A Few Roadblocks for Geithner

The title of this ABC News article poses a question: “A Rocky Road for Treasury Secretary-designee Tim Geithner?” The answer to this question comes in the main body of this article.

ABC’s White House correspondent Jake Tapper reports that “The Senate Finance Committee, which will oversee the confirmation of Treasury Secretary designee Tim Geithner has been meeting today to discuss some tax issues lurking in the past of the former New York Federal Reserve Bank president”. If this is true, this raises some reasonable doubt about Geithner’s legitimacy. Can we trust this man to oversee all of this country’s money if he can’t get his own taxes straight?

Incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs vigorously defending Obama’s selection of Geithner for Treasury Secretary: “The president-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his Treasury Secretary because he’s the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times. He’s dedicated his career to our country and served with honor, intelligence and distinction. That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed. He made a common mistake on his taxes and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper’s work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment. We hope (that) the Senate will confirm him with strong bi-partisan support so that he can begin the important work of the country”. Gibbs, like Obama is using key trigger words such as “the right person” and “challenging times”. Although the fact that “his part time housekeeper’s work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment” will be a minor hindrance, Geithner should not have a difficult time getting confirmed by a democratic-dominated Congress.