Remember how Daschle touted his "pro-choice" credentials to NARAL and vowed to stop "anti-choice forces" in the country but now, during his re-election bid, his Orwellian side took over and he won't say he's "pro-choice"? There's another story in today's Rapid City Journal about this matter discussing a new videotape that has emerged. The story also notes that Daschle was "terse and impatient" with another Journal reporter last week. Word has gotten around that Daschle came completely unglued when the reporter had the temerity to, you know, actually ask him about a high-profile political question. By the way, where's the Argus Leader on Daschle's meltdown, the videotape, the old letters from 1986 and 1978? Anyway, here are some excerpts from today's Journal story:
Democratic Sen.Tom Daschle and Republican challenger John Thune continued to battle Saturday over whether "pro-choice" accurately describes Daschle's position on abortion.Thune's Senate campaign late Friday distributed a videotape of Daschle telling California Democrats in February 2002: "We will not surrender sacred ground, and that includes a woman's constitutional right to choose."
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Over the past two weeks, abortion foes supporting Thune have run ads citing a fund-raising letter Daschle signed two years ago for the National Abortion Rights Action League, or NARAL. In the letter, Daschle said he had "stood up for a woman's right to choose." (The letter raised money for Democratic candidates for Senate.)
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The tone of Daschle's written response to Thune was measured, but last week, Daschle was terse and impatient with a Rapid City Journal reporter who pressed him on the "pro-choice" label.
Three days later, during a conference call with South Dakota reporters, Daschle responded sternly to a question on whether the label was fair. "It would be fair to call me anti-abortion," Daschle said. "I just don't believe we ought to send young women or doctors to prison."
Thune said Saturday, "Don't believe what he says; believe what he does."
Thune cited the NARAL letter and the videotape, but he also cited Daschle votes in the Senate in support of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision paving the way for legal abortions.
"The Supreme Court has ruled on this issue," Daschle responded. "I respect the Court's decision."
Thune, however, also said Daschle cast other votes favoring abortion — including votes against banning partial-birth abortions, against parental notification when minors seek abortions and in favor of federal funding for abortions.
The Daschle-going-ballistic-on-reporter matter was the topic of a number of emails I received this week. The bigger question is why? In part because, I think, Daschle is used to softballs and having reporters reprint his press releases. Daschle: "Don't you know the rule? I'm above criticism! If you need examples to follow, see the Argus Leader." Another reason is because Daschle's whole campaign depends upon his ability to hide his double life, i.e. telling rich California liberals about how he thinks the "right to choose" is "sacred ground" but telling people in South Dakota he's against abortion and refusing to say he's "pro-choice," even though he has sent fundraising letters for NARAL touting his "pro-choice leadership" in the US Senate.
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