The Obama administration experienced some unfortunate gaffes in its early days, including a lopsided exchange of gifts with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Hillary Clinton followed up by giving a “reset” button as a gag gift to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Unfortunately, the Cyrillic actually translated into “overcharged.” Overseas, the president himself bowed to the Saudi king, while the first lady went the other way and laid hands on the Royal Person.
Which simply isn’t done.
All of this was probably attributable to the lack of a competent protocol officer on staff.
Now, thankfully, someone competent has been chosen:
President Obama’s choice as chief of protocol for the State Department, a position that carries the status of an ambassadorship, did not file tax returns for 2005 and 2006, errors she corrected last November.
The nominee, Capricia Penavic Marshall, has placed blame for the problem on the Postal Service and on miscommunication between her husband and their accountant.
Ms. Marshall, who was the social secretary in the Clinton White House, notified the Obama administration about the late filings before she was nominated on May 14.
There are all kinds of competence. This sort of thing happens all the time.
Perfectly understandable.
One thing about the current administration: At least they are consistent.
A bunch of sycophantic, self-entitled clueless fops, but consistent.
Apparently I would not qualify as an appointee since I actually pay my taxes. On time. Her lack of accountability sounds about as convincing as “the dog ate my homework.” BS.
Not a function of “Didn’t Pay (properly)” but “Didn’t File!” These things are basic… I can understand and yes to some degree accept underpayment of income taxes, tis a convoluted process after all. But it is a pretty well know fact that Ya Gotta File!
sheesh… and the hits just keep on coming!
Yep, Capricia—just the proper name for the protocol guru of this administration. It is pregnant with forebodings of future gaffs.
This is the “change” you can believe in. But hehe, even Harry Reid says that taxes are voluntary, so she simply volunteered not to file/pay them. Whassa big deal?
Honey, why we got so much money this year?
Oh sweetie, we’re not paying taxes like those republi-chumps. Ya see, we don’t PAY them, we just spend them.
I think we should cut these poor people some slack. Obviously the real problem is the complete lack of awareness about Tax Day-its never mentioned on tv, the internet, public libraries, radio, in office conversation, seen in the line of cars at the post office on April 15…its so easy to overlook!
Of all the mail the post office handles, of course they would lose theirs, not once but twice. And the same kind of mail too!
It’s a conspiracy, clearly. Someone somewhere at some time knew that Capricia (Edward, I had the same thoughts about that too…) would be nominated by The Messiah and decided to cause trouble for her.
It’s a plot of course to derail The One’s administration with tax cheats, liars and idiots.
Oh wait … are you saying it’s not a plot but a…
plan?!
I read about this. Here’s the story (and I use that word advisedly):
In 2005 her husband was presented by their accountant with a folder that had all the information in it. The tax return was in there as well, but the husband didn’t realize that and thought that the accountant had mailed it in. So he just stuck it in the files.
In 2007 they got contacted by the IRS when they had not filed their 2006 return and upon getting back to the IRS found that they didn’t have the 2005 filing either. She claims that at that time the agent said that the D.C. Post Office had lost a number of returns. So in November of 2008 – quite some time later and just around the time that their new boss got elected President, which I’m sure is a coincidence – they filed their returns for 2005 and 2006.
First – understand that there’s no proof that the D.C. P.O. did anything wrong with their 2006 return – that’s just left hanging out there. There’s no proof that they ever filed. And it certainly didn’t do anytnig with their 2005 return. This sounds a lot like “the dog ate it.”
Second – their accountant didn’t say anything when the refund never arrived?
Third – the IRS just let them pay up. No penalties, no fines. Just like they’d treat you if you forgot to file your return for 2 years running a couple of years ago.
I don’t know about you, but while my wife handles all the bills I pay personal attention as to whether or not we pay our income taxes. It’s not just the money. I have a hard time with this. I’d like to think that someone who’s supposed to pay as much attention to procedure and details as a Chief of Protocol would be attentive enough to ensure that their taxes were filed on time.
She should have used the Katrina defense–oh, that’s right, we had a valid, officially excused reason for filing past the deadline for 2005 taxes.
Details, details, and more details. Don’t be so picky of the poor Capricia.
One doesn’t need to sweat the details when one is merely the Chief of Protocol for the State Department.
Don’t the little people handle all that? After all, there are balls to attend and parties to arrange. Important people to meet and greet.
Personal accountability? In this administration? Perish the thought.
Well, Lord knows that Mr. Obama and his feckless wife have a serious need for a Chief of Protocol both in the State Department and the White House. But I do think they should beg/borrow/steal an experienced person with years of work in the area of diplomatic protocol. Somehow I doubt that Capricia is that person. Apparently, and I don’t know this for a fact, the Obamas fired the White House in-house protocol expert, which I gather is usually a permanent position occupied by a person greatly experienced in all the ins and outs of our relations with other nations and their representatives… a protocol expert to help “newbie” Presidents and their wives to get up to speed on the international front. Whatever really happened, the Obamas made some unfortunate boo-boos right off, sending back the bust of Churchill to the British Embassy, failing to select properly thoughtful diplomatic gifts for the British Prime Minister’s visit. Just one boo-boo after another.
If you don’t listen, you can’t learn. Even if ‘I won’ is your mantra.
Marianne
Marianne, you just made me think of something. Something I hadn’t quite grasped until now.
Most presidents try to build a legacy of success. Obama has nothing he can do but try to prevent a legacy of failure.
I don’t make this claim lightly. As the first black president he sets the bar for everybody who follows. They will also ride on his coat-tails. If his administration is seen as successful the barrier to election goes down significantly. If he fails, that failure will extend to every black candidate who follows until somebody can both be elected and turn in a successful run. Part and parcel with racial politics is you’re pre-judged by the color of your skin — if you run on the stereotype or the statistics you will be judged by them as well, for that is the mental image you’ve painted in the electorate. And Obama can’t dismiss those who play the racial politics game in his party to distance himself.
And with “I won” he’s given up any ability to blame anybody else, and has instead taken sole ownership over everything his administration and the democrat-controlled Congress passes.
It’ll be an interesting four years for Obama. It will be an interesting 20 years to see what this does to race in politics, both in image and in people running.
– Max
Max, I believe that we are still suffering from the moral and ethical debasement of the Clinton years. His greatest and lasting legacy IMO.
A touch early to be definitive on BHO, though based on his actions to date my impression is that it will be his attempt to move America to become a Socialist (or worse) country, and one where the President is treated as Royalty.
I believe that our political leaders, as a class, are more dismissive and contemptuous of the average American than at any point in History, certainly in my lifetime.
RonF, during one of my hardship tours to DC, hundreds if not thousands of mail bags were found in the basement of a local civic building. Now, these were deliveries to residences, consisting mostly of sales flyers (and who do the companies file claim against when the USPO failes to deliver, I wonder?), but strange things do happen to US mail in that town.
But Capricia? Really, it has the perfect ring for our Roman collapse into bread and circuses.
We are doomed.
Hmmm… no Wikipedia entry. Googling produces various news stories related to the taxes, and some boilerplate “will someone please fill in a bio?” pages.
The official WH press release gives a little info on her background: she’s had “an extensive career in public service,” which appears to consist of having been a campaign worker and personal assistant to the Clintons.
So: young, cute, and with no public track record nor particular qualifications other than being part of the in crowd. I just can’t imagine how someone like that would fit into such a professional administration.