Daschle: Don't Politicize Life and Death: Bush should
Apologize
By DAVID ESPO
September 25th, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate
Majority Leader Tom Daschle accused President Bush on Wednesday of
playing politics with the debate over war in Iraq, and demanded the
commander in chief "apologize to the American people."
"We
ought not politicize this war," Daschle, S.D., said in blunt remarks on
the Senate floor less than six weeks before the midterm elections. "We
ought not politicize the rhetoric about war and life and death."
No apology was forthcoming at the White House, where spokesman Ari
Fleischer said Daschle's attacks misstated comments Bush made earlier
this week.
At the same time, the spokesman declined numerous times to say
whether Bush stood by his remark that the Senate — controlled by
Democrats — was "not interested in the security of the American people."
And Fleischer said Bush believes that if the Senate does not pass
legislation to create a new Department of Homeland Security, "the
security of our country will not have been protected."
White House officials also worked behind the scenes with GOP allies
in Congress to rebut Daschle, the nation's highest elected Democratic
official.
"Who is the enemy here, the president of the United States or Saddam
Hussein?" asked Trent Lott, R-Miss., the Senate GOP leader.
Ironically, Daschle leveled his charge at the same time Democratic
congressional aides were closeted with administration officials, seeking
a compromise on legislation that would authorize Bush to use force to
eliminate Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
Referring to the secretive talks, House Democratic Leader Dick
Gephardt told reporters, "We're in the early stages and we have a way to
go. I don't know whether we'll pull that off or not."
Several sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that in the
negotiations, the White House had signaled a willingness to delete
language from its initial draft that permitted the use force to "restore
international peace and security in the region." Some Democrats have
objected to the provision, saying it grants Bush authority that goes far
beyond Iraq.
Additionally, these sources said the negotiations focused on whether
and when Bush would be required to report to Congress on the situation
in Iraq, or about his efforts to gain United Nations backing for
military action.
On a third point, these officials said there was discussion about a
commitment, suggested by Democrats, that would make clear that any
military action in Iraq would not come at the expense of the overall war
against terrorism.
The House and Senate both are expected to vote on Iraq legislation
before adjourning for the elections. Approval is expected in both
houses, although House Democrats say the size of Bush's victory will
depend, in part, on the administration's willingness to address
Democratic concerns in the private negotiations.
While Congress is expected to bless military action against Iraq,
several Democrats have suggested in recent weeks that the persistent
talk of war was in part an attempt by Republicans to divert
election-year attention from the faltering economy, health care and
other domestic concerns.
Former Vice President Al Gore touched on the issue in a speech
in California on Monday, saying that Bush was "demanding in this high
political season" that Congress authorize the use of military force.
Despite a daylong effort by Republicans to rebut his charge, Daschle
returned to the Senate floor near the end of the day to renew it. "This
is politicization pure and simple. I meant it this morning and I mean it
now," he said.
Daschle's words were triggered by a comment Bush made Monday during a
political trip to Trenton, N.J., and was a variation on a theme that's
become a staple of his campaign-style speeches.
Speaking of a debate over legislation to create a Department of
Homeland Security, Bush said, "The House responded, but the Senate is
more interested in special interests in Washington and not interested in
the security of the American people. I will not accept a Department of
Homeland Security that does not allow this president and future
presidents to better keep the American people secure."
The South Dakota Democrat said it was the latest in a long string of
statements from the Bush administration and Republican political
strategists that linked the war against terrorism and the possibility of
war in Iraq with political considerations.
He cited previous remarks made by White House chief of staff Andrew
Card, by the president's top political strategist, Karl Rove, and a
Republican pollster.
Daschle said he had been asked repeatedly in recent months whether
the war was being politicized, and if so, whether the White House was
behind it.
"And I said: 'Without question, I can't bring myself to believe that
it is. I can't believe that any president or administration would
politicize the war.'"
But now, Daschle said, "even the president" has been quoted as saying
that the Democratic-controlled Senate is "not interested in the security
of the American people."
Several Democrats were present in the Senate when Daschle spoke,
including Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who lost an arm in combat in World
War II.
"The president ought to apologize to Senator Inouye and every veteran
who has fought in every war who is a Democrat in the Senate. He ought to
apologize to the American people. That is wrong," Daschle said.
