THE GOP'S BLUDGEON:

'Pent-up fury' at nominee tax woes (Donald Lambro, February 8, 2009 , Washington Times)

A poll released by the Internal Revenue Service on Friday said 89 percent of Americans believe it is "not at all acceptable" to cheat the tax-collection agency, the highest level recorded since the survey began in 2002.

More than eight out of 10 said the value they placed on their personal integrity has had a "great deal of influence" over whether they reported and paid their taxes honestly, the IRS said. The poll of 1,000 Americans, conducted last summer, was released after two of Mr. Obama's nominees withdrew last week.

"It's certainly created an appearance problem. At a time when Americans are making lots of sacrifices and are concerned about their finances, they see their nominated leaders apparently making decisions or neglecting to make decisions [about paying their taxes], while they are taking responsibility for their personal finances," said Massie Ritsch, communications director at the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group.

"It is hard for most Americans to relate to someone who owes more in taxes than the average person makes in a year or two years," Mr. Ritsch said.