My email to Senator Hatch:

I am disappointed in your Senate Finance committee vote recommending the nomination of Timothy Geithner as Treasurary Secretary. I urge you vote against his nomination in the full Senate.

I've paid those same self employment taxes as a struggling college student when I couldn't afford them. No one was watching but me and that is the only reason I paid them. We now know Timothy Geithner is dishonest when no one is watching him.

I also question the honesty of any intelligent person who characterizes Timothy Geithner's actions in the matter as an "honest mistake". There is too much evidence to indicate otherwise, least of all the fact that a 22 year old college student can figure it out. Ironically the "honest mistake" lie is told to assuage the conscience of those who will not face up to the fact that Timothy Geithner's price for his integrity is $34,000.

Timothy Geithner is not the type of man the Senate should give consent to run the nation's Treasury.

Senator Hatch's response:

Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to the nomination of Timothy Geithner to be Treasury Secretary.

As you, I do not condone, nor dismiss, Mr. Geithner's inability to file honest and fair tax returns and to pay the money he rightfully owes to the Federal Government. I also believe, however, in the principle of forgiveness, restitution and answering the demands of the law and once this process has taken place, I am loath to continually bring up people's sins, mistakes and failures only to publicly flog and humiliate them. These are principles I have been taught since I was a small boy and they are as true today as they were when I was young. Republican or Democrat, I have consistently stood up for those who have truly gone through the repentance process and now seek mercy.

Upon careful examination of this nominee, it is obvious that Timothy Geithner is neither incompetent nor corrupt and I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed him as Treasury Secretary. I reached my decision of support after weighing the facts of his tax situation with his impressive education, experience, and intelligence, and keeping in mind the desperate financial crises currently facing this country.

I believe I owe it to the people of Utah to explain that I view Timothy Geithner's tax compliance issue as a very serious matter. The Treasury Secretary is the top administrative tax officer in the United States, and next to the President himself, is the person who bears the ultimate responsibility for collecting the revenue this nation needs to operate. As such, the Treasury Secretary must be an example to all Americans in tax and financial issues, and any shortcomings in this area can be an impediment to effective tax compliance.

Mr. Geithner had admitted committing serious oversights on several of his tax returns. It is regrettable. It has marred an otherwise singularly outstanding nominee's record, and has given pause to this Senate about his fitness to serve. At the same time, it is important to note that people make mistakes and commit oversights. Even the most intelligent and gifted - two adjectives that certainly apply to Mr. Geithner -- make errors in their financial dealings.

My support for Mr. Geithner is rooted in the belief that opposing him would likely have yielded a more liberal and destructive nominee who would completely abandon conservative principles and leave the Country in far worse shape than it is now. To Mr. Geithner's credit, he is intimately familiar with all arms of U.S. policy making, including the Federal Reserve System and the U.S. Treasury, where he served in significant positions for eight years. That means he knows the agency, the personnel and the tasks that will face him if he is confirmed. It means he can hit the ground running on Day 1 and has the know-how to get the economy moving.

He also has well-established relationships with the regulatory community, which means he will better be able to play an active role in reshaping the financial regulatory system. Mr. Geithner has already been a major player in addressing the nation's response to the economic situation. As head of the New York Federal Reserve, he has worked closely with Secretary Paulsen and Fed Chair Ben Bernanke in crafting the government's response to the financial crisis. He knows firsthand what has worked and what has not, and is therefore best equipped to apply the remedies that will be most successful. He knows the issues, and he knows the landscape and the tools available to address these problems.

In my meetings with Timothy Geithner, as well as in listening to his answers to members of the Senate Finance Committee, it appears obvious to me that he understands the urgency and depth of the economic crisis we now face. I believe he has a firm grasp of what it will take for us to get out of these dire straits. His answers about the causes of the crisis showed a deep understanding and a sense of humility, which I gathered from the fact that he admits he has made mistakes and is able to learn from them.

I would much rather have someone in place who has been on the front lines, who is already tested and battle-scarred, who sees the mistakes and is ready to rectify them, than a newcomer who is moving into this frenetic arena for the first time. Timothy Geithner has that experience, and his expertise is what we badly need at this time.

Finally, I also was pleased with his answer to the critical question I asked him about the need to address spending and entitlement reform. Based on what I have heard, I believe he understands the critical need to address Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as soon as we get a handle on the current crisis. We have moved into a new era, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the old ways of putting off reforms to these programs are just not going to work. We need bipartisan solutions.

Mr. Geithner and I probably don't concur on everything with respect to economic policy. If we did, our new president would likely not have chosen him. However, I think we would have to look for a long time to find a Democrat as qualified as he is and as ready to move into this position.

In the final analysis, I would probably not select Mr. Geithner for this position. However, the Constitution vests great authority to the President in selecting people for his Cabinet and I believe a candidate who is otherwise qualified for the position should not be used for partisan mischief, but rather confirmed by the Senate and allowed to serve our Country. Should they make mistakes while in their appointed office, I will be ready to take them to task and insist they report to the American people what they have done with their stewardship.

I understand your position on Mr. Geithner's nomination may differ from mine. However, I ask that you consider the arguments I have laid out in this letter and see if there may be some room for compromise or agreement.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I thoroughly enjoy representing you and all Utahns in the United States Senate and I do not take these duties lightly. I work every day to earn your trust and support.

Sincerely,

Orrin G. Hatch

United States Senator

Mark applauds: Right on, brother! This riles me rotten. I confidently assert that Geithner will be gone within the week, maybe today, not because Obama's honest, but because he knows he's been rumbled and he needs to make a neat pile of his early screw-ups and hope that the pantie-tossers in the media will waft him to a higher plane.