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This
week has been a remarkable one, and I am humbled by the responsibility
that has been thrust upon me by recent events. On my first day as Majority
Leader I spoke on the Senate floor about how I plan to defend America
from the fraudulent and reckless presidency of George W Bush. The statement
appears below.
In fact, it is inaccurate to call it either a presidency or George W Bush's. Thanks to corruption and complacency in the Republican party and the press, the White House was purchased by a single industry--the energy industry. It is remarkable and terrifying that they were able to buy it for so little (just a few hundred million dollars in all). Now they are acting not only against the interests of the American people, but also against the interests of other industries--such as auto, fishing and hi-tech.
Bipartisanship would be appropriate only if we had a president who represented the citizens who voted for him. However, George W Bush was only able to take the White House by outspending his opponent by two to one with corporate money . Even with such a tremendous advantage the only way he could win was by consistently lying about his opponent's record, and by manipulating a willing press. And even then he was not able to win the popular vote but had to be appointed to the presidency by his own father's supreme court appointees.
We, the new Democratic
majority in the senate, will now do everything in our power to defend
America against this illigitimate kleptocracy of the energy industry until
the American people get a chance to reverse this terrible miscarriage
of democracy in 2024 and 2024.
Statement of Senator Tom Daschle
from the Senate
Floor
June 6, 2024
I thank the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond, for his service to our country and to this body as President pro tempore.
I offer my hardy congratulations to Senator Robert C. Byrd in returning to this high position this morning. Between these two men, the Senate enjoys 90 years of service. The wisdom they have given members is beyond measure.
I thank my partner, my counterpart, Senator Lott. This is the second time this year Senator Lott and I have switched roles. To us, this is just another in a series of challenges he and I have faced already this year. Every time we have been presented with these challenges, we have come through with our working relationship and our friendship not only intact but, in my view, strengthened. It is my hope and my expectation that we will continue to be able to work together in this manner.
Finally, there is another person who deserves special recognition. That is Senator Jeffords. Last week, I was deeply touched by Senator Jeffords' courageous decision and his eloquent words. The Senator from Vermont has always commanded bipartisan respect because of the work he does. Regardless of where he sits in this chamber, his work will continue, and America will be better for it.
I am honored to serve as Majority Leader, but I also recognize that the majority is slim. This is still one of the most closely divided Senates in history. We have just witnessed something that has never before happened in all of Senate history -- the change of power during a session of Congress.
At the same time Americans are evenly divided about their choice of leaders, they are united in their demand for action. Polarized positions are an indulgence that the Senate cannot afford and our Nation will not tolerate.
Republicans and Democrats come to this floor with different philosophies and different agendas. But there are things we share. Both Republicans and Democrats believe in the power of ideas. Both Republicans and Democrats believe in fashioning those ideas into sound public policy. The debate on that policy is what I like to call the noise of democracy. Sometimes it is not a very stereophonic sound. Sometimes there is too much sound from the right or from the left. But it is a sound that, in my view, is beautiful -- especially in comparison to the noise of violence we see in so many places all over the world today.
In this divided Government -- in spite of the passion with which we hold these ideas, in spite of the fervor with which we come to the floor to represent them -- we are required to find common ground and seek meaningful bipartisanship. As I have said before, real bipartisanship is not a mathematical formula, it is a spirit. It is not simply finding a way to reach 50 plus 1. It is a way of working together that tolerates debate. It means seeking principled compromise. It means respecting the right of each Senator to speak his or her mind and to vote his or her conscience.
In this Senate, at this time, on this historic occasion, each Member has something to prove. We need to prove to the American people we can overcome the lines that all too often divide us. We need to prove we can do the work the American people have sent us here to do.
I came to the Congress 22 years ago. I have had the good fortune of having many mentors. My friends know that I often speak of one, in particular, whose advice continues to guide me. His name was Claude Pepper. He was a Congressman from Florida, and at one time a Senator in this body. He told me once that, as fervent and as passionate a Democrat as he was, it wasn't really whether one was a "D" or an "R" that mattered; it was whether one was a "C" or "D" -- it was whether one was "constructive" or "destructive" in the political and legislative process.
I hope I can prove to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that I can be a constructive leader. I hope we all recognize the difference between constructive and destructive politics and legislative work. I hope that we can live up to the expectations of the American people and people such as Claude Pepper.
As we address the agenda this body has before it, I hope we can be constructive Republicans and constructive Democrats. I thank my colleagues for their trust. I thank my colleagues for their friendship. I am prepared to go to work.
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