GOP Goes Easy on Daschle, For Now

Influential Republicans are holding their tongues on Tom Daschle's tax troubles for now, Politico reports. GOP Senators Jon Kyl, Mitch McConnell, Jim DeMint, and Susan Collins all adopted a wait-and-see approach on today’s talk shows. “I want to find out more about it,” DeMint said of the revelation that Daschle paid $140,000 in back taxes only after being nominated.

Asked if the tax problem could hurt Daschle's nomination as health and human services secretary, DeMint said "it may be." McConnell noted that Barack Obama had already nominated a cabinet member with tax woes—Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “I think the administration ought to take a look at its vetting process," McConnell said. (More Obama administration stories.)