Posted on 09/06/2004 7:28:40 PM PDT by Libloather
400 turn out for Daschle, pancakes
Senator listens to personal stories ranging from Agent Orange to Medicare at Aberdeen school
Posted on Sun, Sep. 05, 2004
By Brooke Anderson
American News Writer
Tom Daschle's pancake breakfast Saturday morning in Aberdeen was more like a small town get-together than a campaign stop.
Everyone was dressed casually, including the Democratic senator. People called him by his first name and hugs - not handshakes - were the standard greeting of the morning.
The Senate minority leader and Aberdeen native is in the middle of a hotly contested battle against GOP challenger John Thune.
Despite the race's mounting intensity, Daschle seemed to be incredibly relaxed as he served pancakes and exchanged stories with about 400 of his hometown faithful at Simmons Middle School.
Reports indicate that Daschle has raised $11.8 million in his re-election bid while Thune has raised $6.1 million.
Daschle spoke only briefly before the crowd, adding that he was mainly "there to listen. That's more important than speaking."
For nearly two hours, the senator greeted people as they stood in line to talk to him.
Many identified themselves as Republicans, saying they stopped by to let Daschle know he had their support. Those from both parties thanked the senator for his support of the troops, and his efforts to lower the cost of health care.
Others approached him with personal concerns. One woman said her husband, a veteran, had been exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam and had received inadequate attention from Veterans Affairs for his pain. A young boy walked up to Daschle and complained about Bush's "No Child Left Behind" policies, and an elderly woman went into detail about her painful experience with the Medicare bureaucracy.
There were also many people who expressed sympathy for the senator because of what they called the negative campaign advertisements against him.
When asked by several people what he thought of the recent advertisements from the American Medical Association criticizing his stance on malpractice, the senator's response was, "If you're injured, you deserve to be compensated."
Probably the most common reason for those at the pancake breakfast to greet "Tom" was simply to say hello to their old friend. Many sent their greetings to his mother and asked about his family. And hugs were a must for most.
As an elderly couple waited to see Daschle, the wife looked incredibly eager. After her turn, her husband commented, "That's all she came for. The hug from Daschle."
Walking away, she winked and said, "They should all do that, right?"
And, if the Puffster wins reelection, they'll be the first ones he'll crap on...
wow, what a heart warming story. NOW someone give us the real story.
Daschle and pancakes.. sounds like a breakfast that would turn anyone's stomach.
Maybe they just showed up for the free pancakes.
Next they're having waffles for Kerry.
400 turn out for pancakes, Daschle
She has a hard time finding people shorter than she is - that why she's excited to see Daschle.
If you have trouble sleeping this week, go online and donate $25.00 to John Thune's campaign. It works wonders.
And he sprinkled majic fairy dust on all the complainers and their problems miraculously went away...and the world was right again. Pancakes from heaven?...no...it's just our good ol' pal Tom. What a great peice of hardball reporting.
Hope it's toast for Daschle on Nov. 2. And this sure is a hard-hitting article, isn't it? This sounds like a press release from Daschle's campaign.
This doesn't sound right. How many people live in South Dakota?
Please tell me this town has a population of over 50,000......btw...I bet Tiny Tom had a *short stack*..
Could they have teed this one up any better. Pancakes!!!??*** How funny.......Sometimes it's just too easy.
About 1000, I think....
The chief social worker of South Dakota visits his
caseload ... I mean, constituency.
If this guy is re-elected, I hope he laughs in their
faces ...
Must have been a short stack.
I wonder how many people would show up to see Dascle get pancaked?
Oh, that's right, Rosemary had them triplets last March! ;-)
Geez. This story reads like a bedtime story for Rats so they can have happy sleepy dreams in their footie pajamas. Barf alert ain't adequate.
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