HHS Nomination Vacant As Tom Daschle Withdrows

Tom Daschle's withdrawal may be the right move, but gives president Obama a new crisis which the FT calls "First full-throated political crisis" for the president. "The move swiftly followed the resignation earlier on Tuesday of another senior figure from his team – Nancy Killefer, Mr Obama’s choice to fill a new job of chief performance officer, also over tax arrears."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs who was briefing the reporters this afternoon, said he does know if the next appointed person for the position of the HHS Secretary may or may not retain the same policies proposed by Tom Daschle for health reforms.

The president has accepted Daschle's withdrawal.

In answering a reporter's question whether the president is frustrated, Gibbs said he does not know Obama's reaction. However, Gibbs would say that Obama and Daschle had a phone conversation, which the president conducted from his private library. Gibbs would not say if the conversation took place yesterday or today.

CNN published Tom Daschle's statement of announcing his withdrawal in which Daschle said it was an honor to be chosen to lead the reform of America's health care system.

"But if 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction," he said.

"Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction. The focus of Congress should be on the urgent business of moving the president's economic agenda forward, including affordable health care for every American."

Commenting on the ethical implications the White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that the president understands that changing the way Washington works is not one, two or fifteen day project. Barack Obama has sat the highest ethical standards for himself and expects nothing less from anyone who will serve in his administration.