Tom Daschle Throws in the Towel

Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator and Obama pick to be head of Health & Human Services (HHS), has withdrawn his name from consideration to the cabinet post in the wake of the scandal over the $130,000+ in taxes he "mistakenly" didn't pay until the last few days when it was obviously going to be a problem.

Good for Daschle.

Not so good for President Obama who refused to do the right thing and withdraw the nomination on his own, isntead sticking up for Daschle even as the mega-lobbyist - who the White House said wasn't a lobbyist because he wasn't official registered as one -- bowed out.

President Obama stood by Daschle Monday, telling reporters that he "absolutely" supports the former South Dakota senator. But the president accepted Daschle's withdrawal with "sadness and regret" Tuesday morning, according to a White House statement.

He would've been even sadder with more regrets had Daschle not quit.