Daschle on Defensive Over Kennedy's 'Neanderthal' Outburst

NewsMax ^ | 11/15/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said Sunday that his Democratic colleague, Sen. Ted Kennedy, didn't mean to use racially offensive language when he called President Bush's judicial nominees - including two minority candidates - "Neanderthals."

Asked about Kennedy's racially charged outburst, Daschle insisted to "Fox News Sunday" he was talking about politics and not ethnicity.

"I think that there are a lot of nominees who are on the far, far right of the political and philosophical spectrum," he told FNS host Tony Snow. "I think that's what Sen. Kennedy was referring to."

But when Snow pressed, "Then why did he use the term Neanderthal?" Daschle turned defensive, telling the FNS host, "Invite him on the show and ask him. That's a question for him and not me."

Noting that Bush nominees Janice Rogers Brown and Miguel Estrada are African-American and Hispanic respectively, Republicans have seized on Kennedy's "Neanderthal" remark, complaining that he was getting a pass for using words that would have been career-ending for a member of their party.

After Democrats prevailed in their judicial filibuster standoff against Republican Senators on Friday, Kennedy boasted, "What has not ended is the resolution and the determination of the members of the United States Senate to continue to resist any Neanderthal that is nominated by this president of the United States for any court, federal court in the United States."

Though controversy over Kennedy's outburst continued to swirl on Capitol Hill throughout the weekend, press coverage of the incident has been sparse.

A Lexis-Nexis search on Sunday showed that Kennedy's remark has been covered by just three newspapers nationwide.

[Analyzing Inconsistencies]

Massachusetts appears to have a thing for allowing for there to be political and legal impuntiy for leftists. Have you heard what Bill Clinton's NASA director just got away with up at Boston University, even as the state attorney general keeps looking the other way? Here's a brand new thread on the subject:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1022819/posts

[Allegra]

LOL - good work!

[Prime Choice]

Don't worry, little Tommy Daschle: you guys are Liberals. The press will *ALWAYS* give you a pass! You have no worries.

But if you'd been a Republican/Conservative, rest assured that there'd be news every 15 minutes on what a racist, bigoted minority-stomping troglodyte you are.

[PISANO]

The lame stream press won't even address it, I bet.

You can bet your HOME and your life savings on it and sleep well tonite knowing you will WIN!!

[Cobra64]

I don't get the racial connection. Most people thaink of a "neanderthal" as a sub-human creature with almost no IQ. Teddy most have been looking in the mirror when he made his neanderthal (pun intended) remark.

[Mystic]

And what about Hillary refering to them as "lemons" with her little show-and-tell chart. Have heard NOTHING about that since.

[river rat]

Dasshole could inhale a full face fart from Kennedy - and declare it was Channel No.5..

Semper Fi

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[InvisibleChurch]

guess daschle doesn't have any control over his party .... tsk

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Sen. Ted Kennedy, didn't mean to use racially offensive language when he called President Bush's judicial nominees - including two minority candidates - "Neanderthals."

Uhhh...whom exactly is it that is supposed to be offended by such racially charged language? The Neanderthals? News FLASH...they're all dead.

[Congressman Billybob]

Now let's see. The Neanderthals were ugly, fat, hairy, and treated their women like dirt. Sounds like a pretty good parallel to Teddy (the Swimmer) Kennedy, except for the fact that we don't know whether the Neanderthals drank like a fish. LOL.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, " 'Preserving' the Constitution by Spitting on It," discussion thread. IF YOU WANT A FREEPER IN CONGRESS, CLICK HERE.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Kennedy should resign from the Senate immediately for his insensitive remarks. Forget about race, he has insulted the majority of Americans since his remarks were directed at WOMEN nominees.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

press coverage of the incident has been sparse.

[Paul Atreides]

I suggest that the Republicans begin referring to pro-abortion candidates as "barbarians."

I am more concerned that Tubby's labeling of anyone who isn't in lockstep with him is a neanderthal to be the more disturbing aspect of this episode.

[Bob Eimiller]

THE "SWIMMER" ACTUALLY CALLING LEGITIMATE JUDICIAL NOMINEES NEANDERTHALS?? WOW Not the SWIMMER....hmmm

Ask the waitress he threw onto a table and humped .. he was STUPID DRUNK at the time though... he had an excuse that time.

Hey ..there isn't any media bias...

[Bob Eimiller]

Billy Bob... you beat me to it..lol

[anniegetyourgun]

And just think how many were insulted by Byrd's "white nigger" comment? Oh wait, he got a pass from the press too. Never mind....

[linn37]

Tony shot back to Dashole'but your the leader' and Dashole changed subjects.

[Recovering_Democrat]

A Lexis-Nexis search on Sunday showed that Kennedy's remark has been covered by just three newspapers nationwide.

And probably none of the big 3 networks. The Republicans are to blame here, as well. They are not saying a damn word about this. I hope their consultants are using this for commercials.

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

I never mentioned race, neither did Trent Lott when they nailed him. The demoncrats sure can link anything they want to race though if it suits their needs.


pfflier,

My stement wasn't aimed at you, I was just inquiring how a Kennedy's use of the word neanderthal, as offensive at it was, could be construed as a racial comment.

SIC