Daschle's Michael Moore Problem

Here's a photo of Daschle arriving at the Michael Moore premiere last week in DC. Remember that he cancelled action in the Senate on the defense bill so he could attend. The irony is that when he got there and started watching the big anti-Bush blockbuster he had to sit through several scenes making fun of him for being such a weak opposition leader. Others have noted how much it hurts Daschle to be linked with the "wild eyed" wing of the party--see here and here. Despite Daschle's May protests about "meanness" in politics and his need to project a moderate image at home, he has dutifully sat on the sidelines as Michael Moore's distortions add up, during Al Gore's Nazi allusions and during fellow Senator Tim Johnson's "Taliban wing of the Republican Party" remark. Unfortunately, the Argus Leader has ignored the Thune campaign's statement on the Michael Moore film--even though they sent out a release, the Argus said Thune 'couldn't be reached for comment'! But the Argus at least reported that Daschle attended the premiere. The whole Moore episode underscores Daschle's dilemma: he is stridently liberal in Washington, but when he comes home he has to play up how much he supports the President and the war, which angers the Michael Moore/Howard Dean/Daily Kos base which wants to see Daschle replaced as leader. He's trying to be two different people. The left-wing base has figured it out and many want him replaced, but people in South Dakota, due to the screening and filtering of news by the Argus Leader, which is apparently intent on protecting Daschle's political viability, have yet to get the full story. Word is getting around, however.