Here we go again.  Another Barack Obama nominee, this time for Health and Human Services secretary, is being investigated for failing to pay back taxes.  Tom Daschle, the former South Dakota Senator waited nearly a month after being nominated before informing President Obama that he had not paid years of back taxes, according to the Washington Post.

Dashle paid  $140,000 in back taxes and interest on January 2, 2009 and a few days later informed the White House and Senate Finance Committee. 

Obama’s transition team discovered in December that $15,000 of the $276,000 in charitable contributions claimed by Daschle lacked proper documentation. But Daschle waited until after amended returns were filed before he mentioned the larger tax liability.

Daschle spokeswoman Jenny Backus said he had known since June 2008 that his luxury car and driver provided by wealthy Democratic donor, longtime friend and business associate Leo Hindery might be taxable, but never expected the amount to be such a “jaw-dropping” sum and “thought it was being taken care of” by his accountant.

Hindery founded InterMedia Partners, a private equity firm, in 1988. Daschle was paid $1 million annually for his consulting services, the Senate Finance Committee said.

Daschle had an unreported consulting income of $88,333, in 2007.

“Senator Daschle is embarrassed and disappointed by these errors,” Backus said. “He apologized for his part in these errors and expressed his deep regret that the committee had to devote time to them.”

The White House acknowledged Friday that Daschle had “some tax issues,” which, the administration said, have been resolved and should not bar his confirmation as secretary.

A statement issued by the White House affirmed that Daschle “is the right person to lead the fight for health care reform.”

“Senator Daschle brought these issues to the Finance Committee’s attention when he submitted his nomination forms and we are confident the committee is going to schedule a hearing for him very soon, and he will be confirmed,” it said.

Why is it that these high ranking politicians are trying to get away with paying taxes.  I mean $140,000 in taxes is by no means an oversight, how could it be?

And in Daschle’s case, he calculated his strategic moves in when to pay the back taxes and when to inform Obama and the Senate Finance Committee.  It is the same old political sleeze that we all hate.  This is very disturbing and brings up the point that maybe elected officials should be held accountable.

And Daschle’s sleezy moves won’t even affect his nomination.  This is a travesty - I don’t care how the constituents spin it.  If someone in the private sector owed $140,000 in federal taxes, do you think they would be treated the same? 

I see no excuse for this and Tom Daschle’s nomination should be voided.  Shame on you! Shame on government!

Something must be done!