Tab character in a string prints 8 spaces

[ichabod801]

That's just how the Python interpreter handles tabs. For example:

>>> def x(a):
...     if x > 5:
...             do_something()
...

The above was done using tabs. The third line is clearly indented 8 from the second line. The second line looks like it is indented 4 from the first line, but you will note that it is indented 8 from the edge of the screen.