Posted on 09/25/2002 2:52:46 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle demanded an apology on Wednesday from U.S. President George W. Bush for saying the Democratic-led Senate "is not interested in the security of the American people," arguing that this "outrageous" remark politicized a possible war with Iraq.
Mr. Daschle's Democratic colleagues, many of whom have complained that they were being stampeded by Mr. Bush into approving the use of force against Iraq, gathered on the Senate floor during the speech and reached out to shake his hand afterward.
"We ought not to politicize this war. We ought not to politicize the rhetoric about life and death," Mr. Daschle said in his speech, his voice thick with emotion.
Mr. Bush on Monday commented on a bill to establish a department of Homeland Security in response to last year's Sept. 11 attacks that has stalled in the Senate in a dispute over labor rights in the proposed department.
"The House responded, but the Senate is more interested in special interests in Washington and not interested in the security of the American people," Mr. Bush said on Monday.
Breaking the recent veneer of bipartisanship over Iraq, Mr. Daschle demanded an apology from Mr. Bush to the American people and Senate Democrats.
"You tell those who fought in Vietnam and in World War Two they're not interested in the security of the American people," Mr. Daschle said of the numerous Senate Democrats who are war veterans. "That is outrageous, outrageous."
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican, said in a later floor speech that he was "saddened by the tone and tenor" of Mr. Daschle's comments, which he called "way over the top, way too shrill."
"The accusations levied against the President of the United States today cannot stand. This is not about unity. That's the worst kind of division," Mr. Lott said.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Mr. Daschle based his accusations on newspaper accounts using segments of Mr. Bush's comments that he said were taken out of context.
"Now is a time for everybody concerned to take a deep breath, to stop finger-pointing, and to work well together to protect our national security and our homeland defense," Mr. Fleischer said.
Mr. Bush's jab at Democrats came as congressional leaders were negotiating with the White House over a resolution that the President wants to give him a free hand to strike Iraq, which he says threatens the United States and its allies with weapons of mass destruction.
A number of Democrats said the administration has not shown that Iraq poses an immediate threat. They questioned the timing of the push for military action, which has overshadowed the stumbling economy as an issue in the weeks leading up to Nov. 5 elections that will decide what party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"This war strategy seems to have been hatched by a political strategist intent on winning the mid-term election at any cost," said Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat who has been an outspoken opponent of Mr. Bush's Iraq policy.
"I've been in this Congress 50 years. I've never seen a president of the United States or a vice-president of the United States stoop to such a low level," Mr. Byrd said on the Senate floor, following Mr. Daschle.
House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat, said he called White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card after Mr. Daschle's speech, asking that "we double and redouble our efforts on both sides to pull these issues out of politics."
Mr. Gephardt said he agreed with Mr. Daschle's statements.
"There is an implied if not a direct effort to pull these issues into the political realm," Mr. Gephardt said of the Iraq threat and homeland security.
Mr. Gephardt and Mr. Daschle, both possible presidential candidates in 2004, have been walking a tightrope on the Iraq issue with Democrats fractured over whether to back Mr. Bush, or to insist that the United States act in concert with the United Nations to enforce UN requirements that Iraq disarm.
Mr. Gephardt has backed Mr. Bush's call to oust Saddam Hussein. After Mr. Bush addressed the United Nations on the issue earlier this month, Mr. Daschle was generally supportive and said Congress should move to approve the war-powers resolution.
"I'm still hopeful we can produce a compromise that will accommodate bipartisan support," Mr. Daschle said of the resolution. "But as I said on the floor, now I am very concerned the politicization of this issue undermines our effort to do that job right," he told reporters.
PAHLEEZE, why don't YOU pass the appropriations bill that's been gathering dust on YOUR desk for months now. You tried to box GW Bush in, but HE called your bluff. He asked YOU to take the vote NOW.....and you were SHAMED!! Now, you have egg on your face & you don't like it. TOUGH. You & the rest of the RATS are the one's trying to politicize this. YOU LOSE.
PAHLEEZE, why don't YOU pass the appropriations bill that's been gathering dust on YOUR desk for months now. You tried to box GW Bush in, but HE called your bluff. He asked YOU to take the vote NOW.....and you were SHAMED!! Now, you have egg on your face & you don't like it. TOUGH. You & the rest of the RATS are the one's trying to politicize this. YOU LOSE.
This is great entertainment. Very funny.
Well duh. This is why it is called politics and we have two major political parties and some others on the side.
You guys fill in the next sentence....
You would think that after 50 years -- West Virginians would call this sorry bastard home for an earned dismissal. Term Limits - a NEEDED change!
Was the poor old KKK fart asleep for the 8 years that Billy Jeff was in the White House?
Semper Fi
Smmmmmirk!
Daschle? A war hero? What the hell was he? A footstool under some desk?
Go do your job. Pass a homeland security bill... pass a budget---including the money our military needs to fight this war---and release all your judicial nominee hostages for a full Senate vote.
If you didn't want to talk about a war with Iraq before the election----you should not have insisted that the President take his case to the UN and Congress.
You're an idiot, Mr. Daschle, and should resign your position if you haven't learned by now to be careful what you ask for....because you just might get it. ---- And, in this case involving Iraq...you did.
Now, be a man----apologize to the President and the American people for giving aid and comfort to our mortal enemies.
It is time, time for him to go. This is just a preposterous statement. Where was he during the 8-year clinton limbo? There is no one, no one, who stooped lower. With the exception of gore, who is slithering further under the bar with every speech he delivers. Byrd needs to get the hell out. He is an embarassment.
Daschle shot himself in the foot; Byrd couldn't hit his foot even if he used Janet Reno as a steadying influence. Pigs ....pigs....pigs....!!
*SNoRT!*
So, Senator KKK, where were you during the eight years of the Clinton mal-Administration? Totally asleep? Does anybody need to point out the many actual crimes of Bill and Hillary Clinton?
Mr Dashele has repeatedly tried to criticize and try to gain political points by criticizing only to have to retract when public reacted negatively to his comments. But i geuss thats not politicizing anything ! right !
It seems that Bush just told the truth about many democrats. They are more interested in adding unions dues (therefore more union $$$$$ for them) then they are interested in a secure nation. God get'um President Bush! I'll keep him in my prayers!
Republicans better win 3 seats to get to 52 other wise Chafee and/or mccain will switch party's or become "independents".
They have not lead, we will.
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