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Obama hit by withdrawal of health nominee Daschle

04 February 2009 08:04 (UTC +04:00)

Washington-APA. Barack Obama’s choice to spearhead U.S. healthcare reform stepped down in a flap over personal taxes on Tuesday, an embarrassing blow that distracted from the president’s push for a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus plan.
Tom Daschle, a former Democratic leader in the Senate and a key Obama adviser who was his pick for health secretary, abruptly withdrew after a storm over late tax payments that had raised questions over Obama’s pledge to bring high ethical standards to the White House.
Daschle said he did not want to become a "distraction" after errors forced him to pay $140,000 in back taxes. Obama said in a statement that he accepted the decision "with sadness and regret."
The White House said Daschle’s withdrawal did not mean Obama’s healthcare plans were in trouble.
Daschle’s withdrawal came shortly after Obama’s nominee to become the first U.S. "chief performance officer" also dropped out because of tax questions.
Nancy Killefer, Obama’s choice to oversee budget and spending reform, said she did not want her problems to create "distraction and delay."
She was the third Obama nominee to have tax problems, following Daschle and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was approved after facing questions about his taxes.