New Ad

The Chamber of Commerce has started a new ad criticizing Senator Daschle for blocking tort reform in the US Senate. The Argus story gives some details, but what is not mentioned is that the biggest opponent of tort reform is the trial lawyer lobby which also happens to be Daschle's BIGGEST DONOR GROUP. See "Tom Daschle: A Strong Voice for Trial Lawyers." On the new Chamber of Commerce ad, Daschle said "We've got outside attack groups that do nothing but spoil the political process." Um, Daschle has already made a mockery of the democratic process by refusing to participate in the dozens of debates requested by South Dakota organizations. I might ad that Daschle skipped a debate last week so he could attend, you guessed it, a secret fundraiser held by trial lawyers in Mississippi. See "A Lot of Trial Lawyers Supporting Tom Daschle." I might add that I've been critical of the Argus Leader for not delving into the details of the tort reform issue for a long time and note Daschle's special award from the trial lawyer lobby:

Daschle will accept an award from the NY Trial Lawyers Assn. at a 4/29 dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria. "He is being honored for his work in opposing tort reform. Political strategist James Carville will serve as the keynote speaker" (Crains' Insider, 4/28).

Since he was at the Waldorf-Astoria anyway, I bet Daschle made a swing through the Hamptons.