Growing list of 'honest mistakes'
What does it take to disqualify Democrats from public service? Suborning forgery? Sen. Joseph Crisco, D-Woodbridge, did it, but was neither arrested nor sanctioned by his colleagues. Sorry, honest mistake, he said.
Divert campaign money multiple times to pay personal expenses? Sen. Thomas Gaffey, D-Meriden, did it, but has not been censured by his colleagues, which was the punishment Congress imposed in 1967 after Sen. Christopher Dodd's father got caught doing it. Sorry, honest mistakes, Sen. Gaffey said.
Tax evasion? It wasn't enough to derail Timothy Geithner's appointment to run the Treasury Department, including the Internal Revenue Service. Didn't pay $43,000 in federal taxes? Sorry, honest mistake, he said.
It wasn't enough to end Al Franken's run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Didn't pay $70,000 in taxes and penalties in 17 states and $25,000 in workers' compensation insurance to New York? Sorry, honest mistakes, he said.
It wasn't enough to cost Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairmanship of the House tax-writing committee, let alone his seat in Congress. Didn't declare tens of thousands in rental income from his Caribbean villa, tens of thousands in profit from the sale of his Florida condo and more than $10,000 in fees he saved by parking his vintage Mercedes in a congressional garage? Sorry, honest mistakes, said the man who helped write the tax code.
Since his colleagues didn't get too worked up over those crimes, they are unlikely to care that he and five other Democratic representatives took a three-night Caribbean junket paid for in part by Citigroup after they voted for the $700 billion TARP, which gave Citigroup $45 billion. More honest mistakes?
And tax evasion apparently won't keep former Sen. Thomas Daschle from becoming secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Daschle failed to report income and overstated charitable contribution, but paid $140,000 in back taxes and interest (no penalties) after he learned he was on the short list for an Obama Cabinet job. Sorry, honest mistake, he said.
After 26 years in Congress, including 10 as the top tax-and-spend Democratic senator, Mr. Daschle says he was unaware he had to pay taxes on consulting fees and the value of the free car and driver provided to him by a Democratic businessman. Try that line with your IRS auditor and see how far it gets you.
The saddest part? These, along with Sen. Dodd's sweetheart mortgages, are merely the most blatant violations of the public trust. Makes you wonder how many other politicians are making honest mistakes.
Divert campaign money multiple times to pay personal expenses? Sen. Thomas Gaffey, D-Meriden, did it, but has not been censured by his colleagues, which was the punishment Congress imposed in 1967 after Sen. Christopher Dodd's father got caught doing it. Sorry, honest mistakes, Sen. Gaffey said.
Tax evasion? It wasn't enough to derail Timothy Geithner's appointment to run the Treasury Department, including the Internal Revenue Service. Didn't pay $43,000 in federal taxes? Sorry, honest mistake, he said.
It wasn't enough to end Al Franken's run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Didn't pay $70,000 in taxes and penalties in 17 states and $25,000 in workers' compensation insurance to New York? Sorry, honest mistakes, he said.
It wasn't enough to cost Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairmanship of the House tax-writing committee, let alone his seat in Congress. Didn't declare tens of thousands in rental income from his Caribbean villa, tens of thousands in profit from the sale of his Florida condo and more than $10,000 in fees he saved by parking his vintage Mercedes in a congressional garage? Sorry, honest mistakes, said the man who helped write the tax code.
Since his colleagues didn't get too worked up over those crimes, they are unlikely to care that he and five other Democratic representatives took a three-night Caribbean junket paid for in part by Citigroup after they voted for the $700 billion TARP, which gave Citigroup $45 billion. More honest mistakes?
And tax evasion apparently won't keep former Sen. Thomas Daschle from becoming secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Daschle failed to report income and overstated charitable contribution, but paid $140,000 in back taxes and interest (no penalties) after he learned he was on the short list for an Obama Cabinet job. Sorry, honest mistake, he said.
After 26 years in Congress, including 10 as the top tax-and-spend Democratic senator, Mr. Daschle says he was unaware he had to pay taxes on consulting fees and the value of the free car and driver provided to him by a Democratic businessman. Try that line with your IRS auditor and see how far it gets you.
The saddest part? These, along with Sen. Dodd's sweetheart mortgages, are merely the most blatant violations of the public trust. Makes you wonder how many other politicians are making honest mistakes.
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