Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. This comes as no surprise following both the ethical questions as well as expectations from Obama’s supporters that we see the types of changes in the way business is conducted in Washington which were promised.
Daschle was also given a West Wing office and his position as health-reform czar was considered to be more influential than his position in the cabinet. The initial report does not comment on this position, but presumably the withdrawing of the nomination also means that Daschle will not be the health-reform czar.
Will Daschle now emerge with a higher paying job as a lobbyist when any health reform legislation goes before Congress?
Update: From Daschle’s statement:
“If 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction,” Daschle said. “Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction.”
“I will not be the architect of America’s health system reform, but I remain one of its more fervent supporters,” he said.
This appears to confirm my assumption above that he would not be kept on as a White House adviser with the withdrawing of his nomination at HHS.
