Scroll for updates…Daschle withdraws…

Photoshop: Leo Alberti

Tax evader Tom Daschle is a serial dodger.

In addition to all the “glitches” he has apologized to the Senate Finance Committee for, there’s another important episode in his financial history that bears mention.

William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection has the reminder:

In the current controversy regarding Tom Daschle’s failure to report income (and thereby evade the taxes on that income), Daschle has portrayed himself as the most honest person in America, who always intended to pay all the taxes he owes, and who simply made an honest mistake. But history shows that this is not the first time Daschle has dodged taxes, raising even more questions about Daschle’s veracity and fitness for office.

In 2004, during his failed re-election campaign, it was revealed that Daschle claimed a property-tax homestead exemption for his $1.9 million Washington, D.C. mansion. The problem was that in order to claim the tax exemption, Daschle had to certify under penalty of perjury that the mansion was his primary residence. Daschle did so, and got the tax exemption, but there was a problem. Daschle had voted in South Dakota, the state he represented, by absentee ballot, listing a South Dakota address as his primary residence. South Dakota primary residency also was a requirement of Daschle running for office. When the homestead issue surfaced, accusations were made that Daschle or someone on his behalf altered the records to make it appear that only Daschle’s wife has applied for the exemption.

Daschle’s opponent, now Senator John Thune, made an issue of this tax dodge in the campaign, and Daschle was defeated…How much did Tom Daschle save on his homestead exemption tax dodge? A measly $288. Is there any thief more pathetic than a petty thief?

Yes: The other petty thieves in the Senate who have signaled their undying collegial support for Tom the Dodger Daschle.

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Mirabile dictu: The New York Times calls for Daschle’s withdrawal.

Broken clocks and all. Perhaps if his tax troubles had involved an illegal alien, the NYTimes would have given him a pass, too.

Now, WWBORD? What will the B.O. Republicans do?

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Update: John Hinderaker at Power Line digs up a hilarious 1986 Daschle campaign ad. Watch. Snort. Shake your heads.

Update: DeMint calls for Daschle withdrawal…