Posted on 11/30/2004 8:05:31 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
In one of his first moves as top Democrat in the Senate, incoming Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is consolidating staff operations under his control while establishing a press operation that is planning more aggressive attacks on Republicans.
The new Democratic leader is reestablishing authority over a variety of Democratic leadership organizations — the Democratic Policy Committee (DPC), the Democratic Steering Committee, and the Democratic Communications Committee — all of which are headed by other Democratic senators. Some staff from these groups could end up being folded into a new Democratic “war room” being assembled to counter the GOP’s political message.
At the same time, Reid — who has been known in the Senate mostly as an inside player — still is planning to allow other Senate Democrats to help deliver the party’s message on television and in other forums. Aides mention incoming Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) as those likely to carry some of the load.
Reid soon will begin elevating his own public role by delivering weekly press conferences with television coverage at the start of the new Congress.
But Reid is not currently planning to resume press “dugouts” for print reporters — a historic practice of Senate leaders going back generations — which outgoing Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) essentially discontinued during his tough reelection campaign. One leadership aide, referring to the dugouts, said, “It was a Daschle deal.”
Reid’s efforts began with the announced hiring of Jim Manley, press secretary for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), to serve as staff director for a press war room operation geared toward the entire Democratic Caucus. Phil Singer, a former press secretary to Schumer will serve as communications director. Both are known to being among the most effective and aggressive press secretaries on Capitol Hill.
Tessa Hafen, Reid’s press secretary, will handle Nevada and regional media queries, reflecting Reid’s desire to reach out to a variety of different media outlets.
Reid “understands we’ve had a problem communicating our position to the American people, and he’s tired of having us defined by the other side,” said David DiMartino, press secretary to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).
Reid plans to have as many as 15 staffers to join the communications center. As many as five of them might be new hires, a reflection of the emphasis Reid is placing on developing a unified message.
“The caucus sees the need to be more disciplined,” said one Senate Democratic aide. “Hopefully they will be.”
Leadership aides did not say precisely from where the funding to pay staff salaries would come. But indications were that Reid would reorganize some existing staff slots. Other leadership aides, such as DPC staff, come under the overall leadership budget.
A Senate leadership aide said that several leadership committees were “reconfiguring,” adding, “Through that we’ll be able to put more resources into communications.”
Implicit in some of the calls for a more “aggressive” press operation is a criticism of Daschle’s organization.
“I don’t think there’s a perception that there was necessarily anything wrong with the way Daschle was doing it,” said one Senate Democratic aide. “There was a perception that we are up against a very, very aggressive message operation that in fact puts message above all else and in fact is willing to say things that aren’t true in support of their political goals. That requires a ramping up of our effort to get accurate info out there.”
Some Democratic aides say Daschle’s organization became too focused on home-state concerns as Daschle’s own Senate seat became increasingly in peril.
“The way Daschle press shop was set up, it was too slow,” said one Democratic press secretary. “It was too narrow. They just didn’t do enough for other members. The message always just seemed to be Daschle’s message — as opposed to the message of the party.”
One Senate Democratic aide said Daschle’s press shop became more disciplined and active with the arrivals of communications director Todd Webster and policy adviser Phil Schiliro. But, “The perception is it probably all happened a little late,” said the aide.
An aide close to Daschle declined to provide a comment on suggestions that Daschle’s press aides could have communicated the Democratic message more effectively.
Over the last year, Daschle’s staff focused on building and coordinating a Democratic message between the House and Senate, and between various Senate Democratic offices, many of which failed to agree on policy and tactics. One Democratic Senate aide pointed to passage of the controversial prescription drug law — an issue the aide said the GOP had “stolen.”
“If the caucus had stuck together in opposition to the Republican plan, it wouldn’t — shouldn’t — have happened,” said the aide.
Senate Democrats have several leadership posts, each of which carries staff with it.
Clinton was appointed by Daschle and then Reid to head the Steering Committee.
Reid reappointed Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who was close to Daschle, to head the DPC. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) was elected caucus secretary.
Reid plans to put his communications staff in the Capitol office space where Daschle’s press shop worked, as well as in a separate 3rd floor Capitol office. That space once was used by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), then by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and most recently by other Daschle staff members.
For now, Reid plans to discontinue the practice of giving dugouts, when previous leaders have taken questions from the press on a number of policy and political issues without TV cameras present.
Daschle has expressed regret for getting away from the practice during the last year as his campaign heated up. At one point during his Senate race, Daschle had TV ads run against him based on a clip from a dugout session where he had claimed to be a D.C. resident. The ads attempted to paint Daschle as a Washington insider.
But Senate historian Richard Baker said the Senate dugouts were not a Daschle phenomenon. “It certainly goes back to the mid-20th century and earlier,” he said.
But he can be voted out the same way.
I never thought ANYONE could be duller than Daschle, but Reid's acceptance speech made Tommy look like Schwarzenegger.
Yeah, that's the problem! Americans are saturated with liberal garbage from the time they wake up until Morpheus carries them to sleep, and these fools still think "they aren't getting their message out."
This is going to get good.
It is amazing. Accurate info from Dems?
Still this guy has declared open hostilities. War room and all. I guess there will be work for the Freepers these next four years after all.
Idiots. They still don't get that the problem is that their "positions" don't resonate with America, not that they can't communicate them. Fer cryin' out loud, they had the entire national media humping for them. The problem was their message got out a little too loud and clear and the voters rejected it.
The dems are washed up. Too dumb to breath.
Thought this was about Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber.
I never liked Daschle, but I'd be the first to agree with
him, he's no Daschle.
Well said. Let's not try to help them by offering them advice.
The Republicans have at least a 2-year window of opportunity to get some real work done.
Every two years the same crap! Every four years they just say it louder. I am pleased to know that these living brain-donors will never learn. Good Lord I'm glad I never belonged to this idiotic party.
Sounds like the same old obstructionism to me, with perhaps a little more shrillness.
It all boils down to: "How can we fool them today?"
"No Daschle?"
Sounds to me like he's exactly like Daschle.
Harry Reid is nothing but an agent for the special interests that run the Democratic party. He is not one of the people to watch. The people to watch are the red-state RATS who are up next year, plus the RINOs. Everything else is trivial.
This is good news for our side..........including Reid, there's not a likable one in the bunch.
The donks still don't understand.
He may not be a Daschle, but he's certainly a Clymer.
"Every two years the same crap! Every four years they just say it louder."
Exactly. New wrapping paper doesn't change the gift.
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