Daschle’s partisanship

Jon Lauck of DVT has an insightful column at the National Review Online. It is worth a read. Here is an excerpt:

Daschle's problem is reflected in the stunningly ineffective Struble ads, which started in July of 2003 with a predictable ad promoting ethanol. The problem, of course, is that a Democratic filibuster killed the ethanol bill last fall and Daschle, as widely reported, did nothing to stop it.

The Yankton Press & Dakotan provides this pro-Democratic propaganda regarding the ethanol issue as the South Dakota Senators put the blame for higher gas prices on President Bush:

In response to the rising gas prices, U.S. Sens. Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson (both D-S.D.) introduced Tuesday a Senate resolution calling on President Bush to act immediately to bring down the cost of gasoline.

The resolution calls on the president to increase oil supplies and monitor oil company business practices.
"With oil prices at a 13-year high, South Dakota's consumers are in desperate need of relief," Daschle said. "This resolution spells out the Senate's resolve that the president should take concrete steps to help immediately bring down the cost of gasoline."

Daschle noted the Bush administration has the authority to take steps immediately.

"Paying these record-high prices at the pump threatens economic growth in the Northern Plains. Working families are finding it difficult to dig a little deeper into their pockets to make ends meet," Sen. Johnson said. "This Senate resolution provides specific actions the President should take to slow skyrocketing gas prices."

Johnson and Daschle also called for passage of the Senate energy bill containing a renewable-fuels standard.

As Lauck pointed out in his column, Daschle used to campaign as a non-partisan. Today, he cannot as evidenced by the ethanol issue. When things are bad….Daschle blames the Republicans. When things are good…Daschle takes credit, even on funding he voted against.

If you take the time to read Lauck’s web site, you will find irrefutable proof that Daschle did not have the clout…and/or did not take the time to get the energy bill passed. Sadly he puts all the blame on the President. Some of Daschle’s problems are the people of this State finding the facts of his partisan behavior that has taken away his credibility and thereby his clout.

The key to this race will be whether or not the Thune campaign can over come the bias of media sources such as the Yankton Press & Dakotan and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader…and get the truth out to the voters on an issue by issue basis.