Jan Ireland
Poor sad miserable failure Tom Daschle
By Jan Ireland
Not so long ago Tom Daschle took every opportunity to label President George Bush a "miserable failure." With big blue boards and little regard for accuracy Daschle framed a message that was always bad for George Bush.
Daschle is not doing well now in his fight for reelection. His carefully crafted conservative façade, camouflage for South Dakota, is crumbling as years of liberal votes and liberal positions catch up. He is hoping voters will forget his past. Obviously, he has.
Daschle's years of blocking the President's agenda at every turn have not stopped him from running a television ad showing him hugging the President and stating his strong support. So, Senator, were you lying then, or are you lying now?
Daschle has long counted on Native American votes. An early fundraising letter referred to "voter intimidation by Republican poll watchers" of Native Americans.
Even Lakota tribe member and publisher Tim Giago, who early on announced a third party run, is today suggesting that Native Americans have always voted Democrat and should continue to do so. Though Daschle reportedly asked Giago not to be a "Nader" in the race, and Roll Call reported that Giago originally said that "in 25 years, Daschle has done little to help Native Americans free themselves from government dependency," all is apparently forgiven.
Putting aside Giago's seeming turnabout, the view that all Native Americans support only Democrat candidates is dwindling.
Cowlitz tribe member Rod Van Mechelen argues that the conservative values of Native Americans are best represented by today's Republican Party. "...Democrats continue to advance policies that encourage dependency and poverty, and keep Indian country locked in the iron grip of false stereotypes...." (Duluth News Tribune)
And there are many items from Daschle's past that are finally filtering through to South Dakota voters.
Talon News reporter Jeff Gannon in April wrote that "...the future senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle collaborated with a political reporter to gain positive coverage." ("Documents Reveal Daschle Collaborated with Reporter" April 15, 2004)
In 2003, Daschle made a small stab at supporting a bill to protect gun owners from unfounded litigation. It was surprising until Democrat Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) remembered that there was a large NRA membership in South Dakota.
Daschle's campaign reacted negatively to Democrat Candidate Stephanie Herseth's position on gay marriage, though it was fully in line with a 1996 South Dakota State Legislature vote, and another vote in 2000 to recognize all marriages performed outside South Dakota except those of same sex couples. Herseth's position was in line with South Dakotan voters, and was the same as that of President George Bush, but Daschle was displeased. Ah yes, that was before Daschle's latest reelection dilemma.
Though Daschle has been able to downplay his extremely liberal views for a very long time, Republican challenger John Thune has edged above the 50% mark in an internal poll. Even the staunchest Democrat mindsets are beginning to reevaluate. And every voter has a personal stake in the war on terrorism.
In South Dakota, there is a poor sad miserable failure. It's the very liberal Tom Daschle. The people are finding that out, and they are saddened.
© Jan Ireland
Not so long ago Tom Daschle took every opportunity to label President George Bush a "miserable failure." With big blue boards and little regard for accuracy Daschle framed a message that was always bad for George Bush.
Daschle is not doing well now in his fight for reelection. His carefully crafted conservative façade, camouflage for South Dakota, is crumbling as years of liberal votes and liberal positions catch up. He is hoping voters will forget his past. Obviously, he has.
Daschle's years of blocking the President's agenda at every turn have not stopped him from running a television ad showing him hugging the President and stating his strong support. So, Senator, were you lying then, or are you lying now?
Daschle has long counted on Native American votes. An early fundraising letter referred to "voter intimidation by Republican poll watchers" of Native Americans.
Even Lakota tribe member and publisher Tim Giago, who early on announced a third party run, is today suggesting that Native Americans have always voted Democrat and should continue to do so. Though Daschle reportedly asked Giago not to be a "Nader" in the race, and Roll Call reported that Giago originally said that "in 25 years, Daschle has done little to help Native Americans free themselves from government dependency," all is apparently forgiven.
Putting aside Giago's seeming turnabout, the view that all Native Americans support only Democrat candidates is dwindling.
Cowlitz tribe member Rod Van Mechelen argues that the conservative values of Native Americans are best represented by today's Republican Party. "...Democrats continue to advance policies that encourage dependency and poverty, and keep Indian country locked in the iron grip of false stereotypes...." (Duluth News Tribune)
And there are many items from Daschle's past that are finally filtering through to South Dakota voters.
Talon News reporter Jeff Gannon in April wrote that "...the future senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle collaborated with a political reporter to gain positive coverage." ("Documents Reveal Daschle Collaborated with Reporter" April 15, 2004)
In 2003, Daschle made a small stab at supporting a bill to protect gun owners from unfounded litigation. It was surprising until Democrat Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) remembered that there was a large NRA membership in South Dakota.
Daschle's campaign reacted negatively to Democrat Candidate Stephanie Herseth's position on gay marriage, though it was fully in line with a 1996 South Dakota State Legislature vote, and another vote in 2000 to recognize all marriages performed outside South Dakota except those of same sex couples. Herseth's position was in line with South Dakotan voters, and was the same as that of President George Bush, but Daschle was displeased. Ah yes, that was before Daschle's latest reelection dilemma.
Though Daschle has been able to downplay his extremely liberal views for a very long time, Republican challenger John Thune has edged above the 50% mark in an internal poll. Even the staunchest Democrat mindsets are beginning to reevaluate. And every voter has a personal stake in the war on terrorism.
In South Dakota, there is a poor sad miserable failure. It's the very liberal Tom Daschle. The people are finding that out, and they are saddened.
© Jan Ireland
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