Today’s Q for O’s WH — 2/2/09
EmailTAPPER: Two questions. One, on Tom Daschle, is the president at all concerned that the continuing problem with members of your cabinet or aspiring members of your cabinet to pay their taxes according to the law will undercut either the president’s rhetoric on an era of responsibility or the fact that your health plan and your tax plans going forward are likely going to be asking Americans, some Americans, to pay more in taxes. And then the second question, a follow-up on one of Ed’s things, what would the president like to see added to the stimulus package so as to attract Republican supporters, since obviously the leaders of the House and Senate, Democratic leaders of the House and Senate aren’t reaching out enough to do so?
GIBBS: I think I dispute the — at least the last phrase of that question. I mean, I think, unless I read Senator Schumer’s remarks incorrectly in the paper today, I think there will be proposals voted on this week to increase the money that’s involved for infrastructure, despite the money that’s already there. I think that was certainly something Republicans mentioned when the president met last week. I think there’s a — they may add money on a tax cut for home ownership that I think is offered by a Republican. I would, first of all, I guess, begin by disputing the notion that somehow…
TAPPER: OK, forget the last clause. What do you want to see added to the bill?
GIBBS: Well, any idea that we think will help make this bill better.
TAPPER: What specifically.
GIBBS: Well, I’m going to leave the legislating to the legislators. The president believes the basis for what we have right now is quite good. Obviously, this bill will go through the process and likely will be strengthened as we go forward. Whether that’s adding money for homeowners, whether that’s adding money for additional infrastructure, the president will certainly look at that. Obviously, those are cares and concerns of his. But, again, that’s something that will happen up on Capitol Hill. And the president looks forward to the process continuing in a timely way to get help to the American people.
TAPPER: I have a question about Tom Daschle, too.
GIBBS: Well, hit that again. I was just…
TAPPER: Whether or not the president’s at all concerned that, with Geithner and now with Daschle, all these — almost $200,000 in unpaid taxes, that this is going to undercut the president’s cry for an era of responsibility or the fact that he’s going to be asking for people to pay more in taxes.
GIBBS: Well, let’s not — I don’t want to get ahead of budget discussions or — or what have you.
TAPPER: He said it on the campaign trail, that he’s going to ask some people to pay more in taxes.
GIBBS: Right. The president, again, is not insensitive to — at all to the reports that are out there, but believes that both Secretary Geithner and Secretary-designate Daschle are the right people for very important jobs. And he does not believe that that will undercut their ability to move forward on an agenda that makes sense for the American people.
– jpt
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
Thats going to leave a mark.
Posted by: BertieW | February 2, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Give ‘em hell, Jake.
Posted by: bob | February 2, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
“He said it on the campaign trail, that he’s going to ask some people to pay more in taxes.”
He just didn’t tell us it would be his cabinet picks!
Seriously though, Jake, thanks for the tough questioning today.
Posted by: Bridget | February 2, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Yahoo! (not that company).
Posted by: two cats | February 2, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Oops, you asked real questions, now you are going to be on the “outs”. You know they don’t like real questions.
Posted by: samhiguchi | February 2, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
Although I am a total Obama supporter, I don’t believe choosing Tim Geithner or Tom Daschle to serve in his cabinet is a smart move. These people are being asked to head very important positions and take the lead on important budget and financial matters. If they cannot figure out the tax code and pay their taxes correctly, how can we have confidence in their leadership??? I’m not happy with these two choices, and I wouldn’t be happy with anyone ELSE President Obama might pick if they have “tax problems”. Sigh.
Posted by: dlh | February 2, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Keep watching Gibbs… He’s dancin’, but his feet ain’t movin’.
Enough said.
Posted by: Dave | February 2, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
***Breaking News***
Willy Nelson and Wesley Snipes offered cabinet positions in Obama administration.
Jake, keep asking the right questions. One day you may get a straight answer…
Posted by: Roxie | February 2, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Those are good questions Jake. Republicans are willing to overlook Geithner’s tax issues as they feel strongly he is the best man for the job. It was one tax incident the finance committee believes is a true mistake when Geithner worked for IMF.
Daschle is another story. He has four separate tax related incidents as I understand it that make up the roughly $120,000 he owes. I would like to see someone else for HHS.
Posted by: Paige | February 2, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
***Update***
Helio Castroneves named new Secretary of Transportation.
Posted by: Roxie | February 2, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
I can help shape policy with him. … Hopefully, I’m the last person in the room with every important decision he makes,” Biden said
——
Wondering what VPJB, Chair of W-T-F-on-working-families, has advised PBO on such an important decision. Is VPJB also an “absolutely”? These cats sincerely doubt it.
Posted by: two cats | February 2, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
Tom Daschle is not my first choice for any spot I hope Mr Obama can back down better than W did. “W” never once said he was sorry for the many boobs he put in office “Brownie” chief among them. If Tom Daschle can do a good job and if he can somehow make this look better let’s not be so picky I think alot of people do stuff like this too bad he got caught under the wheel. I think we need to be a little more concerned about the guys smarts and maybe have him pay his taxes and move on. Would he be able to get a job anywhere else with this hanging over him I THINK SO.I wish it weren’t happening mainly because it cast a pall on President Obamas efforts to get this massive job underway.
Posted by: Bonnie Kimberly | February 2, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Jake why didn’t you just ask Obama a simple question like Joe the Plumber did.
Like. OBAMA. Why are you hiring a bunch crooks and tax cheats to the highest positions in the country.
Posted by: hey tom boy | February 2, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
I think the effect of the kool aid is wearing off of Gibbs
Great questions, as usual, Jake
Posted by: smith | February 2, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
“Jake why didn’t you just ask Obama a simple question like Joe the Plumber did.”
Because Jake likes his questions to be factually based vs the inflated fantasies of Joe the Moron.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 2, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Its not obvious to anyone except the guy who writes the RNC talking points, Jake. From the House side, it was obvious that the Democrats made some changes to their bill at the request of the Republicans, and it is obvious that no Republicans voted for the bill.
Everything else is not so obvious. The question of whether there is anything that could be put in the bill that would get a Republican vote is still open. The question whether the Democrats should bother trying to get Republican votes, or try to get the best bill they can is still open.
The fact of the matter is that we need the government to step up, we voted for the government to step up, and this is no time to be playing bipartisan politics.
Posted by: Flash Override | February 2, 2009, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
Dumping the extra Obama Bush debt on our children is immoral. Sam Adams, circa. 1768 organized legal ways to avoid and resist taxes under MA law. John Hancock resisted. John Adams resisted.
Buy gold. no interest
Buy Kinder Morgan, KMR. All dividends are paid in shares with no tax due until sale
Buy MuniBonds but from ND or states not massively overspending
HOW MUCH MUST YOU PAY BACK:
While our tax system is heavily tilted against the rich, even those with relatively low incomes will eventually have to pay. The extra tax bill for someone with 2006 income between $25,000 and $30,000 will be about $2,500.
These numbers are in present value. If government puts off sending you the bill — and thus must pay interest between now and then — the bill will be higher. How much higher? If the government waits 10 years to collect the $14,000 from the person with income between $75,000 and $100,000, the bill a decade from now will be about $22,800.
Posted by: Mace | February 2, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
Screw you corrupt Democrats! Always raising taxes on the American people and never paying any yourselves!
Daschle and the Democrat Gang of Corruption are only sorry he got caught!
Posted by: Democrat Culture of Corruption | February 2, 2009, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Jake,
Great questions – A breath of fresh air. I’m glad you didn’t let him off the hook…Keep up the good work!
I don’t ever recall hearing the expression “I don’t want to get ahead of (insert other entity here)” in WH press briefings prior to Mr. Gibbs. It’s an everyday occurrence with this goy…
Posted by: tjp612 | February 2, 2009, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
I fail to see how it is obvious that the Democratic leaders weren’t reaching out in changing the stimulus. The NEA and National Mall maintenance provisions were removed, which arguably could have provided a stimulus. The contraceptive funding was taken out, too. It’s highly debatable how “porkish” these measures were, and they were removed to accommodate the Republicans before the plan was unanimously rejected by the House. In the meantime, the obstruction remains more obstinate than ever, while parts of the country suffer from an infrastructure collapse of the grid during freezing temperatures. Sorry, but I detected an apologist slant to the wording, pun intended.
Posted by: kathy | February 2, 2009, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
“Because Jake likes his questions to be factually based vs the inflated fantasies of Joe the Moron. ”
It does seem like anyone starting a new small business under Obama is extremely unlikely.
Posted by: BertieW | February 2, 2009, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Thanks for trying. Daschle never would have payed his taxes if Mccain had won.
Posted by: Jean | February 2, 2009, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
t does seem like anyone starting a new small business under Obama is extremely unlikely.
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Oh, really, even with a 275 billion tax break on the stimulus plan, which specifically targets small businesses?
Posted by: kathy | February 3, 2009, 1:16 am 1:16 am
Was Daschle an unregistered lobbyist?
Posted by: smith | February 3, 2009, 9:29 am 9:29 am
“Glad to see you’re back, Ryan C.”
Oh I’ve been around.
How is Ashley Todd these days?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 3, 2009, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm