MyDD :: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already?

Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already?

by Matt Stoller, Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 10:11:31 AM EST

Shoot me in the face. Seriously.

Three years ago, it took a nasty, industrial-strength assault by Karl Rove & Co. to oust Democratic leader Tom Daschle from his Senate seat. But if Republicans thought they had seen the last of the resilient South Dakotan, they were wrong. He's back, this time behind the scenes, as a sort of secret sauce in the surging presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.

Daschle spent 30 years on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide, House member, senator and ultimately Democratic Senate leader. Now he is providing newcomer Obama with valuable endorsements, staff, fundraising lists and brotherly advice. "He brings an unrivaled mix of policy knowledge and political expertise," said Steven Hildebrand, an Obama senior campaign advisor. He ought to know: a fellow South Dakotan, he ran Daschle's last Senate campaign.

...

Interestingly - tellingly - it was Obama who reached out to Daschle. In 2004, Obama was cruising to an easy victory in the Illinois Senate race, and had a lot of unused cash on hand. He gave a lot of it - some $85,000, according to Hildebrand - to Daschle, who was under White House siege in South Dakota. Even before he was sworn in, Obama knew who he wanted for his chief of staff: Rouse. Ironically, Daschle advised Rouse, a veteran with 30 years service on the Hill, to leave the Congress and take a lucrative lobbying position. But Obama sold Rouse, and in the process began the task of wooing Rouse's boss.

In between advising his staffers to become lobbyists themselves, Tom Daschle works at a high profile law firm that was on the other side of the net neutrality fight (and has on its current client list a whole lot of lovely banks, defense contractors, aerospace, national business coalitions, credit card issuers etc). And here's his profile at the firm.

Senator Tom Daschle is Special Policy Advisor in Alston & Bird's Washington, D.C. office and is a member of the Legislative and Public Policy Group. As a non-attorney, Senator Daschle focuses his services on advising the firm's clients on issues related to all aspects of public policy with a particular emphasis on issues related to financial services, health care, energy, telecommunications and taxes. In addition, he advises on trade and international matters.

This is the guy Howard Fineman says has 'no enemies' in the party, which should tell you something about what insiders think. And let's be clear, the Obama/Daschle people were the sources for this story, so it's what they think too.

I'm going to take a break. Wrong week to stop sniffing glue and all (h/t Atrios).

UPDATE: Oh no. Here's another update - the blogger I linked to updated their post to say that Obama was at a general press conference not on a Fox News show.

Tags: Tom Daschle, Barack Obama, net neutrality (all tags)

Permalink :: 30 Comments :: Post a Comment

Obama is way to cozy with these types (none / 0)

Obama seems to like the Liebermans' and Daschles' of the world. Dashcle caved into Bush and then let the Senate slip away on his watch.

With Daschle advising Obama we can expect a campaign similar to Kerry's in '04 if Obama were to win the nomination. Safe, nice, soft, and a loser by 2 to 3%.

The Republicans will come into '08 desperate, and will use every attack, every trick they can muster. Democrats need to remember that. We will need a candidate that can go toe to toe with them. One that understands Republicans and knows how to beat. More and more it looks like Obama is not ready for that challenge. Working with Daschle is just another sign of that.

by dpANDREWS on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 10:25:31 AM EST

Re: Obama is way to cozy with these types (none / 0)

Says the armchair quarterback with the years of legislative and campaign running experience.

by yitbos96bb on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 01:06:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 3)

This is a very tenuous guilt by association...for it to work, I'm supposed to believe Daschle is a bad Democrat, I guess because because he works for a firm that was on the other side of one issue, and that in turn, Obama is a bad candidate. Or something. I can only take so much character assasination in one post.

"Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat." - William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

by Nasara on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 10:48:15 AM EST

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

Was this comment of mine inappropriate? I just got a "warning" about calling the poster a "character assasin". I think my tone is pretty civil, and I just got called out for a BS reason...like maybe I'm an Obama supporter.

Thanks

"Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat." - William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

by Nasara on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:13:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 1)

Matt, you're beginning to sound more than a little unserious to me.

Obama says "I don't doubt McCain's sincerity (on the war), but I doubt his wisdom on it" ... and your take on this in Breaking Blue is that he "praised" McCain?

This, on the heels of your comments the other day that Edwards made "insane" statements on Iran, and that Obama "venerated Reagan's approach to diplomacy" by pointing out that he talked to the Soviets (in other words, if I have to spell it out for you, that diplomacy with our enemies is such a mainstream idea that even arch-conservative Reagan did it).

I appreciate your passion, and I'm glad we're on the same team, but lately you've been coming across like Bob Brigham on a bad day. There's a lot of room in between mindless cheerleading for the Dem candidates and constant, irrational attacks on them.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:03:40 AM EST

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

I pointed out that Obama's mentor is a major force behind corporate interests, and somehow I'm the issue. You need to recognize how you contribute to the problem in this country.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:06:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

Matt I don't think you're the issue (even if I'm not the one you're calling out here) but what you said here is. I'm all for recognizing the way things wokr in Washington and calling Daschle out for his firm's work against net neutrality, but I'm not ready to put him on an "enemies list" nor brand people suspect because they are associated with him.

And regardless of calling attention to the Daschle stuff (though deeming him "Obama's mentor" is also a bit much given that they only met a few years ago), or whether Obama should have gone on Fox at all, its flat-out wrong to say that he "praised McCain." What Obama said there was basically that he McCain believes what he says on Iraq, but he's an idiot.

Furthermore, "you need to recognize how you contribute to the problem in this country?" Way to win people over...

by sip1983 on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:19:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 1)

Yeah, I know, I'm the problem because I don't ignore all your irrational jabs to grasp the kernel of truth that lies within.

The thing is, maybe you're right about Daschle, maybe you're right about a lot of things, but you ruin perfectly valid points when you throw in these patently untrue accusations. Obama didn't "venerate Reagan's foreign policy." Edwards didn't make "insane" statements on Iran. These things distract from the more important points you're trying to make.

You're a front-pager at this blog. You have a big microphone. Something every successful politician understands is that the responsibility for communication lies with YOU, not with the listeners. If your non-reality-based jabs piss people off enough that they ignore your real point, that means your attempt at communication failed.

Look, consider it a friendly warning that you need to tone this stuff down a notch. I don't waste time trying to advise truly irrational people to change their way of thinking; I offer my feedback because I think you generally do good work, and I'm not sure what's gotten in to you of late. But you don't get to sit there and say I'm the problem with America. You have the microphone, and the responsibility for persuasion and communication lies with you.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:29:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

I am not a politician, and you are not a consumer. I don't sell sugar-coated happy pills.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:49:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 2)

Nobody's claiming the problem is bitter pills; the alleged problem is 'patently false claims.' One hopes you're not selling those, either.

I personally don't think you are--I think you tend to engage in hyperbole for perfectly valid reasons, though sometimes those reasons are opaque at first--but it's possible to repond a little less dismissively to community members who make clear, I think, that despite any single problem, they're attached to and respectful of mydd.

I'm not sure if the issue with the last few days is the power differential between mydd front-pagers and readers; perhaps we see you as having all the power, so think we needn't soften our words when we disagree, and you (plural, not singular) feel a bit besieged at the moment, so aren't able to shrug this stuff off. (Another 'elite' vs. 'unwashed' conflict, maybe.)

I don't know. Maybe it's the 'You Work For Us' stuff; if 'we' (and I recognize that the readership isn't monolithic) really have ownership, we expect our views to be treated respectfully, even when they disagree with those of the front-pagers. Maybe especially when they disagree.

Or maybe this is just an inevitable seasonal funk, and everyone's edgy.

And all of that said, WHY ON EARTH would Obama say, about McCain, "I don't doubt his sincerity?" Why doesn't he? He's gotta be the only one who doesn't doubt McCain's sincerity, at this point. So is he lying, or naive?

by BingoL on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:32:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

WTF (3.00 / 1)

I'm a big Obama supporter, but I am appalled that he went on Fox after all the debate about why Dems shouldn't do the debates.

I have a striking suspicion he has some insider advisers that are already looking past the primaries to a general election strategy...

It just doesn't make any sense.

I've always thought Obama would look for a VP with strong Congressional ties, but I am more than weary on Daeshle. Would much prefer Gephardt...

by Benstrader on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:05:52 AM EST

Re: WTF (none / 0)

I appreciate that you are willing to hold your candidate accountable for his choices. That shows character.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:57:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: WTF (3.00 / 1)

Matt,
I think you need to do a second update. The news story on breaking blue just issued an update:

UPDATE: The Obama interview occurred with a group of reporters asking questions, one of whom was from FNC.

I'm breathing a small sigh of relief that this wasn't as bad as it looked. So it appears that he didn't specifically appear on fox news, just answered one of their reporters questions. That reported being amongst many other reporters.

by maddogg on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:05:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Phew... (none / 0)

Now that the Obama/Fox story is gone, Sen. Obama returns to his vaulted position, right above Jack Bauer and right below Chuck Norris.

by Benstrader on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:42:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: WTF (3.00 / 1)

fyi - an update from the link Matt listed:

"UPDATE: The Obama interview occurred with a group of reporters asking questions, one of whom was from FNC."

by lapis on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:02:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 1)

Enemies list? Whoa...a bit too Nixonian for me there. And the "with us or against us" light this all casts is definitely a bit too Manichean for the situation at hand.

There's more I can say, but it gets into some very personal reasons for why attacking people for ties to Daschle strikes a raw nerve with me (let's just say that a good, solidly progressive friend of mine had that used to smear him in a Democratic primary for local office last year). The guy was far from a perfect leader and yeah he's partly a lobbyist now, but an "enemy?" You lost me there.

by sip1983 on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:12:25 AM EST

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

I'm commenting on Fineman's 'Daschle has no enemies' line.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:26:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

Ah-- not exactly clear on first read since the Fineman line didn't come up till later.

Still obviously not something I'd personally joke about since there's no real reason for Fineman to be wrong-- Daschle has definitely done stuff to merit scrutiny or criticism, but not really to merit opposition or outside scrutiny of all Democrats associated with him. But I see the point of your sarcasm (and its being that) now.

by sip1983 on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:56:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

Thanks for the comment. Perhaps I should have been clearer.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:58:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

Matt, there are many annoyances that don't merit a posse call for an "enemies' list" and I think this is one of them.

by Crablaw on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:17:38 AM EST

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

I'm commenting on the notion that Daschle is loved and has no enemies.

by Matt Stoller on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:27:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

The law-firm stuff is bullshit. You start picking and choosing clients and you are taking a huge risk.

Just ask Armando.

by MNPundit on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:35:16 AM EST

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (none / 0)

The FNC thing is what Obama must do if he wants to grab the "panderer" label.

Way to go Obama, I guess being a rockstar doesn't keep you from being an idiot.

by MNPundit on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:36:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And FInally I need to read more carefully. (none / 0)

Daschle is a non-lawyer.

As a non-lawyer what the hell is he doing? Disregard my first comment. Still no enemies list.

by MNPundit on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:37:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

FNC Pandering? (none / 0)

Either that or it makes sense to get your message out on any medium possible...

Has anyone realized that we argue that Fox News is unfair and unbalanced and fight any opportunity to change that? Wouldn't flooding their airwaves with Democrats be the best way to balance them out? Shouldn't we have a campaign going to have big name Democrats on Fox News at all times?

by Obama08 on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:42:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: FNC Pandering? (none / 0)

Absolutely not. Fox News is not going to give Democrats a fair shake. There is no way to "flood" their airwaves, they pick who comes on, and they won't start giving a majority of airtime to progressives. The way to beat Fox News is to shut them out and deprive them of Democrats, destroying their credibility as a news organization. One need look no farther than the libelous "Madrassa" story to understand Fox's motives, thus that is why it is so disappointing that Obama went on Brit "Jack Murtha is deranged" Hume.

But regardless of how to change Fox News, what rationale does Obama have for not participating in the debates if he is going to go on Fox shows? If Obama is going to get his message out on any medium, seems a Fox debate would be perfect.

by Benstrader on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:55:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

FNC appearance maybe not sooooo bad (3.00 / 1)

Seems that after McCain took that swipe at Obama the other day, the most effective way to fight back is to discredit McCain to his on base.

Telling everyone but Fox news that McCain is wrong wouldn't be as effective.

I'm not saying I agree, I'm saying that it makes some sense to me...

by jazzy on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:55:39 AM EST

Does anyone remember Farenheit 911 (none / 0)

I remember only Tom Daschle standing up and saying that the Democrats support President George W. Bush's war in Iraq.

.. and when I win the lottery, gonna donate half my money to the city so they have to name a school or a park after me - camper van beethoven

by heyAnita on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:18:55 PM EST

Re: Does anyone remember Farenheit 911 (none / 0)

Yeah, Daeschle believed that Dems should stand with the President on foreign affairs and beat the Republicans on domestic issues. Maybe it would have made sense if the president had wanted to work in a bi partisan way, but this war, foreign policy, and every other policy, has been crafted to inflict the maximum amount of political damage on the Democrats possible, regardless of the quality of the policy.

by Benstrader on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 12:40:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can Someone Start an Enemies List Already? (3.00 / 1)

Sometimes the internets move too quickly. I wake up in the morning to discover that apparently everyone went crazy overnight.

I don't even understand what is controversial here. Daschle is helping Obama. Okay. That's it? Am I missing something?

by Baldrick on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 01:28:01 PM EST

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