Another Obama Appointee Bites the Dust Due to Taxes

The White House has just released this statement:(via email)

Letter from Nancy Killefer to President Obama

Dear Mr. President,

I recognize that your agenda and the duties facing your Chief Performance Officer are urgent. I have also come to realize in the current environment that my personal tax issue of D.C. Unemployment tax could be used to create exactly the kind of distraction and delay those duties must avoid. Because of this I must reluctantly ask you to withdraw my name from consideration.

I am deeply honored to have been selected by you and you have my deep appreciation for your confidence in me. You have my heartfelt support and best wishes for success in all your endeavors.

Respectfully yours,

Nancy Killefer

On the heels of Tim Geithner's narrow confirmation amid tax issues, and Tom Daschle's current regret-a-thon over his own tax kerfuffle, I guess the "current environment" she refers to is the one where nobody seems to know how to pay taxes anymore.

Obama has already gotten Geithner through, and has announced his intention to back Daschle. It almost seems as though Killefer's resignation is the trade-off. If that's the case, it is a miscalculation.

Killefer is stepping down from a less prominent post than Tom Daschle, because of an arguably less serious offense. I think the scapegoating will be obvious, and all of Daschle's regret over his "mistake" will start to ring hollow.

As for Obama, he is having to spend way too much political capital on his appointees. In addition to Geithner, Daschle, and Killefer, Obama has also had problems with appointees to Commerce and the CIA directorate. The overall impression has not been favorable.

At the very least, Obama's staff should go to FreeCreditReport.com for the next nominee.

Tommy on: BlogTalkRadio I Digg! I Facebook I Twitter
Order The Audacity of Democracy Starring Tommy Christopher