Obama Tabs Duckworth, Deals With Daschle Withdrawal

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 3, 2009 9:25PM

Yesterday, it was announced that Illinois Veterans Affairs Department chief Tammy Duckworth is President Barack Obama's choice for the assistant secretary in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth, who received a Purple Heart for her service in the second Iraq War during which she sustained severe injuries including the loss of both legs, was once a Blago appointee who seems to have come away from his removal without any sort of taint.

Meanwhile, President Obama was dealing with other issues today as his choice for secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Daschle, withdrew his name from consideration for the post. The move comes on the heels of the revelation he owed $128,000 in back taxes. Daschle was the second Obama cabinet nomination to withdraw today, following chief performance officer nominee Nancy Killefer, who had failed to pay unemployment taxes for a maid. All this after Treasury Secretary Geitner's tax issues and Bill Richardson's withdrawal can't make Obama a very happy Prez right now.

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais