Is it just me? Almost every time I see a Republican I see a person who is more interested in money than people; someone who is trying to get away with something, and someone who is a big old hypocrite.
Submitted for your approval:
Former New York City police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik withdrew as President Bush’s nominee for secretary of homeland security last night, saying he had not paid taxes for a domestic worker who may have been an illegal immigrant.
The White House made the announcement in a two-sentence e-mail at 10 p.m. but did not give any cause beyond saying that Kerik “is withdrawing his name for personal reasons.”
Kerik, 49, elaborated in a written statement, saying that in filling out forms required for Senate confirmation he “uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny.”
“It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment required tax payments and related filings had not been made,” he wrote.
With all the emphasis the conservatives place on “the family,” it’s astonishing to me that this man “uncovered information” about his nanny — he hired this person to take care of this children, and didn’t even know her immigration status? Lovely.
And using the carefully vetted language like “It has been brought to my attention that filings had not been made” makes it sound as if someone else is to blame — “the person who was supposed to take of this” or something. In fact, he is the one who didn’t do it. But it’s de nigeur to shift the blame in politics, isn’t it?
It seems like these people are always brought down for the same reason: they don’t bother with things that “only the little people” have to bother with. Like paying taxes.
Apparently there may be much more to the story than this, but this is the reason that they’re giving. It turns out, though, that his problems run much deeper, including a warrant for his arrest in 1998 relating to unpaid bills on his condo. Only the little people pay taxes, or condo maintenance fees, doncha know?