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Poor
Little Tommy!
Nobody Likes Me
Sandra
Hartle
11/20/2002
When
I am working on this website I keep my television tuned to the news
station on Cable (for me Satellite) news stations primarily Fox News.
As I was working away I suddenly became aware of the voice of Senate
Majority Leader Tom Daschle who was blasting Rush Limbaugh, for his
"shrill" message to the general public (Democrats listen
also according to Daschle) Rush Limbaugh for those who don't
know is a talk radio and religious conservative who lets his
political views be known both on his nationally syndicated talk radio
show, and also on his website where you can find information on his
show should you not be able to listen in during the day.
Today
in a rambling broadside in which he compared them to foreign Islamic
terrorists and said he felt his life has been endangered by their
criticism. He is blaming conservatives for the threats on his
life during the anthrax attack and other threats most known public
figures receive on a regular basis. (Step 1, in trying to
silence talk radio?)
"I
think we're in a different place because of the way politics has
become such entertainment. We were just talking with some experts a
couple of days ago about how if we're going to try to break through as
Democrats, we have to have the same edge that Republicans do,"
said Daschle in a press availability this morning.
"You
know, Rush Limbaugh and all of the Rush Limbaugh wannabes have a very
shrill edge, and that's entertainment. We were told that even people
who don't agree with them listen because they – because they're
entertaining. And, you know, but what happens when Rush Limbaugh
attacks those of us in public life is that people aren't satisfied
just to listen, they want to act because they get emotionally
invested. And so, you know, the threats to those of us in public life
go up dramatically and – on our families and on us in a way that's
very disconcerting. I don't think it's appropriate for me to dwell on
that or to even go beyond that. But I will say that it has created a
far different dimension. When I was accused of being an
obstructionist, there was a corresponding and very significant
increase in the number of issues that my family and I had to deal
with. And I worry about that. If entertainment becomes so much a part
of politics, and if that entertainment drives an emotional movement in
this country among some people who don't know the difference between
entertainment and politics and who are then so energized to go out and
hurt somebody, that troubles me about where politics in America is
going."
When
asked if he thought there was a direct link between the talk radio
criticism and the threats to his personal security, he answered:
"I do. Oh, absolutely."
"You
know, we see it in foreign countries, and we think, 'Well, my God, how
can this religious fundamentalism become so violent?'" said
Daschle. "Well, it's that same shrill rhetoric, it's that same
shrill power that motivates. You know, somebody says something, and
then it becomes a little more shrill the next time, and then more
shrill the next time, and pretty soon it's a foment that becomes
physical in addition to just verbal. And that's happening in this
country. And I worry about where, over the course of the next decade,
this is all going to go."
When
asked again if he believed there was a direct tie between the critics
and increased physical violence, Daschle responded: "Right. Well,
fortunately – and let's just pray, and I mean pray, that it doesn't
get to that point. But certainly in terms of threats, I think that
there's no question – I don't know what they were in the '60s. All I
know is that in the course of my time in public life, it has gone up
exponentially."
Is
the media causing this problem?
"No,
I'm saying that the media plays a role in creating this foment, in
creating this – this extraordinary emotional fervor that is
sometimes not – not contained and, therefore, then leads to other
– other actions that are outside the control of anybody in the media
or anybody in politics," explained Daschle.
Who
exactly in the media is responsible?
"The
talk shows." said Daschle.
Like
Rush Limbaugh?
"Right,"
said Daschle.
When
Limbaugh was asked for his reaction, he replied:
"Perhaps Daschle is trying to capitalize on my name
recognition!"
"It
appears the Democrats just got the results of their internal exit
polling data back and now understand why they lost the election,"
he said on the air today. "Isn't it interesting that we just
heard about this (threats of violence)? Is this not exactly what they
tried right after the Oklahoma City bombing? The pattern here is just
incredible to behold."
Limbaugh
and talk radio were blamed by President Clinton for creating a climate
of "hate" following the devastating attack on the Alfred P.
Murrah Building in 1996.
"What
does this prove?" asked Limbaugh. "It shows what they were
trying to do with campaign finance reform laws. They don't want to be
criticized. They don't want to be criticized 60 days before an
election. They don't want to be criticized 30 days before an election.
They don't want to be criticized any time."
Brit
Hume interviewed someone regarding this statement who took up
Daschle's defense stating he has been under a lot of stress.
In
addition, to the above onslaught against talk radio hosts in
general and Limbaugh in particular, Daschle pointed the finger at
republicans for failure to pass over 50 bills still sitting on his
desk as the transfer of power took place today, appearing with a large
chart outlining all the legislation that was not passed.
What he failed to say was it was never presented to the Senate for
debate let alone a vote after being passed by the House of
Representatives. So if the Senate never saw these bills,
how is it he can blame republicans for their failure to pass?
New
Senate Majority Lott, gave Daschle a grade on his performance as
senate majority leader. F from top to bottom with a general
grade of failure. When asked about Daschle's comments regarding
conservative voices he replied: "Well he just lost his
position as senate majority leader, it is not a fun place to be, I
know I went through it, but one must learn to accept these things with
grace."
Sandra Hartle
Email: sandrahartle@juntosociety.com
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