Jan. 15, 2009 - A Kinder, Gentler IRS

That's what we should expect under President Obama if yesterday's comments were any indication of how the new administration & it's potential Treasury Sec. view the "innocent" mistake of not paying appropriate taxes for a few years.

QUESTION: Sir, just a quick question, going back to Capitol Hill: Are you concerned that Timothy Geithner's taxes mishap will affect his chances of confirmation and, if he is confirmed, will affect his credibility?

OBAMA: No. Tim Geithner when I nominate him was right -- rightly lauded by people from both sides of the aisle, from the market, from labor as somebody who is uniquely qualified to deal with, as what Lindsey described properly as the biggest crisis that we've had since the Great Depression.

You know, look, is this an embarrassment for him? Yes. He said so himself. But it was an innocent mistake. It is a mistake that is commonly made for people who are working internationally or for international institutions. It has been corrected. He paid penalties.

And as I have said before, if my criteria, whether it was for Cabinet secretary or vice presidents or presidents or reporters was that you'd never made a mistake in your life, none of us would be employed. (Let's just forget the fact that if he had been an actual employee of the IRS, he'd be in the unemployment line right now.)

So my expectation is that Tim Geithner will be confirmed. And my expectation is, is that he is going to do an outstanding job on part -- on part of the -- on behalf of the American people.

Keep that on file when the IRS comes knocking at your door for $34 in back taxes from the last few years.  I mean, if they are willing to say $34K was an "honest mistake," what's $34?  Certainly not the criminal treatment normal people get for such circumstances.