will be returning soon. The Constitution is breathing and will live again.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:15 PM)

I'm sorry to see this happen. Daschle was the best person for the job. I feel Obama should still appoint Daschle to lead the reform effort team, even if he isn't Head of HHS. That way he won't require confrimation by Congress. I like Howard Dean, but he doesn't strike me as the right type of person to get Healthcare reform done.

Kelly (from Pittsburgh) (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:16 PM)

Daschle was the man for the job. Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:01 PM)
*****************************************************

I respectfully disagree. It is time people are held accountable for their actions. If you or I were to mess up on our taxes, you can bet your bottom dollar that the tax man will cometh knocking on our door.

I don't care what office you hold, its time we are all held accountable for our actions. Responsibility starts with self...

Just say no to tax cheats (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:16 PM)

And the Democratic version of the Bush years is off to one heck of a start.

MB, Carlisle, PA (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:18 PM)

Oh yeah CHANGE is here alright. Yeah right. Lets see Hmmm examples Hmmm. Well you spew a bunch of crap about lobbyists and ethics reform, and then you CHANGE your mind and make umpteen exceptions. Wait I got another: You make tax fraud just "something overlooked" and ChAnge the rules and promote the bastards. Nice job Obama

Truthteller (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:18 PM)

Perhaps it's time to nominate the orchestrator of the rise of the Democrat party to a cabinet position-Howard Dean.
Well before his infamous primary meltdown in 2003, he was the only one calling for the end of the Iraq war. As DNC Chairman, he came up with the 50 state strategy used by Obama that helped him win the Presidency. He's also a former Governor and a physician. Seems like a perfect candidate for HHS.

Dave NJ (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:19 PM)

A BLAST FROM THE PAST !!!

Does anybody remember Norm Coleman ?
Coleman ?

Yeah, Coleman !!

From Huff Post:

'...Is Coleman Aiming for a Do-Over Election?

The Coleman team appears to be laying out a continued strategy of casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Minnesota election result by pointing to a fundamental underlying idea of this dispute: The margin of error is simply too big in a race this close.

"Is there some point at which the margin of error is just too wide compared to the difference in votes to determine who truly won?" Coleman lawyer John Rock asked Ramsey County (St. Paul) elections director Joe Mansky. Mansky replied that there is absolutely such a point, with accuracy topping out at over 99.99%.

"All of which is pretty good," Mansky said. "But remember that one in every thousand is not an issue when somebody wins by 200,000 votes. When they win by 200 votes, the margin of error in our computation is likely large enough to have an impact on our result, and I think that's the situation that we find ourselves in here."

Of course, this opens up the question of how Coleman could justify any finding of a win for himself, since even a mathematically possible Coleman victory margin would be too narrow for these purposes. At this point we're looking at Nate Silver's hypothesis, that Coleman might be aiming for a do-over election as a possible outcome.

Franken's legal team didn't like the idea of continuing to cast doubt on the accuracy of the recount -- or whether such a thing as accuracy is even possible here -- and successfully objected on the basis of Mansky's credentials to comment. Franken lawyer Kevin Hamilton asked Mansky how many statewide recounts he's been involved with, as opposed to the local recounts he's conducted.

The answer: Only one...'

If you can't win an election.....

TRY, TRY, Again !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:20 PM)

I think Blagojevich would be a perfect fit for this administration' HHS.

bob smith, corruptalot, usa (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:22 PM)

High time the IRS does a little extra work in DC.Seems that our elected ones have figured out how to scam our tax system.Time to audit every last one of them GOP,DEM,INDY,all the way down to the gardeners.Then and only then we will know who is truth full and who isn't.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:25 PM)

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:01 PM)
Daschle was the man for the job. Obama needs to pull Gregg's nomination.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I don't know what coward what want to use my username. But, if you have an opinion , at least have the courage to say what YOUR opinion is. Don't be afraid to speak up. Opinions are the tapestry of democracy.

=================================================
My choice would be Howard Dean. He is a doctor and knows how to garner enthusiasm and votes.
in my hand
Beverly

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:26 PM)

He screwed up, he withdrew, and now somebody else must be chosen. Just do it and get on with it! I'm waiting for legitimate health care in my country!

Alan, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:27 PM)

Even some of the Obomabots on this site are seeing Obama's true colors after a few short weeks. Who is going to help Obama clean the egg off of his face after he adamantly stood by his appointment of Daschle?

Humpty Dumpty (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:27 PM)

Howard Dean or Bust!

Joe - STL (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:28 PM)

America - when there's a great leader, with great ideas and vision, one that has the support and the means to lead people in the direction that create prosperity and lessen it for the privilege few.

That leader - will be attacked, ridiculed, setup, talk about, called names, his supporters will be hack; his administration will be fair game and picked apart.

This moment will be our big test - we have fought long and hard for President Obama; because he brings us hope and the real possibility for change and the grip on the American dream.

DO NOT let these minor set backs - distort your purpose and your support for our new President.

The days are young and the Republican Party, and other objection groups, will try to bring President Obama down - President Obama won't let us fail and we should not fail him.

Stay strong American - this is a war that was waged by haters and will continue to be fought by them.

We the American people - the main streeters, now have our chance to fight back - and WIN and we will – no matter what!!!

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:29 PM)

Where's my list of the Republicans that are in jail?

What about my list of Republicans that should be in jail?

Where is that video of Tricky Dick where he says:"I am not a crook!"

A.Brocco,Albuquerque NM (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:29 PM)

I voted for a democratic President and I expect democrats to be nominated to positions of authority. I want no part of the republicans who have helped demolish this country's assests.

This message is for President Obama -------

Stop with the bipartisian crapola! Use democratic ideology and theories. Quit sucking up to the suckers!

We voted democratic for a reason - to silence the repubs! (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:29 PM)

I'm a Daschle supporter and he did the right thing by withdrawing, even though he never should have accepted the appointment in the first place.

I'm an Obama supporter, too, but he of all people shouldn't be allowed to set the house rules and then allow all sorts of exceptions to them.

Sad day for Daschle, Obama, health-care reform, and the country.

Ski, Silver City, New Mexico (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:31 PM)

Dr. Howard Dean is indeed the right person for the job of HHS Secretary. As the architect of the 50-state strategy for the Democrats, he's shown that he can think big and execute well on many different levels. As a doctor and former governor, he understands the health care field thoroughly. I can't think of anyone I'd rather see in that post than Howard Dean.

Liz from NH (Sent Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:32 PM)

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