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.

[theDentist]

Last I heard, he was in trouble, and this race for center ground proves he's scared.

[Meldrim]

If he thinks things are mean now, wait until he gets back to South Dakota this Fall...

[antceecee]

This is sort of the pot calling the kettle. A similar story on Drudge re: LA Times editor warning of rise of "pseudo-journalism" this "editor" aims his accusation specifically at Fox News.
It seems odd to see both of these stories at once. Daschle accusing others of doing what precisely he has mastered the art of doing.... and the LA Times accusing others of pseudo-journalism something they practice daily.

[wita]

Nice going, you just took up all the bandwidth and more, that I was going to need to answer your question.

[zbigreddogz]

"I'm shocked, shocked that you have gambling in this establishment!"

"Your winnings sir!"

"Oh, thank you!"

[Lunatic Fringe]

Het, little Tommy Daschle!

I'll get you at recess!!!

[F.J. Mitchell]

He should have just mailed a tape of his lies and damn lies and let them play it over the PA system-no one could see him over the lectern anyway. Of course the odor of his particular brand of BS extract is un-deniably destinct.

[The Wizard]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

[newgeezer]

I'm reminded of all the times Tom "Dungheap" Harkin has dared to call anyone else "partisan."

[Havoc]

The guy spraypainting his name on walls and throwing rocks through windows is shouting about the evils of vandalism...

[Digger]

Proves to me that the left is losing this battle. Now only if the right would stick it to them but that wouldn't go over with the elites, would it?

[babaloo999]

Here's the version posted earlier:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1132842/posts

[Psycho_Bunny]

Wow.....this is just as funny as Esteemed journalist lectures on ethics (L.A. TIMES EDITOR WARNS- Rise of 'Pseudo-Journalism')

We need a Pot/Kettle PING list.....

[Bernard Marx]

This is right out of the Gramsci-Marx playbook:

Accuse your opponent of doing what you do yourself.

[wita]

Tom Daschle alias tommy two tongues, card carrying member of the most dangerous group of men and women on the face of the earth, the only organization capable of bringing a once great Republic to its knees and rendering it helpless before the mighty 60 vote rule, or how 41 men and women can control the country. Not exactly what the founding fathers had in mind is it tommy, but then what the hell do you care you fountain of falsehood.

[muleskinner]

Pot/kettle/black

[rod1]

I think he just gave us the real campagne theme that most befits his persona.

Daschele--the meanest Senator in DC. First to attack, first to whine when it fails, first to criticise anyone else for causing a fight he started and never yet to discover dignity or graciousness. Regardles of your politics, SD --don't let this the nation think this is status quo in SD.

[keysguy]

"tommy two tounges"-priceless

[Ron in Acreage]

Time to return this loser to the private sector.

Has he ever had a private sector job?

[WideGlide]

Just click the heels of the Witch's red slippers together 3 times and say "there's no place like home; There's no place like home; There's no place like home" and you'll wake up in Kansas Tommy. You've had the power all along.