Seriously, this is getting old

[Justicedog]

Obama's trade rep pick owes almost $10,000 in taxes

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/02/obama.kirk.taxes/index.html

Personally, I think Obama could have done better - someone who owes $100K or more. That would be better for the revenue raising nominee pick plan.

[Bellaelle]

This makes me so damn mad. Anyone else would be facing prison time.

[still_me]

WTH? Doesn't anyone do background checks?!? Damn. He has sabotaged himself too much in these first few months. Obama better step it up.

[HammBugga]

They are doing the background checks now. That is what "vetting" is. How is Obama supposed to know this guys tax info? That stuff is private until they start investigating.

[HammBugga]

This makes me so damn mad. Anyone else would be facing prison time. $10,000 is not that high of a tax bill. I have known actual people, IRL, who owe $250,000 and didn't spend a single day behind bars.

[Tweet]

DH works with a guy that has never, ever paid taxed..not sure what the total amount was, but they worked something out with him even after several times of him not paying a dime. It took awhile before they even threatened any consequences. DH was shocked.

[Tweet]

WTH? Doesn't anyone do background checks?!? Damn. He has sabotaged himself too much in these first few months. Obama better step it up.


I don't think tax info shows up in a background check,does it?

[KerryS]

It's not sad that Obama keeps picking people who are tax evaders (how would he know that until they start vetting them?). It's sad that so many politicians are tax evaders.

[HammBugga]

Not unless he was wanted for it, which he obviously wasn't. They went back the last three years during the vetting process and re did all the #'s. He was basically audited. No one could have known that, except perhaps his accountant.

[KerryS]

I don't think tax info shows up in a background check,does it?

As part of the vetting process, I imagine they're asked to submit their tax information. Or, they asked him if he owes any back taxes and he admitted that he did.

[HammBugga]

It's not sad that Obama keeps picking people who are tax evaders (how would he know that until they start vetting them?). It's sad that so many politicians are tax evaders.


yep. It isn't surprising though.

[KerryS]

yep. It isn't surprising though.

It actually *does* surprise me. I didn't realize how many politicians thought they were above the law in that respect.

[Tweet]

I'm not surprised, but I'm sick of it.

[QuiltyConscience]

It actually *does* surprise me. I didn't realize how many politicians thought they were above the law in that respect.


Me too. I am completely paranoid about filling out my dinky-by-comparison tax returns, and making sure everything is correct. I take steps to make sure I am paying the rightish amount during the year, and if there ever s a time when we have something unusual, I get an accountant to look over it.

I don't understand how someone in a spotlight would not be really cautious about that.

[Tweet]

I think they really think they can really get away with it, Quilty.

[Amy_G_]

Maybe Obama shouldn't announce these people for possible office until after the vetting, background checks and financial audits are complete?

[RaisingThemLeft]

You mean Obama doesn't possess powers of telepathy? What the hell is wrong with that man?

[ima062002]

It's not sad that Obama keeps picking people who are tax evaders (how would he know that until they start vetting them?). It's sad that so many politicians are tax evaders.

I think that people make too much of this. I don't believe for a minute that this is about tax fraud. Politicians earn a lot of money, and thinking that they deliberately not pay 10,000 in taxes is just not realistic. It's most likely an oversight of whoever is doing the taxes. Many of these guys do a gazillion things where they get paid for and their taxes are difficult to do. None of these guys do their own taxes. Apparently the taxes stem from speaking fees that he donated to his alma mater, and for his deduction of the full cost of season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team.

I do think though that Obama's team does a bad job at pre-screening them. Some checkups should be done before they even nominate them.

[Nipple_nectar]

They are doing the background checks now. That is what "vetting" is. How is Obama supposed to know this guys tax info? That stuff is private until they start investigating.


It's not sad that Obama keeps picking people who are tax evaders (how would he know that until they start vetting them?). It's sad that so many politicians are tax evaders.

ICAM!

[still_me]

Maybe Obama shouldn't announce these people for possible office until after the vetting, background checks and financial audits are complete?


This. This. This.



After the first time, I (if I was Obama) would be demanding everything be known before any name is announced. Is it his fault for their tax evasion? No, of course, but in the end he has to remember that there are people out there who aren't playing a fair game and WILL use this against him in any way they can.

[JudyJudyJudy]

It's not sad that Obama keeps picking people who are tax evaders (how would he know that until they start vetting them?). It's sad that so many politicians are tax evaders.
I agree with this.


$10,000 is not that high of a tax bill. I have known actual people, IRL, who owe $250,000 and didn't spend a single day behind bars.
Yeah, the only people I've ever known to go to jail were for seriously high tax evasion, usually involving the selling of drugs in addition to it.


As part of the vetting process, I imagine they're asked to submit their tax information. Or, they asked him if he owes any back taxes and he admitted that he did.
Where did he admit that? I didn't see where he did. Or are you saying that's one way they could have known? In this case, it sounds as though he didn't know he owed the back taxes.


Not unless he was wanted for it, which he obviously wasn't. They went back the last three years during the vetting process and re did all the #'s. He was basically audited. No one could have known that, except perhaps his accountant.
This is what I'm not understanding. Claiming the entire amount for the NBA Mavericks as business expense would be the fault of the accountant.

[Tweet]

This. This. This.



After the first time, I (if I was Obama) would be demanding everything be known before any name is announced. Is it his fault for their tax evasion? No, of course, but in the end he has to remember that there are people out there who aren't playing a fair game and WILL use this against him in any way they can.


What do you mean? Are you talking about for re election in 4 years? I'd think that would be pretty small potatoes .

He could definitely wait until the vetting is done. However, it also doesn't make any sense at all to me to think he'd possibly have any idea about their taxes. If we all know that, I'd like to think most people would.

eta of course everything is going to be scrutinized. To some people, if he farts sideways it's going to be newsworthy.

[still_me]

What do you mean? Are you talking about for re election in 4 years? I'd think that would be pretty small potatoes .

He could definitely wait until the vetting is done. However, it also doesn't make any sense at all to me to think he'd possibly have any idea about their taxes. If we all know that, I'd like to think most people would.

eta of course everything is going to be scrutinized. To some people, if he farts sideways it's going to be newsworthy.


Not necessarily for re election. Anytime they want actually. Obama has always had his friends or those surrounded him being questioned. His preacher, Farrakhan, the bomber (can't think of his name right now). Now, people he wants to put in places of power are being questioned for some pretty good reasons.

Kinda makes his choices seem questionable...or worse yet, like he surrounds himself with questionable people. That is what I worry about. Things like that could be twisted. Yes, and in some ways surrounding yourself with people who are questionable or found to be evading anything really can come to haunt you 4 years later. It is part of the game. Anything and everything can come back to haunt you, so why in the world give people more ammo to use. It isn't a smart move to keep having this happen.

And damn straight, I'll look harder at Obama because of improper vetting. McCain was criticized for not vetting Palin enough. I know, I know, she would have been the VP and they are people who hold different positions. The positions are more active in decided how our government goes, IMO, than a VP position in some ways. My point though is this, if McCain was criticized for it, it is only fair Obama would be too. Anyone would be.