Hatch Bristles Over Daschle Talk Radio Attack

NewsMax ^ | 11/20/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, fired back Wednesday afternoon at soon-to-be ex-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, after the top Democrat tried to blame conservative talk radio, and Rush Limbaugh in particular, for provoking a dramatic increase in "threats to those of us in public life."

"Isn't it amazing how radio was attacked today by our distinguished majority leader," Hatch complained to nationally syndicated radio host Sean Hannity just hours after Daschle's outburst.

Hatch pulled no punches in voicing his admiration for both Limbaugh and the medium in general.

"If it wasn't for radio," the Utah conservative explained, "the people of this country would never hear what the real facts are..... I thank my Father in Heaven every day for people like you, Rush Limbaugh and others," the senior senator told Hannity.

The Utah Republican credited talk radio with the big GOP wins in this year's election.

"The ones that are listened to across the country are the conservative commentators," Hatch told the NewYork-based radio host. "I think that's why we won this election. You guys have had a great deal to do with that."

Earlier in the day, a bitter-sounding Daschle had complained, "What happens when Rush Limbaugh attacks those of us in public life is that people aren't satisfied just to listen. They want to act because they get emotionally invested. And so, you know, the threats to those of us in public life go up dramatically, on our families and on us, in a way that's very disconcerting."

But when asked directly whether he blamed Limbaugh for the threat's, the senior Democrat said, "Well, I'm not going to - I don't want to single anybody out. I'm troubled by it."

He then complained:

"It's that same shrill rhetoric. It's that same shrill power. Somebody says something and then it becomes a little more shrill the next time, and more shrill the next time and pretty soon they foment this and it becomes physical in addition to just verbal.

"Certainly in terms of threats, I think that there's no question," Daschle continued, "in my time in public life it has gone up exponentially."

Reporters failed to challenge the angry Democrat about examples where Republicans have been targeted by mainstream media, such an incident two years ago when CBS's "Late Late Show" appeared to suggest it might be a good idea to assassinate President Bush.

On Aug. 9, 2000 the CBS television network acknowledged that it broadcast an "inappropriate and regrettable" joke about the assassination of George Bush

Days earlier the program, hosted by Craig Kilborn, had superimposed the phrase "Snipers Wanted" over the image of the then-presidential nominee during his acceptance speech at the GOP convention in Philadelphia.

The Secret Service launched an investigation but took no action against the network or anyone associated with the Kilborn show.

CBS's "60 Minutes" reported Sunday that President Bush gets more than 200 threats a week, about 50 of which are taken seriously by the Secret Service.

Sen. Daschle did not reveal how many threats he receives on a weekly basis - or if he has reported any of them to law enforcement.

[MHGinTN]

If I had to guess, I'd say Daschle's whine is a manipulative ploy, an effort at dissociative action to divert attention from the multitude of times the dems have made outrageous claims against Republicans, like vote pubby and children will die, vote pubby and black churches will be burned, etc. The idea is to set up the dumbed-down public to think only conservatives make rash statements, in preparation for the vile negatives coming soon from the democrats and their wedge issue programs on issues like PBA, which will, if perceived properly, paint the democrats as empowering their constituencies via the blood of the innocent.

[patriot5186]

Yes...it's the liberal way to blame someone else for their problems. The libs won't ever accept responsibility!
Hey Dems...look in the mirror!

[Libertina]

Yes, I understand... and agree

[Righty1]

Don't forget the ultimate PC weasel word "concerned".

[Libertina]

"I am NOT a weiner dog!"
LOL This is too cute!

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

And don't forget the Woodward book that just came out ... "like a Nazi rally..'" or something to that effect.

[vaudine]

No, Tommie, just a weinie. Cute dog!

vaudine

[Jorge]

Gore started all this by saying he felt threatened by "FReepers" yelling "Get out if Cheney's house."

Remember Nadler showing up at the Freeper protests in Palm Beach claiming there was " a wiff of facism in the air"?

These people just can't stand seeing Republicans and conservatives standing up for themselves and speaking out.

[goldstategop]

Uh huh. And I hear he was never prosecuted for making those outrageous threats. Betcha if he had been a conservative going on the late night talk show threatening to kill President Clinton and his entire family, the press and the Secret Service would have been all over him in a New York minute. Talk about a double standard. I can't think of any one who's threatened the life of any Democrat, unless you consider legitimate criticism of a Democrat's views and philosophy to be a threat. And here on FR we pull posts that advocate violence against innocent people.

[Leto]

I heard this same song and dance from Hatch after Bork, Thomas, before impeachment, and when Leahy stiffed Bush's nominee's while Hatch let the Rapist nominee's sail through.

This guy never gets it. I'm sure when GWB makes his SC nominee, Hatch will hand the vasoline to Leahy again, then go on talk radio about 'upset' he is.

The guy is a bi-partisan wuss. He's as bad as Lott.

[Republic]

My guess-in a few moments-hitlery rodbutt klinton will be spewing the same filth, same lines, on Larry King tonight.

They are preparing to blame everything once again on that evil 'vast right wing conspiracy'. Donchaknow?

My guess-her war room devised this newest blame game-they truly do not understand that Americans have seen it for what it is.

I mean....didn't klinton blame Okla bombing on Rush limbaugh, too?

These are really sick people.

[nicmarlo]

I must say, if I were to have a hero, Orin Hatch would be in the top 5. He is a champion of conservative values, protection of family rights in the public schools, and he is directly responsible, through his "Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, Section 439 of the GEPA" (a/k/a "The Hatch Amendment") for saving my daughter, and countless children, from being subjected to child abuse in the classroom. He is a good man and I thank God, for these past 12 years, that he is a Senator of the U.S.A.!

[chainsaw]

And so, you know, the threats to those of us in public life go up dramatically,

The only threat to daschle is possibly not being reelected in 2004. He talks conservative in SD, but goes socialist in Washington, and thinks the people of SD are too stupid to notice.

[Pushi]

Dasshole is a whining sissy.

[goldstategop]

I'm Tommy Daschund and I'm waddling back to my wittle kennel! LMAO!!!

[Swordmaker]

I think there may be an unrevealed agenda here... the more rabid branch of the Democrat Party over at Democrat Underground were railing about how they thought Senator Paul Wellstone was assassinated along with his family. Is there perhaps a reference to that conspiracy theory in Dashhole's rant?

[Pushi]

I think Slick must be planning a talk show. I can just smell it. They are laying the foundation for it. I hope he does. It will be just more of the RAT suicide process.

[wai-ming]

Hatch Bristles over Daschle Talk Radio Attacks

I'm not too impressed with Hatch. When is he going to do something more than bristle?

[The Other Harry]

The GOP needs some really GOOD designated rebuttal guys (and gals) for when Daschle and others provide opportunities, like this.

We have one. And she has much nicer legs than Tommy.

[07055]

I view this orchestrated campaign as good news for conservatives. All it will do is enhance Rush's stature---he must be very important if the Senate Majority Leader sees him as such a threat.