Ugliness of American Politics

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
Sept. 21, 2004
UGLINESS OF AMERICAN POLITICS

Mr. JOHNSON. I want to express my agreement with the observations expressed by my friend and colleague from North Dakota about the tenor of some of the recent attacks directed toward my colleague from South Dakota, Senator Daschle. This is beyond anything we have witnessed in America politics in more than a generation, and perhaps ever, to have an attack in a political campaign essentially accusing a leader of the Senate of conduct bordering on treason.

I think Senator Daschle put it well, that based on good values in the way we tend to see things, the observations of this gentleman ought to lead to a trip to the woodshed for the despicable nature of the observations. I believe it would be hard to find anyone in the Senate-I am sure my colleague from North Dakota would agree with me, Senator Daschle being the only veteran in that particular race, someone who served in the Vietnam era-would Senator Dorgan agree with me that there is virtually no one in the Senate of either party who has been more committed to living up to our obligations to our veterans, to the safety, equipment, and resources of our men and women in uniform? I ask this question of my colleague from North Dakota, as the father of a young man, my oldest son who served in combat in both Afghanistan and most recently in Iraq, a member of the 101st Airborne, my son, who is a very big supporter, a very vocal supporter of Senator Daschle and the importance for the sake of our military and our national security of our State of reelecting him to this important position. But can you think of anyone who has done more, who has provided more leadership, has been more vocal in support of our troops and our military and our Nation's defense than Senator Daschle