Obama Suffers Dual Blow as Daschle and Killefer Withdraw

George Wenschhof Bio

We reported earlier today Nancy Killefer had withdrawn from consideration for the position of Chief Performance Officer due to tax problems. Although former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle continued to have the support of the President, he also announced his withdrawal for consideration for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This announcement came on the same day the NY Times ran an editorial saying Daschle should withdraw. You can read the editorial here. Daschle stated his tax issues had become a burden that could impact the support he needed from Congress to carry out the implementation of the Health Plan proposed by President Barack Obama. CNN.com has more here.

The Killefer position was a new White House position created by the Obama administration. While the Secretary for Health and Human Services is a critical position under the Obama administration, as Daschle had been hand picked to be the one to write and gain Congressional approval of the President's health plan.

Both of these withdrawals came after Timothy Geithner, who also had unpaid back tax problems, was confirmed as Treasury Secretary.

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