I have lived in South Dakota for many years of my life. I was born here, came back to live here when I was a teen-ager, went away to the service and came back to finish college, and then moved away a bit only to find myself back here in the last 3 years. I love South Dakota. It may be cold, it may be sparsely populated, it may not appeal to many, but I love this state. Except tonight, on behalf of all South Dakotans I am embarrassed.

And that embarrassment has a name - Tom Daschle. Daschle, who is President Obama's current choice to be the Health and Human Services Secretary and who will most likely institute an extremely radical health care plan that will break the backs of those who actually pay taxes, was just found out to be another in a line of Obama candidates who "goofed" and didn't pay his own taxes - to the tune of nearly $150,000.

I just need to ask...is there anyone who really feels this was an "oops" mistake? Okay, the limousine and chauffeur - maybe that I can buy, but only barely. But how about when he worked for Intermediate Advisors as a consultant? Really, he "mistakenly" didn't pay taxes on his salary? And then he "flubbed" yet again on taking improper deductions on his charitable donations? Really? Does anyone, anywhere buy that?

I am mad, embarrassed and confused. If I had messed up that bad on my taxes, I just KNOW I'd be sitting in jail today. Tom Daschle - he gets a new job - and it's in charge of policy decisions that will affect your taxes!

I don't buy it. This is an out and out blantant abuse of power. Not one, but TWO people in this cabinet have been found to have this issue. And no one, anywhere seems to be doing anything about it! I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Daschle will get nominated, because for some reason, nothing that happens sticks with this group of people.

I want to leave you with something. Back in the tail end of the election, we had a man named "Joe the Plumber" who became a sensation because of a happenstance meeting with Barack Obama. Suddenly, the news media went nuts on this guy - just like they did with Palin - and foamed at the mouth because of his tax issues. Go back and read the stories. Over and over you saw stuff like "Joe The Plumber didn't pay his taxes" or "Joe the Plumber - is he really even a plumber - failed to pay his due" and today all you see is "Democrats in support of Daschle" and "Daschle sorry about the mixup", etc, etc. It's enough to make someone nauseous.

Tonight, as a fellow South Dakotan, I hold my head down in shame. We South Dakotans can do much better than this.