Posted on 08/23/2009 6:18:00 AM PDT by Mikey_1962
Six months have passed since the morning when Tom Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader, under fire for not paying certain taxes, called President Obama in his study off the Oval Office to withdraw his nomination as health secretary and reform czar.
But these days it often seems as if Mr. Daschle never left the picture. With unrivaled ties on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, he talks constantly with top White House advisers, many of whom previously worked for him.
He still speaks frequently to the president, who met with him as recently as Friday morning in the Oval Office. And he remains a highly paid policy adviser to hospital, drug, pharmaceutical and other health care industry clients of Alston & Bird, the law and lobbying firm.
Now the White House and Senate Democratic leaders appear to be moving toward a blueprint for overhauling the health system, centered on nonprofit insurance cooperatives, that Mr. Daschle began promoting two months ago as a politically feasible alternative to a more muscular government-run insurance plan.
snip
Critics, though, say his ex officio role gives Alston & Bird’s health care clients privileged insights into the policy process. They say Mr. Daschle’s multiple advisory roles illustrate the kind of coziness with the lobbying world that Mr. Obama vowed to end. If he had been confirmed as health secretary, Mr. Daschle would have been subject to strict transparency and ethics rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Didn’t pay taxes? Not a problem for this White House!
Tiny Tom and his lobbbiest wife have made millions in Washington, his corruption is breathtaking and right in line with the Chicago mob that now rules the government. Even the Slimes find a certain “aroma” coming from the Daschle camp and the Obama perps.
Does he have Obama’s ear? ‘Cause that’s a mighty big ear!
scary
Tom Daschle, the unregistered lobbyist.
Tax cheat.
Culture of Corruption.
Illustrates the kind of coziness with the lobbying world that Mr. Obama vowed to end.That’s Obama for ya every thing is so clear now.
Daschle is a leading facilitator of the political-industrial complex.
Does anybody have a link to an article/list of quotes of Daschle’s support in his last book for rationing healthcare for the elderly and infirm?
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