Tom Daschle: Clintons Are "Very Combative"
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CBSNews.com: What baggage, in particular, are you referring to that you think would be an impediment to Senator Clinton becoming as effective a president?
Tom Daschle: Well, without enumerating all the things that occurred in the 90's, all of us--Democrats and Republicans--were at each other's throats a lot. And that combativeness is something that goes on today.
I mean, the Clintons are a very, very combative couple. And they understand that that's their best tactic, their approach. They were very combative before the South Carolina primary and, I think, paid a price for it. They have now since become less combative. But that is how they've learned to survive, is to be that combative, to be that confrontational.
What Barack is saying is, "I don't want to take that style and approach." I don't want to have to go back to the days when we were at each others throats and attempted to try to resolve things through force rather than through reconciliation and a real effort at reaching out to the other side to find common ground.
CBSNews.com: If you assume Senator Obama becomes the nominee, do you worry that Senator McCain can say to people, “Imagine a foreign policy crisis. A terrorist has just struck the United States. Who do you want to be sitting in that chair? Somebody with zero foreign policy experience? Or somebody with 25 years of foreign policy experience?”
Tom Daschle: Well, the American people have faced that question many times in the past. They faced it with Ronald Reagan. They faced it with Bill Clinton. And they'll continue to face it. And I think what the American people are looking for is not a wealth of Washington experience. Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld had a wealth of experience. Look what the mess is that they created over these many years that they've been in public life.
We don't want to see that mess again. What the American people want is good judgment. They want to be able to say, "Look, we want somebody who's smart, who's good about bringing in a circle of people that are probably independents, Republicans and Democrats, who can help him work through these decisions."
But somebody with the judgment and the understanding of these issues that maybe doesn't relate to all the Washington experience, but just the good common sense that comes with the kind of experience Barack represents.
CBSNews.com: Does Senator Obama completely rule out serving as Senator Clinton's running mate?
Tom Daschle: You know, I haven't really talked to him about that. I would assume that he has. But I think he'd much prefer to look at Hillary Clinton as one of the people on his short list. And he's said that publicly. And I'm sure he holds that view today.
CBSNews.com: Do you rule out serving as Senator Obama's running mate?
Tom Daschle: For the most part. I don't expect to be asked. I think he has a wealth of good talent that he can choose from. And I don't think I'm going to be on anybody's short list. But I'm mainly interested in making sure that he’s the next president and will do anything I can to help.
Tom Daschle served three terms in the United States Senate and became majority leader when James Jeffords switched parties in 2001. He was first elected Democratic leader in 1994. In the history of the Senate, only Lyndon Johnson served fewer years before being elected to lead his party. Daschle's re-election defeat in 2004 resulted in the first ousting of a Senate party leader since 1952 when Arizona Senator Ernest McFarland lost his seat to Barry Goldwater. Before the Senate, Daschle served eight years in the House of Representatives, five years as a Senate aide, and three years as an intelligence officer in the Air Force. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University and is married with three children. Daschle endorsed Senator Obama in February 2007 and has been a key adviser to his campaign. He is currently a Special Policy Advisor at the law firm Alston & Bird LLP, visiting professor at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
By Brian Goldsmith
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See all 73 CommentsBased on this article Obama is implying that the super delgates should vote for whoever wins that state. It seems to me then he is saying that Ted Kennedy and John Kerry should cast their votes as super delegates for Hillary and not for Obama.
Also, did anyone else catch David Schuster last night on MSNBC? He asked if Hillary and Bill were "pimping out" Chelsea on the campaign trail. That seems a pretty poor choice of words but heck should I have expected any different from the sexists at MSNBC (Olbermann and Abrams excluded).
I''m surprised that Daschle didn''t simply state that Barack has already stated in his book, "Audacity of Hope" just how he would handle it. Obama wrote, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."
Weeks ago I thought it was very clear that CNN supports Hillary Clinton based on the commentary I heard. Now CBS looks like Hillary supporters as well.
CBS please stop the bias.
And this is Hillary''s fault???? Good Gawd...what a buffoon.
To be combative is to be strong, and fight for what needs to be done. That''s what we''re going to have to have in the White House to fix this country.
"I ceased to advertise my mother''''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites" "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''''t speak to my own. It was into my father''''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself." "That hate hadn''''t gone away," he wrote, blaming "white people %u2014 some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives."
The Washington press corps has been anointing Hillary for 2 years now. They have to try to help her along because if she goes down these "experts" look like fools. The conventional wisdom will defend itself to the end.
Rowdy,
There''s enough blame to go around for the politics of personal destruction and I don''t think the Clintons deserve the lion''s share of the blame. However, what''s relevant now isn''t who was to blame for the 90s but who will make the next 8 years less divisive and partison.
"If you''re nt part of the solution you''re part of the problem."-Eldridge Cleaver,Soul On Ice.
Isn''t it arrogant to assume that because your name is Clinton that you would automatically be annointed as the Democratic nominee? Isn''t it arrogant to think that because your are a former President, the party should heed your every word. When did the Democratic Party become the Clinton Party? What''s going to tear the party apart is when the Clintons put pressure on the spineless Chair of the Party to allow Florida and Michigan delegates to be seated at the convention, so Hillary can get the nomination. Then you will see a civil war within the Party. I wonder will the Clinton''s even care as long as Hillary is the nominee.
with all my respect, from a Native American Woman supportor.
We are the Ones We''''ve Been Waiting For
"August was the anniversary month for the 87th year of passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The right to express your opinions by electing sound leaders is one of the easiest steps you can take to lead a political life. But, your involvement shouldn''''t stop there. The next step has to be leadership, whether that means leading your PTA, City Council, local alumni chapter, a board of directors, or congressional district. Women are more likely to become politically engaged when they see women like them in leadership positions. We are the ones we''''ve been waiting for! (Hopi Nation teaching)
Our time is now! Step forth%u2014allow your great talents gifts and strengths be experienced in the world!
What do you have to loose? You have everything to gain!!!
What is up with our young people? Are they trying to hard to prove their diversity they are making a poor decision.
Americans, please stop looking at the Bill Clinton administration and make your decision based on Hillary''s qualifications.
The black vote going almost strictly to Obama, isn''t that RACISM?
Americans, please refer to your American history. After the Civil War, the slaves were offered a choice, remigrate back to Africa at our government''s expense or stay here and receive monetary compensation. Where do you think the country Liberia, in Africa came from?
I''ll vote for the woman with her sleeves rolled up.
Here is my question to Obama. If we are that bad why don''t you go to Africa to live, if it is so great?
Well said!
And yet there was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messianism %u2014 "We are the ones we''ve been waiting for" %u2014 of the Super Tuesday speech and the recent turn of the Obama campaign. "This time can be different because this campaign for the presidency of the United States of America is different. It''s different not because of me. It''s different because of you." That is not just maddeningly vague but also disingenuous: the campaign is entirely about Obama and his ability to inspire. Rather than focusing on any specific issue or cause %u2014 other than an amorphous desire for change %u2014 the message is becoming dangerously self-referential. The Obama campaign all too often is about how wonderful the Obama campaign is.
I dont have 100 years for the politicians to get it figured out. I want action now !!!! I want all Republicans out. I dont want us to work with them. they have proven they are completely incompetent.
I want help..real dollars help and lots of lots and lots of it for the poor. I dont want one more single dime going to the rich.
Stop whining about the Clintons. Last time I checked they did one helluva job for this country. Things were good. People had jobs and hope.
Let''s do it.
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961
a-human-right.com
Especially when obama and michelle are making it all about them, instead of the country; whiny spoiled brats, here''s Michelle in her own words about supporting the Dem nominee whomever that may be:
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/2/4/124123/6787
The next couple of weeks might be rough on Hillary, but it''s expected with the demographics (read large number of african americans) involved, but she''s still going to win the Primary.
Bank on it...notice the media hasn''t hyped her raising 6.4 million in 30 hours, when Obama''s 7.2 million was all over the headlines...they only emphasize Hillary''s negatives...
Question yourself why the media is pushing so hard for Obama?
Didn''t we just deal with 7 years of the media covering for Bush?
I''m going in the OPPOSITE direction.
Voters don''t want to hear from has beens and old worn out self appointed experts so back off and let the voters decide?
Just let the candidates talk and you pundents sit back and quit causing divide! This is a prime example of a has been compounding the divide facing Democrats by have nothing good to say about a Democratic candidate!
Tom Daschle, if you want to talk politics, then please talk about your failure to the Democratic Party in losing your Senate seat and stop talking negatively about candidates trying to do something for the country PLEASE!
AS a feminist and a Women''s Studies full Professor at a major public college (to be named) I am not surprised at the "good old boys" gang and tag teaming our poor Ms. Candidate. As I predicted some time ago, the "bus drivers" will NEVER allow one of the PASSENGERS to take control of the bus. In this case, Feminists need to rally, as Ms. H. is a vote for ourselves. We can not vote for ANY MAN, no matter how torn we are by race concerns. Women are more historically represssed/enslaved/dominated/detailed/renagerated/ vs. any race, as women never had an "equal" rights law passed and are still second class citizens. In many states for example, women are expected by law to earn an income after 5 years of support from a "husband" even if the woman devotes her time to social activists causes !! I for one am offended.
Me and my students are canvasing door to door to speak to women voters, to inform/educate/and liberate them, and for many have encouraged divorce as the first step toward freedom, once we define the dominance we see. Likewise, we must support by voting, for this great woman, Hillary, to lead us out of bondage.
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp
www.A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com
God I hate a cry baby, sounds just like the right wing radio talk show hosts always crying and blabering about nothing.
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Posted by TRueprogress at 02:53 PM : Feb 08, 2008
What a bunch of junk. I am glad I am not going to the school you are going to be teaching at. Its obvious that you are a sexist and you judge by gender not ability. Voting for Hillary is voting for a liar whose sole goal is political power.
Feminists need to rally, as "Ms. H." is a vote for
ourselves
Posted by TRueprogress at 02:53 PM : Feb 08, 2008
Did I miss something? Did Hillary get rid of Bill?
I''ve been confused since she drop the "Rodman" from her name now that she has started her Presidential run.
If Daschle was defending Hillary against attacks by Obama you would be praising him as the victim of a vast right wing conspiracy.
commonsence,
Your speculation about JFK applies directly to mattress Bill.
beader69,
A sure sign that someone is in a cult is when they believe in a myth not supported by the facts...like Hillary has experience.
If you haven''t heard women saying they plan on voting for hillary simply because she''s a woman i direct you to the comments of one trueprogress.
Funny how Hillary had majority black support until SHE started playing the race card!
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Posted by AJMarine1 at 03:42 PM : Feb 08, 2008
Yeah ain''t it amazing she changes even her own name to insure her election. Talk about a chameleon
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 03:47 PM : Feb 08, 2008
I think the Rev. Al & Jesse drop the "Reverend" from their names when they run for office also.
Name one Republican woman that you would vote for.
Posted by antoniof123 at 03:04 PM : Feb 08, 2008
+ report abuse
My impression of tom daschle was of a well spoken intelligent man and not a sour grapes individual. He lost reeclection by maybe 10000 votes. He is an honorable person unlike the clintons
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Posted by AJMarine1 at 03:50 PM : Feb 08, 2008
It sort of bothers me that either call themselves reverend since neither acts in the manner of an honorable person particulary Sharpton
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 04:02 PM : Feb 08, 2008
I think it is funny that Jesse was having an affair while he was counseling Bill about Monica.
I lost all respect for Al after the Tawana Brawley thing.
What Al had to say about it during an interveiw.
WALLACE: If I may, sir %u2014 if I may ask the question, a grand jury says it was a hoax. A jury found you guilty of defamation and made you pay one of the white officers $87,000.
Did you ever apologize to any of them for your comments?
SHARPTON: May I answer the question?
WALLACE: If you answer the question about Tawana Brawley, sure.
SHARPTON: I''m answering the question, yes. Just like I have done in other cases where juries find in criminal cases %u2014 there''s no guilt in a civil case %u2014 and did not apologize and come to find out we were right.
I believed I was right on Ms. Brawley. We paid the penalty, just as I felt Mr. Imus should pay the penalty. I did not apologize for something that I believed were right.
I believed many Americans disagreed with the jury in O.J. Simpson. Do they have to apologize and say they were racist because they believed O.J. Simpson was guilty and the jury said he was not, or Michael Jackson?
I mean, all of us have the right to disagrees with juries. If people feel that you did it wrongly, they have a right to pursue an action, and you should stay and stand up and pay the penalty of that. I did. And so should others, including, in this case, Mr. Imus.
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