Daschle Withdraws Name From HHS Nomination

NY Times: Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination on Tuesday as President Obama’s nominee to lead the Health and Human Services Department, a decision that came one day after Mr. Obama declared that he would stand behind Mr. Daschle as problems over unpaid taxes were scrutinized on Capitol Hill.

“I accept his decision with sadness and regret,” Mr. Obama said in a statement.

You can't have it both ways. Withdrawing over a tax problem (the second of President Obama's nominees) was the right thing for Daschle to do. But Obama and his administration was smart enough to know to accept the withdrawal for the good of future health care legislation as well as holding themselves to the higher standard that they themselves put in place.

As Press Secretary Robert Gibbs repeatedly said today, this administration has put higher transparency standards in place than any administration before it. Losing Daschle may be a blow to the health care agenda, but they are following their own standards.