(Editor's note: Due to the lack of timely editing, this post should have been posted on Tuesday morning. In light of Wednesday's news, Santiago must be credited for Obama's disowning of Mr. Tom Daschle. Thanks Santiago for keeping BO in check.)
It was reported in The New York Times yesterday that Barack Obama’s rhetoric of ushering in a new era of responsibility in ethics reform, etc., is at odds with his actions thusfar as president. As a side note, it makes for comical reading as The Times desperately tries to justify the obvious inconsistencies between the Anointed One’s rhetoric and his actions. But I digress…
Barack Obama vowed to slay the demons of Washington, bar lobbyists from his administration and usher in what he would later call in his Inaugural Address a “new era of responsibility..” What he did not talk much about were the asterisks.
Oh, those pesky asterisks. I’m sure the liberal nutroots and quasi-intellectuals who elected Obama thought the man really meant what he said. However, he has shown he had other things in mind when he spoke of his "new era of responsibility " in cleaning up the beltway. So far, his commitment to clean up Washington has resulted in two cabinet picks who neglected to pay their taxes–one of which has withdrawn in disgrace. The other, former Senator Tom Daschle, while not withdrawing his name from consideration, has assured the American people that he is deeply sorry for his failure to pay $128,000 in back taxes. That’s “comforting.” I’m feeling much better now, especially since Obama has tendered his unconditional support of Daschle.
If that weren’t enough, there is the lobbyist who is now set to become the No. 2 guy at the Pentagon, and there are others who have been brought onboard the O’Train which we could rightfully call unregistered lobbyists. And let’s not forget how Obama’s administration worked their butts off lobbying legislators in order to pass a trillion dollar bailout package.
Kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. That’s what I call, “Change We Can Believe In.”