Statement of Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert Regarding Senator Daschle's Comments on the War

House of Representatives Email and Press Release | 18 March 2003 | Speaker Dennis Hastert

[PhiKapMom]

Speaker's Press Office

United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement of Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert

Regarding Senator Daschle's Comments on the War

"I'm saddened that the president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we are now forced into war," Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) told union workers yesterday.

(Washington D.C.) Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert responded to the above comments of Senator Daschle today:

"I was disappointed to see Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle's comments regarding the upcoming military action in Iraq. Those comments may not undermine the President as he leads us into war, and they may not give comfort to our adversaries, but they come mighty close.

"Senator Daschle has spent more time criticizing the leadership of President Bush than he has spent criticizing the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. Mr. Hussein is the reason we are at this moment in history. Saddam Hussein has a long history of brutality, a long track record of harboring weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorists and terrorist organizations. He has terrorized his neighbors and his own citizens. He has made a mockery out of the United Nations for twelve years now, and because the United Nations will not act to protect its integrity, we will act for it."

"Make no mistake, Saddam Hussein is to blame for this war. This war is only necessary because Saddam Hussein refuses to disarm, refuses to leave power, and refuses to stop his brutal ways. I would hope that at this time of crisis, we will all work together to support our troops and our President as we move forward to remove Saddam Hussein from power."

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[PhiKapMom]

Please contact Senator Tom Daschle's office and demand he resign as Minority Leader after this statement. Since the RATs went after Trent Lott for his statement that pales in comparision to Daschle, it is only fair that Daschle step down as Minority Leader within the next 48 hours!

Daschle, Thomas - (D - SD)
509 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2321
Web Form: daschle.senate.gov/webform.html

[PhiKapMom]

This sums up Daschle and his ilk in the Senate:

[Wait4Truth]

Good to hear from Denny Hastert. I was afraid Daschle was going to get a complete pass from the Republicans. Daschle's remarks were wrong, untrue and dispicable and I urge every single freeper to use the web form link that PhiKapMom has provided. Let Daschle hear from you. Not only does he not deserve a pass on this, but he needs to resign.

[freeperfromnj]

It certainly does give aid and comfort to the enemy. This morning on Fox News they were discussing that after President Bush's speech last night, Iraqi TV was showing footage of Moran's anti-semetic comments.

[PhiKapMom]

That's disgusting!

[Peach]

Done. And the GOP. And Drudge, Fox, CNN, Washington Post, USA Today, my two local papers, Daschle's e-mail. See for yourself what Daschle said in '98 when Clinton wanted to force regime change: In 1998, Clinton passed the Iraqi Liberation Act which called for regime change, but decided to bomb Serbia instead. Daschle supported that resolution by saying the following:

"Look, we have exhausted virtually our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so? ... The answer is, we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily."

And what is Daschle saying now? Now that we have a Republican in the White House who is finally going to do what Clinton should have done ten years ago? Daschle says that he’s “.. saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we’re now forced to go to war.” Wow, that’s quite a switch from his Clinton era pronouncements, isn’t it?

Daschle goes even further. He is getting on the bandwagon early to lay the blame squarely at the feet of George Bush for any fatalities American troops may suffer. Daschle doesn’t blame Hussein for failing to live up to his agreement to disarm. He blames Bush for responding to Hussein’s failures and threats.

[EternalVigilance]

A great statement from the Speaker.

Unlike the minority 'leader' in the Senate, Denny Hastert has class and decency.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Tom Daschle and Jacques Chirac: Two very small men who think alike.

[Mo1]

Senator Daschle has spent more time criticizing the leadership of President Bush than he has spent criticizing the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

THANK YOU Dennis Hastert .. FINALLY someone called Dashole to the mat

Why Do Democrats ALWAYS put put evil Dictators before the welfare of this country??

[Bahbah]

Thanks for the ping. Good comment by Hastert.

[nicmarlo]

Thanks for the ping, PhiKapMom!!!!

PING......SPEAKER HASTERT RESPONDS TO DASCHOLE COMMENTS

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(Please Freepmail me if you want on/off my Daschle ping.)

[My Favorite Headache]

Dasshole is nothing but a slimey bastard.

[Coop]

We all definitely need to take a few minutes and write some letters to the editor of local and regional newspapers.

[Dog Gone]

Daschle is playing to the base of the Democrat Party, the ones who hate America. It's all he has left.

[SwatTeam]

Thanks for the ping. It's about time someone in the Republican party called this mean spirited little man on some of his attacks. I'm listening to Rush now and he's giving old Dashole hell also.

[drypowder]

I really question the morals and the intelligence of the people in South Dakota who support this jackass. He's right up there with the two from Kalifornia.

[My Favorite Headache]

I wrote him with a piece of mind. I asked for him to resign from his position immediately and called him a disgrace who never has a positive word to offer...ever.

[Peach]

It bears repeating: In '98 Daschle said this about the just passed Iraqi Liberation Act and regime change in Iraq: "Look, we have exhausted virtually our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so? ... The answer is, we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily."

[countrydummy]

Done! Now check out the statment on his homepage. What a lying little s**t!

Daschle Calls For ‘Strong Support For Our Troops’

If the President decides that force is the only remaining option to disarm Saddam Hussein, Democrats and Republicans will be unanimous in our strong support for our troops and for ensuring that they have all the tools and resources needed to be successful.

If the United States does act militarily against Iraq, it is important that we continue diplomacy to pull together the broadest coalition to aid our efforts during and after the military conflict. America will need the support of our allies to rebuild Iraq once Saddam’s regime is toppled. We must begin working immediately with the United Nations and our friends around the world to delineate the principles that will guide our reconstruction efforts.

At the same time, it is also important that we remain committed to addressing our other pressing national security threats. As we prosecute the war on terrorism and confront the dangers posed by the development of weapons of mass destruction in North Korea and elsewhere, the cause of peace and stability in the world can only be served with the unwavering support of the community of nations.

[KeyWest]

Complain about him but leave him in. Both he and Clinton have done more to kill the dem party than any pubs. And the joy of it all is they have no idea they are doing it.