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."

# # #

[SwatTeam]

I heard that woman. She sounded like the infamous Rita X. Maybe she's from the same cult.

[amused]

"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."

This deserves repeating.

[votelife]

this is a good thread. I'm bookmarking it so I can show it to Dems come election time in '04!

[Mo1]

See why I remain a registered democrat? LOL!!

My one brother is a registered Dem also .. he says the only reason why is because he wants to be part of the stats that voted Republican .. LOL

[Budge]

68 - Thank you, Wayland!

[Mo1]

BTW .. have you seen this one


Susan Sarandon's 'Rabid' Republican Mom
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42317-2003Mar17.html

[Budge]

...he says the only reason why is because he wants to be part of the stats that voted Republican...

It (remaining a registered democrat) does have its little moments!

[nicmarlo]

LOL, Budge....but tell, us how you REALLY feel (and you lied, too?? : ) Really, though, good letter!

[B4Ranch]

It took some real guts for Denny Hastert to criticize Daschle. Republicans aren't use to badmouthing Democrats!

[Budge]

Thank you NM! No, I did not lie!

I refuse to lie...most of the time. :)

[Budge]

Wow, "That Susan Sarandon..."

Thanks, Mo1, I hadn't seen that.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Well done - action bump.

[reformed_democrat]

Thanks for the PING, nic.

Hastert is my favorite Congressman. I wish I lived in his district.

[scott7278]

Here is my e-mail to him:

Dear Senator Daschle,

I am deeply offended by your recent pandering to the minority position in America, the far Left, in speaking out against our duly elected President of the United States, the Honorable George W. Bush.

You, sir, are giving aid and comfort to the enemy. You are providing "talking points" for Saddam Hussein and his appeasers in Europe to use against this great country -- which is "a shining city on a hill."

Congressman Jim Moran's anti-Semitic remarks are already being expoited by Iraqi television, and your position has been used by the U.N. to not authorize the use of force. Your arrogance and irresponsibility is tantamount to "conduct unbecoming a Senator."

The president of the United States took an oath upon entering his office, in which he said, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The president is upholding his oath, but you are resisting him and taking every media opportunity to show your face and oppose him. Where is the 1998 Senator Daschle, who said:

"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."

You have proven, and are continuing to prove, that you are not anti-war but anti-Bush. It still bothers you that Bush was elected in spite of massive election fraud. Conservatives by their very nature are anathema to the likes of you. The Honorable George W. Bush sees things in relation to good vs. evil, in contrast to your world of power-at-all-costs.

If war is politically favorable for your party, you're all for it. If not, you're against it. You need this war to go badly for the 2004 elections, and that's what you're hoping for. You need the economy to be sputtering, and that's what you're hoping for. You're all doom-and-gloom, which is why you're becoming increasingly irrelevant and marginalized at the voting booth.

That's precisely why the Democratic Party of today is so different from the Democratic Party of old. They loved this country more than themselves, and wanted the best for the people. You only spread lies and fear -- you depend on misery to win elections.

Americans are starting to wake from their slumber of all these years, and are seeing right through all of your weak, recycled, and emotionally-driven positions. Your obstructionism and obfuscations have not gone unnoticed.

Politicians love the phrase, "Toute la politique est locale" -- all politics is local. You're allowed to pander to your constituents at home while acting however you like on the national stage. South Dakota is not as liberal as the party's moved, however -- and the whole country has a say in your presidential ambitions. How's that going, by the way?

You are not in the mainstream, no matter how hard you try to portray yourself as such. You will never be in the mainstream, especially since you've moved so far to the left as a party. I'd actually feel sorry for you if liberalism wasn't so dangerous to a people.

As the great Ronaldus Magnus once said -- "Peace through strength." No thanks to you and your party, we're still strong and we will bring justice and righteousness to the world. You just need to remember your oath and your right place in government as the Minority Leader of the Senate. The people have spoken.

[tutstar]

BUMP

[PhiKapMom]

That's a really great email! Thanks for sharing!

[Budge]

Great letter!!

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

Very good post. Hope he reads it. I doubt it though. Probably deleted as soon as they realize it is negative.

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

Her name wasn't Linda, was it?

[lepton]

"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.

Surprisingly, I think the woman on Britt Hume said it best: If diplomacy had been conducted better, we'd still be going to war, just with the support of the U.N.