I don't regard Timothy Geithner as a moral leper for failing to pay $34,000 in taxes. I just don't think that as secretary of the treasury he will display the same tolerance to others who similarly transgress. Another case of "do as I say, not as I do," I guess. The Associated Press piece on controversy is an exhibit in suck-up journalism, calling Geithner's tax dodging "a last-minute complication in an otherwise smooth path to confirmation." Would this yawn mentality apply if the tax-dodging treasury secretary-to-be were a Republican?

While I concede your point re: the media if this were a Republican, this "issue" is another silly one. He was employed by the IMF and didn't pay his Social Security or Medicare withholding taxes. Big whoop. Probably one of the more common errors when you don't have your employer doing everything for you. It shows that he's sloppy, and that he considers a certian level of diligence beneath him, but it's a non-issue othewise.

As my wife said, had this been Joe the Plumber--then you woulda had a story! Yawn, treasury secretaries that can't be bothered to compute their taxes correctly. Did I forget to say "yawn"?

He was employed by the IMF and didn't pay his Social Security or Medicare withholding taxes.

He was employed by the IMF? Now there is a good reason for having nothing to do with him.

Again, good points to be made about his character, but the actual infraction is incredibly minor.

If you didn't pay $34,000 in taxes to Tim Geithner's IRS, do you think they would deem it "incredibly minor"?

I think the IRS would deal with it with the same way they did with him. Audit, penalties, etc. Why would I expect them to do any different?

By all accounts, The One’s transition team is in utter disarray and incompetent. And his appointments right on down from Rahm Emmanuel, to Richardson and this guy show that the bar for the current Presidency and his minions has been lowered.

I think these are sloppy people and that sloppy habits will end up causing the new administration much pain and trouble in the years to come. I just hope that it doesn’t end up creating danger for us. But I think it unfortunately will.

Obamanation has arrived! $150,000,000 for his Coronat... er, Inauguration. This is the 'Change' we've been waiting for!!

We shouldn't be so hard on this guy, Geithner just made what he said were "honest mistakes". And from Obama's mouth to the MSM's ears and subsequent distribution to an ever dumber public, that's what was repeated.

If this guy were not a Democrat and wasn’t another Ivy League ‘genius’, he would be crucified and deemed unacceptable!

Worse yet, where are all of the Republicans standing up outraged?

Yep, change we can believe in.

The man who wants to be in charge of the IRS didn't bother to pay his taxes properly. No big deal.

President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York doesn't pay his taxes until that Secretary of the Treasury job comes up. A minor crime, but a major flaw considering the job he will have. If he doesn't take his taxes seriously, why should he, or I, take mine seriously?

Sloppy elitists Webster. Entitled, pampered, arrogant elitists. That's what we're seeing in government these days.

The chasm between the political/business class and the taxpayers is becoming wider by every election cycle and it won't be long before we will have only the American Monarchy and the serfs who support them.

Taxation without representation? That sounds familiar.

I don't disagree with you regarding the elitists, but I have to say the Bush years have had their fair share of nose-in-the-air assholes. I've had the misfortune to work with quite a few of them.

"Bush years have had their fair share of nose-in-the-air assholes. "

Like President Cheney admitting to war crimes, knowing he won't be held accountable.

I wouldn't exclude them at all. That crew easily represents those traits as well.

After this last cluster with another of Obama's caustic picks, I guess we might also ask if this guy is so good, why is he looking for a government job? ;-\

"President Cheney"?! Mmmmm. That has a nice ring to it.

""President Cheney"?! Mmmmm. That has a nice ring to it."

You are a fascist pig who would knowingly vote in a fascist leader. Give yourself a pat on the back.