Obama and Public Accountability

With top-level appointees admitting they didn't pay federal taxes, President Obama told TV interviewers last night, “I screwed up.” The promise of tough standards to “change the culture” of Washington has created expectations that are hard to meet. The New York Times called it his “rockiest day.” The Los Angeles Times said he was “punching the restart button on his presidency.” Did the vetting process go wrong? Was there poor political judgment? Has the President's major asset, his popularity with the public, been put at risk? Will his personal efforts at damage control get his health reform and economic rescue programs back on track?