Sigh. I still can’t believe this clown got elected…

PRESIDENT Barack Obama admitted “I screwed up” after his political soul mate and pick to lead health reform Tom Daschle withdrew in a storm over personal tax issues.

On Mr Obama’s worst day in the White House so far, he also lost another nominee - Nancy Killefer, who he had named as Government budget watchdog, and termed one of his most “important” appointments - also over tax issues.

The twin bombshells overshadowed Mr Obama’s bid to showcase his economic stimulus plan in a flurry of television interviews and reflected the potential traps he has set for himself by promising a new era of ethical Government.

“I don’t want to send a message to the American people that there are two sets of standards, one for powerful people, and one for ordinary folks who are working every day and paying their taxes,” Mr Obama said in an interview with CNN.

“I think this was a mistake. I think I screwed up. And, you know, I take responsibility for it and we’re going to make sure we fix it so it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Mr Obama had hoped to pile pressure on senators debating his massive stimulus plan, but the distractions scuppered the media offensive as he was forced to face down ethics questions instead.

Earlier, Mr Obama said he accepted the decision by Senator Daschle, one of his earliest supporters, with regret after the former senate majority leader decided he could not escape a row over his payment of $US128,000 ($197,000) in back taxes plus some $US12,000 in interest.

Senator Daschle said did not want to be a distraction for Mr Obama’s ambitious plans to reform healthcare.

“Lives and livelihoods are at stake,” he said in a White House statement, even as many of his former Senate colleagues said the row may have blown over and he would likely have been confirmed.