Daschle Decries Meanness of U.S. Politics

Associated Press (via Yahoo! News) ^ | May 5, 2004 | John Hanna

[rightcoast]

By JOHN HANNA, Associated Press Writer

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle on Monday decried what he called the "startling meanness" of American politics.

"Demonizing those with whom we disagree politically does not serve the interests of democracy. It does not resolve differences," the South Dakota Democrat said to about 500 people at Kansas State University.

"Today, enormous new challenges confront each and every one of us," he said. "We will not meet those challenges or seize those opportunities if we indulge in the brutal politics of division, if we attempt to silence those who have other ideas."

As examples, Daschle noted that two Democratic senators, South Dakota's Tim Johnson and Georgia's Max Cleland, were compared in television ads during the 2002 campaign to Osama bin Laden. Cleland, a decorated veteran who lost three of his limbs in Vietnam, was defeated in his bid for re-election.

"What disappointed many of us wasn't just the outcome of the 2002 elections, it was also the startling meanness in many of the races," Daschle said.

Daschle said the political left is responsible for some attacks, too. He cited a recent ad on the Web site Moveon.org that compared President Bush to Adolf Hitler.

"America has real enemies in the world," he said. "Creating false enemies among us to score political points does not make us safer, it makes us more vulnerable. And trying to bully and intimidate others into silence or compliance does not lead to progress. It leads to increased polarization and eventually paralysis."

Daschle spoke as part of the Landon Lecture series, named for the late Kansas Gov. Alf Landon, who was the Republican presidential nominee in 1936.

Taking a question from the audience, Daschle said American soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners has been an "incalculable disaster" raising larger issues than whether Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

Daschle said the entire American military command bears some responsibility for the abuse. He declined, however, to call for Rumsfeld's resignation, saying that decision must be left to the secretary.

"Something more systemic is going on here and has to be addressed in a far more comprehensive way than simply the resignation of one official," he said.

He warned against using "those junior-ranking soldiers directly responsible for the abuse as scapegoats for a larger problem" and said he believes "99.9 percent" of American troops are serving honorably. He also defended their presence in Iraq.

On another topic, Daschle said he is troubled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's refusal to allow a beef processor to test all of its cattle for mad cow disease.

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC, which has more than 600 employees at a plant in Arkansas City, contends blanket testing would give it access to Japanese markets that were closed to U.S. imports by fears of mad cow disease.

[You Dirty Rats]

This from a guy who won't allow judicial nominations to come to the floor.

Time to return this loser to the private sector.

[muawiyah]

Daschle authored most of the foundations of that meanness. Why is he voicing surprise? Possibly a stroke, and he just forgot?

[theDentist]

Daschle clearly lunging for middle ground in hopes of saving his seat. If he re-captures it, he'll stand up, wipe himself off, and strut back to extreme left to shout about gOP murders of elderly and babies.

[antivenom]

I suspect he is "deeply saddened"...

[Khurkris]

Considering a large amount of the bitter rhetoric is coming from this little prick, I find this condemnation a bit hollow.

[jocko12]

Looks like tiny tom had to go to Kansas to get a big crowd.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

He started it!

[SoDak]

IOW, please be nice to me so I can be re-elected. So sorry Tommie (the commie), we're coming at you with both barrels this summer and fall. Time to list what little SD property you still actually own, and move the last of your old high school junk to DC.

[silverleaf]

This from a political hack player who suffers mightily from "short mean man" syndrome.

Anyone care to post a compendium of Daschle actions or statements over the past 3 years that supported the President? Or VP? Or Trent Lott?

[Rays_Dad]

Who is Daschle? -J/k

[EDINVA]

*** Daschle noted that two Democratic senators, South Dakota's Tim Johnson and Georgia's Max Cleland, were compared in television ads during the 2002 campaign to Osama bin Laden. Cleland, a decorated veteran who lost three of his limbs in Vietnam, was defeated in his bid for re-election. ***

while Johnson, thanks to those last minute Indian Reservations votes, was reelected with a margin of 500+

[biblewonk]

My hypocrite meter just exploded!!

[ArmstedFragg]

Tom Daschle on Monday decried what he called the "startling meanness" of American politics.

Proof... as if we needed it... that the man is schizoid!

[G.Mason]

Yawn

[gipper81]

Daschle clearly lunging for middle ground in hopes of saving his seat.

Does anyone know how the numbers look for Dakota Daschle?

[vandykelastone]

Couldn't he just go back to being "saddened"? He seemed to do that so well.

[ancient_geezer]

Anyone care to post a compendium of Daschle actions or statements over the past 3 years that supported the President? Or VP? Or Trent Lott?

There's a rumor that Daschle would support a Republican dog catcher, in someone else's town ;O)

[keysguy]

Watch out for the rat/lawyers infiltrating S. Dakota, they could swing the election for dashhole, it may be close, his time should be about up. The only way a lot of these guys stay in is to cheat.in 2000 the rats had lawyers all over the place invading precincts.

[Dane]

Whew, now I know how the word "Gaul" became a perjorative and still is in this modern day.