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Posted on 09/17/2004 2:05:49 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
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Letter prompts calls for resignation
SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Some South Dakota veterans say they want Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Thune to call on his state party chairman to resign, claiming the language in a letter criticizing Sen. Tom Daschle accuses the Senate Democratic leader of treason.
In a reference to Daschle's time as Senate minority leader, the fund-raising letter from GOP chairman Randy Frederick says, "Daschle's three years as Complainer-in-chief have brought shame to the honor of his office, concern to our men and women in uniform and comfort to America's enemies."
"This is a disgraceful smear, and it's the worst kind of dirty politics," Jack Gill, a veteran, said Thursday.
"It's hard to even address that kind of a charge," Vietnam veteran and Daschle supporter Roger Andal said. "I don't know if Randy Frederick understands what he said in the letter."
Frederick implied Daschle committed treason by accusing the senator of comforting America's enemies, the veterans said. Part of the Constitution's definition of treason includes giving aid and comfort to the nation's enemies.
Frederick said Thursday that he stands by his quote.
"Let me make it perfectly clear; I am not questioning Daschle's patriotism," Frederick said in a release from the state Republican Party. "However, his poor judgment is certainly appalling. He continues to do one thing in D.C. and will say something else back here in South Dakota.
"On the eve of war with Iraq, we needed everyone supporting our commander in chief. We needed national unity. We needed politicians acting as statesmen and not someone leading partisan bickering. But Daschle, once again, played politics."
Frederick's reference was to remarks Daschle made before the war with Iraq last year.
In a speech to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees on March 17, 2003, Daschle said, "I'm saddened — saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country."
Daschle is the one with some explaining to do, according to Frederick.
He said Daschle didn't get into the fray this spring when Sen. Tim Johnson made a controversial remark at a Sioux Falls get-out-the-vote rally.
Johnson said Democrat Stephanie Herseth would win the special U.S. House election June 1. "And how sweet it's going to be on June 2, when the Taliban wing of the Republican Party finds out what's happened in South Dakota," he said.
Later that week, Johnson said he apologized if any Republicans were offended by his remark.
Frederick said Daschle should have demanded "a full and complete apology" from Johnson. "When is Daschle going to ask for a Democrat senator to resign?"
Andal said the veterans want Thune to "take some responsibility" and call on Frederick to step down for the language in the letter.
Dick Wadhams, Thune's campaign manager, said Thune is not responsible for the letter and that the state GOP operates independent of the Republican's Senate campaign. Thune will not call for Frederick's resignation, the campaign said.
The veterans said they got the Frederick letter from the Daschle campaign after it was handed over by someone on the mailing list. The letter asked the recipient to donate money to the South Dakota Republican Party in amounts ranging from $25 to $1,000.
Copyright © 2004 The Rapid City Journal
Rapid City, SD
The truth hurts.
Sounds about right to me... what is the problem?
I wonder if this guy's name is really Jock Gill. There is a big radical rat activist by that name who is associated with Daschle.
Oh boy, here is a prime example of the simulated umbrage that seems to be in vogue with democrats this summer.
Let's all get into the time machine and transport ourselves back to the '70's and get more in touch with our feelings - We all apologize to mr. daschle for using this salty locker room talk. We all understand that he is not accustomed to this sort of insensitivity. We are all ashamed mr. daschle. We fervently await your legislation enacting additional sensitivity training and enacting speech guidlines more to your liking.
His statements in support of Bill Janklow even after his felony conviction for manslaughter also showe his lack of leadership.
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