On Wednesday's "Morning Joe," MSNBC co-host Mika Brzezinski twice made it very clear that she has no interest in the revelation that Kathleen Sebelius, Barack Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services, is just the latest pick for the President's cabinet to have tax problems. During a news brief in the 6am hour, Brzezinski related the story and that Sebelius just paid over $7000 in back taxes. She then editorialized to her co-hosts, "Around the table, does anyone care?" [Audio available here.]
"Morning Joe" regulars Mike Barnicle and Willie Geist both replied no. Geist then added, "Get over it." Despite expressing how much she didn't care, Brzezinski repeated the story in the 7am hour and also the same stunt. After briefly explaining the particulars, she complained, "Again, around the table, does anyone care?"
Brzezinski may find the story tedious, but Sebelius is now the sixth Obama nominee to have tax problems (and after Tom Daschle, the second HHS candidate to have such a controversy). So, the question is, how high would the numbers have to go before she considers it relevant?
A transcript of the two news briefs, which aired on April 1, follow:
6:32
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's second choice for Health and Human Services secretary, revealed that she, too, has run into a few tax problems.
WILLIE GEIST: Oh, no.
BRZEZINSKI: Sebelius explained that she recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes. Around the table, does anyone care?
MIKE BARNICLE: No.
GEIST: No. Get over it.
BRZEZINSKI: Care? Care? Okay.
7:07
BRZEZINSKI: Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's second choice for health and human services secretary, revealed that she, too, has run into some tax trouble. Sebelius explained that she recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes. Again, around the table, does anyone care?
BARNICLE: No.
GEIST: Nope.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Rich Democrats and Taxes
April 1, 2009 - 14:43 ET by Kingfish17When I combine my anecdotal experience of my rich Democrat friends, who pay no taxes, along with all of these nominees/conferees in Obama's cabinet, it has become quite apparent to me that the United States would have a balanced budget but for how rich Democrats avoid paying their rightful share of the Federal Income Tax.
No wonder they are always for higher taxes.
"When will Barack Obama apologize to the American people for destroying their once great nation?" - MSM 2012
I posted about this last
April 1, 2009 - 14:47 ET by bigtimerI posted about this last night...the dem party and the talking head will nominate enough tax-cheats into positions and half of the repub Senators will confirm them...they act as if this is the norm.
...and they wonder why there are hundreds of Tea Parties scheduled across this land.
Oust them all.
We need a march on Washington...they have us out here so cowed, we wouldn't even think of not paying our taxes for one year, let alone all the years these filthy hypocrites get away with...we know what would happen to us.
Makes me sick to my stomach what is happening to this country...it is upside down.
Wrong is now right.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
We need to throw them out. If that means by the ballot box...
April 1, 2009 - 21:10 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . .terrific, because that celebrates democracy.
But if it takes something else, then we can celebrate our revolutionary forefathers, who said "Enough is enough!"
Clearly, paying taxes is beneath liberals' and leftists' and the Demockacrats'/Dementocrats' station in life.
They're too dull-witted to understand the amoral example they've established--and how many people will likley follow suit.
Of course, had the tax problems been associated with a new Republican president, the advocacy/adversary media would mostly be dead, given the apoplexia that would've consumed them by now.
They're all morally and intellectually bankrupt.
The pressure for a
April 1, 2009 - 22:07 ET by nadadhimmiThe pressure for a constitutional restorational revolution is building.
So, when should we care?
April 1, 2009 - 14:47 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarTypical elitist Liberal cr@p that places them above the law. Myka, you bubble-headed bleach blonde. You probably cheat at solitare and sit back with amazement when you "win".
"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain
Hey Mika!!!
April 1, 2009 - 14:52 ET by c5thenHow about if all Americans don't pay any taxes to the Federal Government in 2010. Would you care then?
This is just the latest proof that all Democrats are scoff-laws and tax-cheats. It's no wonder they have no problem with raising taxes. They don't pay theirs anyway.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Mika....last
April 1, 2009 - 15:33 ET by motherbeltMika....last name.....cafeteria.....
'Nuff said.
However, just as even a blind squirrel finds a nut occasionally, Mika is at least partially right on this.
The Senators who have to confirm her don't care.
It's kind of like Moynihan's "defining deviancy down."
The tax thing has been heard so often that it's not news any more. It's more of an "everybody does it."
They just want to get past it.
Besides, like Geithner, I'm sure she is exactly the person we need for that job, regardless of her "missteps."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
"everybody does it"
April 1, 2009 - 15:39 ET by Prester JohnI was stationed in Naples, Italy back in the mid-90s and the gas was running at about $4/gallon (being on a NATO base I were able to get it for under $2). Now Naples is not nearly as wealthy as Rome and northern Italy and I asked my Italian boss how the average person in Naples could possibly afford the gas.
"Simple", he replied, "everybody cheats on their taxes so it all evens out".
Excellent example!
April 2, 2009 - 17:45 ET by GalvanicI was stationed in Naples, IT from 1990-1993 and witnessed that tax culture. Neapolitans under-reported their incomes and transactions. The national government had countered by imposing a VAT on everything, inspiring the growth of the black market and creation of an underground economy. We certainly don't want to go in that direction (Though our elites already speak of a national sales tax).
What the Geithner, Daschle, and Sebelius cases demonstrate is that among the ruling class, compliance with the tax code is either deliberately avoided, or not taken seriously.
Remember the immortal words of hotel heiress and world-class bitch Leona Helmsley: "Only poor people pay taxes."
Thus, Princess Brzezinsky's "Let them eat cake" studio poll comes as no surprise.
But if it were Sarah Palin who had not paid her taxes, would this same studio group come up with the same consensus? You can bet they wouldn't.
CT* ? If so meet CTM :)
April 5, 2009 - 20:01 ET by pahuberpahuber
motherbelt... Mika really
April 1, 2009 - 15:51 ET by Jermotherbelt...
Mika really doesn't do that much straight politcal commentary, and to the extent she does, it is relatively subdued. Scarborough controls the show, and he is a conservative.
The guests are predominantly liberal-leaning. But Buchanan, Noonan and Carlson are on often--particularly Buchanan--and they are all conservatives.
Jer
WHOA there, Jer! Be a little more selective in your
April 1, 2009 - 18:03 ET by Cape Conservativechoice of 'conservatives' - you missed the boat with these 3 has-beens!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Well, Cape, each of the
April 1, 2009 - 18:51 ET by JerWell, Cape, each of the three would beg to differ. When did you drum them out of the movement?
Jer
Calling Mika conservative is INSANE!
April 5, 2009 - 20:03 ET by pahuberoh, yeah ... insane baby.
Calling Mika conservative is INSANE!
April 5, 2009 - 20:07 ET by pahuberoh, yeah ... insane baby.
Did I say anything about
April 2, 2009 - 09:59 ET by motherbeltDid I say anything about the ideological slant of the show?
Are you confusing me with another commenter?
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
motherbelt... I think I
April 2, 2009 - 14:58 ET by Jermotherbelt...
I think I did. My response doesn't make any sense. Sorry.
Jer
Have already discussed that with my tax -return preparer...
April 1, 2009 - 21:14 ET by CKA in Red State USAOne is to write "Charlie Rangel Rule" at top of blank 1040.
The other is to write "Time Geithner Option" at the top of blank 1040.
Of course, the IRS would fail to see the humor and seriousness of either of those.
But you know that millions of Americans have thought that.
Wonder how many have been dishonest on their income tax returns this year because of the execrable examples of Geithner, Daschle, Richardson, Sebelius, the once-proposed No. 2 person at EPA, etc.?
When will the lemmings understand that the Demockacrats/Dementocrats represent no one but themselves and their lust for power?
.........NOW GET OVER IT!
April 1, 2009 - 14:52 ET by DanoMIKA IS AN IDIOT..................NOW GET OVER IT !
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.– Thomas Jefferson
MIKA...
April 2, 2009 - 02:55 ET by danybhoyLook folks, Mika is a good looking blonde (stereo typed) that brings nothing to the table in the way of intellect. She is there to look good, & make Joe look good. She should be doing a clean morning-zoo radio program, but since her father is the well connected "Big Z", she got her TV gig.
BTW, I don't think Mika should feel bad about how she got where she is, use what God gave you, girly-girl, & you have.
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
This is just pay as I say,
April 1, 2009 - 14:55 ET by EugeniaThis is just pay as I say, not as I do -- or don't as far as liberals are concerned.
Does anyone care about plagiarism?
April 1, 2009 - 15:05 ET by StarAZBarnicle was once accused of that--I guess it was OK with everyone, so anything short of spree killing is not worthy of note. I once had an IRS payment plan--they weren't all nice and fuzzy--they tacked big chunks on every month. A governor cannot get her hands on seven grand? Jeez.
Great TV
April 1, 2009 - 15:27 ET by CaringwhiteguyMSNBC is missing a golden opportunity. They should put Joe Biden on with Barnicle and let them plagiarize one another. Now that would be "must see TV".
Liberals are okay with taxes
April 1, 2009 - 15:09 ET by The Smokin FrogLiberals are okay with taxes. Apparently because they don't pay them. And those that do pay them, don't mind those that don't, as long as they are liberal. See. That was really simple. They are weary of hearing about all of the cheats among them. So, let's talk about something else. Like the halo around St. Barack's head. Oooh, bright!
Was this latest episode of Sebelius on her watch as Governor? Well now, maybe they don't pay her enough. And since she knows the greater good, her heart is in the right place so it's quite natural and acceptable to not pay her taxes. Who could possibly have a problem with that? Hmmm...
TSF Protests!
Don't governors have to be audited?
April 1, 2009 - 18:04 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
My Message To MSNBC
April 1, 2009 - 15:12 ET by SupermanI know the folks at MSNBC will read this, so here it goes. You guys at MSNBC need to stop being so in the tank for the Obama Administration. Mika Brzezinski, David Shuster, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and others on MSNBC are all in the tank. If you guys at MSNBC don't start putting forth a more fair and objective point of view, people will just start turning you off.
Ratings?
April 1, 2009 - 15:15 ET by northoneUgh, have you seen MSNBC's ratings lately? Apparently, not that many are watching to begin with.
Two points about your observations...
April 1, 2009 - 15:20 ET by c5thenNot a whole lot of people "turned them on" when they started the network, and those people have been turning them off slowly ever since.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
Yeah, this is true...but one
April 1, 2009 - 15:29 ET by bigtimerYeah, this is true...but one must remember that they are now beating CNN in some of the ratings...which does make me sick.
They all do...but msnbc in my opinion is the most blatant...for them to be gaining viewers doesn't make me happy.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
ratings!
April 1, 2009 - 20:55 ET by guefyI would venture to guess that more than half of any increase in viewership in MSNBC is due to conservatives like me, tuning in to watch 24 hours of SNL news. It certainly makes for entertaining TV to watch it. Just as The One is already turning his own Dems against him, MSNBC is doing the same to the country.
No Surprise Here
April 1, 2009 - 15:13 ET by northoneThese Liberal officials and elites LOVE taxes, as long as they don't have to pay them. What is it about Obama's choice of candidates and their inability or unwillingness to pay their taxes (until they are caught, of course!)
Don't you remember your mother warning you that
April 1, 2009 - 18:08 ET by Cape Conservative'you are judged by the company you keep' or 'birds of a feather flock together' - seems to me this is a fitting circle of associates for a Chicago thug politician.
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Two Possible Explanations
April 1, 2009 - 15:24 ET by Caringwhiteguy1) Sebelius just made a rounding error. 2) Like the Steve Martin routine on the old SNL Sebelius "just forgot" to pay.
But as long as she has all-knowing Mika to defend her, the governor is home free.
It wasn't on SNL
April 1, 2009 - 20:59 ET by guefyIt was from one of Martin's albums/tapes and it was "I forgot."
Remember these two important words: I forgot.
I forgot bank robbery was a crime.
In this case she was robbing all US citizens.
They have no clue
April 1, 2009 - 15:27 ET by Franklins_LockeGuess what you may not care, but the People do and they are ticked that these candidates are getting away with breaking the law.
http://franklinslocke.blogspot.com/
I watch this show in the
April 1, 2009 - 15:46 ET by marpelI watch this show in the a.m. only because I can't stand Steve Doucie on Fox. I would rather hear this crap than him.
Fox needs to change their programming in the a.m. and change hosts too.
Then I will watch Fox in the a.m.
Well, if that's the standard ...
April 1, 2009 - 15:46 ET by KC MulvilleThe standard is a double standard. This is the same liberal response to the Clintons. Liberals like them, therefore, all of their behavior is automatically overlooked. How many examples can we cite?
Now, unlike others, I don't think that the media should over-hype every mistake by every politician. Most of these mistakes betray stupidity, not corruption. If there's a sign of actual corruption, OK, go get 'em. But to whine and wail over negligence instead of corruption for (R) but not for (D) is just wrong.
Let's see how long this lasts. The next time a Republican gets caught with something on this level, will they also shrug it off as irrelevant?
KC... Exactly right...and
April 1, 2009 - 16:03 ET by bigtimerKC...
Exactly right...and of course they won't shrug it off...anymore than they did about Ted Stevens.
Where are the apologies from any of the msm for the instant 24/4 daily/weekly jump on the band-wagon he is guilty as charged from the msm....just to defeat another republican.
If anybody knew anything about this all first, took the time to read into it, look at the connections, the prosecutors and the FBI tactics, they wouldn't have made assumptions as they do...but people all jump on the good-ol' band-wagon, instead of listening, researching etc themselves.
We would have one more good republican in the Senate on our side of the aisle.
Just wanted to mention this here, since your post reminded me of this news I heard this morning.
Where do you go to get your good name back....after the msm along with others destroy you with jumping to conclusions along with the rest of the lemmings.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
KC, I agree with you. But,
April 1, 2009 - 16:11 ET by marpelKC, I agree with you. But, we know darn good and well that as soon as we see a Republican in trouble, all hell is going to break loose with the media. It's unfair, and it's insulting to the intelligence of the American people. But they don't care...
marpel... Yep...look at
April 1, 2009 - 16:19 ET by bigtimermarpel...
Yep...look at how they protect Murtha for years and years and still are now with this latest investigation...if this was any republican he would have been hounded out of office by now...let alone the msm already all over the story with investigations themselves blatheriong on and on 24/7.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
bt - don't stop with Murtha! It galls me no end to watch
April 1, 2009 - 18:18 ET by Cape ConservativeBarney Frank & Chris Dodd & Charlie Rangel & Harry Reid (and MANY others!) - all still sitting pretty judging others when they should be sitting behind bars!!! Right, throw Ted Stevens under the bus, but old $inthefreezer, Jefferson stayed on and on and on!
When I see that Pelosi mug on tv, I want to throw up...the 'most ethical Congress' my bum! What is hard to understand is how these total losers cannot, or refuse to, acknowledge their single-digit approval rating!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
It's funny...
April 1, 2009 - 16:24 ET by taocpaHow at the mention of news channels, liberals always bring up Fox News as the "Republican" or "conservative" network, but yet you never hear that label about MSNBC, NBC, CBS, et. al. These channels are "fair and balanced."
There used to be a time that not paying your taxes would derail your nomination. It seems the rules are different these days, especially if a "D" follows your name.
Tom
Don't know about Mika specifically . . .
April 1, 2009 - 17:08 ET by kareling. . . but the MSM in general certainly cared plenty about Joe the Plumber's tax lien.
Sebelius' tax problem pales
April 1, 2009 - 17:35 ET by snaggletoothieSebelius' tax problem pales to insignificance next the fact that Rush abused meds many years ago. Just ask any liberal media hack.
st... Well at least Grassley
April 1, 2009 - 17:45 ET by bigtimerst...
Well at least Grassley just forgive her little snafu...and he is a repub Senator.
Oh color me shocked...
NOT!
Been saying this since yesterday sometime, just wait, at least half or more of the Senators on the 'R' side of the aisle will confirm her...the gal who has supported Tiller the Baby Killer to-boot.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
You mean Grassley didn't ask her commit Seppuku?
April 2, 2009 - 10:14 ET by thebutlerdiditWhy not? I think Sebelius is a pig because of Tiller the Baby Killer, more than because of her taxes. I automatically assume liberals are lying, about something, so there's no surprise there. Makes it simpler.
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
I CARE!! And I'm sick of these people who think they
April 1, 2009 - 17:59 ET by Cape Conservativedon't have to follow the rules!!!
EVERY cabinet member with tax problems should RESIGN NOW!!! How are American citizens supposed to feel when a TAX CHEAT is the head of the IRS??? Anyone with tax problems being considered for appointment should step aside IMMEDIATELY!
SHAME ON EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Mika, Mika, Mika
April 1, 2009 - 20:05 ET by TeddyMika, Mika, Mika. Your Messiah's poll numbers are tanking by the day, and his cabinet choices might as well be wearing one of these http://www.speedysig... around their necks. So you Know you care!
How Much do you care?
So much that your network has been reduced to talking about only what happened in the last administration, or about what's happening on other news networks as if that's "news".
In other words Mika, you care about matters like Sebelius' tax problem (etc.) more than you'll Ever admit to caring about them.
You just can't Wait to talk about something else is all. Anything else.
Okay.
a new term
April 1, 2009 - 21:04 ET by guefyI have developed a new term, and if it's been used elsewhere, I apologize.
Obamanee: A person that wants to be nominated for an important position, and decides to pay their taxes so as to get that job. (used especially to describe Democrats nominated to Obama's administration)
Yes, because Lord knows
April 1, 2009 - 23:40 ET by RR GOPYes, because Lord knows that an obscure Ohio plumber's tax issues (and divorce issues, and licensing issues) are sooooo much more important than that of an elected official or appointed Federal bureaucrat.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
I think it was balboa who
April 2, 2009 - 00:34 ET by hydrodynDMI think it was balboa who once suggested that the reason that stories about republicans/conservatives who find themselves in moral dilemmas (sex scandals and such) get so much air time is because of the hypocrisy angle.
You see, since conservatives are so big on being moral, a story about a conservative who's caught cheating on his wife gets picked up by the press because, well, conservatives aren't supposed to do that - and I guess that's what makes it news worthy.
And yet ... democrats, who are all about "sharing the wealth", who get caught not paying their taxes - and correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems pretty hypocritical - well, for some reason, those stores are down-played by the press. In those cases "No one cares".
Gee. Wonder why.
Kansas resident WHO CARES!
April 2, 2009 - 02:21 ET by chaosmongerWell, I live in Kansas and this pretty much will ensure a Republican in office the next election for govenor. Over a month ago Kansas stopped paying tax rebates due to lack of funds for the time being.
They don't care because she has the "D" behind her name.
It's insane the amount of high level "D's" that are having tax issues that Mr. Obama is wanting to put into higher positions of authority.
here's a dumb question
April 2, 2009 - 11:18 ET by silent conservativeDid the one Republican, that Obamba nominated for some office, have tax problems?
didn't think so
the silent do speak
But she sure cared about
April 2, 2009 - 11:33 ET by Jack BauerBut she sure cared about Joe The Plumber and taxes when Democrat Plumbers plundered the man's records to leak to Obama media hacks.
Also -- isn't it odd that all the problems Democrats have with taxes, NONE appear to be because they PAID TOO MUCH.
Dem's Taxes
April 2, 2009 - 20:52 ET by wingnut55If we could just get all the Democrats pay all their taxes, our country might be out of debt.