Jan 7
Daschle draws opposition from Focus on the Family
By Denise Ross
In a screed that singles out the abortion issue, Focus on the Family is asking its supporters to ask their senators to oppose Tom Daschle’s confirmation as Health & Human Services secretary.
“Tom Daschle is a disaster appointment, the opposite of a national protector of health and human services,” pro-life blogger Jill Stanek told the Catholic News Agency. “Daschle ardently supports abortion … and he disdains abstinence education.
“The only reason Obama appointed Daschle was to assure Obama’s radical support of the abortion industry would be extended through HHS.”
Well, I don’t know if that’s the only reason. I seem to recall some discussion about overhauling America’s entire health care system.
When even John Thune isn’t conservative enough for James Dobson - at least on abortion, and when the GOP is asking itself whether hammering away on these social issues has left it weakened, how much success will Focus on the Family find with its call to arms?
They’ll probably get a “No” vote out of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, and perhaps out of Sen. Wayne Allard, R-CO. Here are the other committee members, for those who were wondering.
Republicans:
- Michael B. Enzi (WY)
Judd Gregg (NH)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Richard Burr (NC)
Johnny Isakson (GA)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
Pat Roberts (KS)
Democrats:
- Edward Kennedy (MA)
Christopher Dodd (CT)
Tom Harkin (IA)
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Jack Reed (RI)
Hillary Rodham Clinton(NY)
Barack Obama (IL)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
3 Comments so far
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just curious: is this the current lineup on the committee? it just seems odd that clinton and especially obama would be given committee assignments. I suppose the assignments could be placeholders for their successors, but it reduces the D majority in the committee to at least 10 by the vote and perhaps only 9-8 if the vote is not prior to Hillary’s resignation
Excellent point, J. I pulled this off of the committee’s website, which probably needs an update. (A word to the wise on cutting and pasting!) It does seem that Daschle has plenty of Republican support, tho, judging by his hearing this week. Also, I guess it’s the vote in the Finance Committee that really matters. Odd. Thanks for pointing out the situation. -Denise
like you, some of us spend too much time paying attention to legislative matters. I guess I’m not surprised that Tom will get plenty of Republican support in the Senate–really, when you think about, Obama appointing so many senators is a pretty good move to avoid fights in the Senate (and then you throw in Vilsack, and Chuck Grassley and the R’s definately don’t want to see him running for the Senate in two years.)
Tom will have firm support on both sides of the aisle in the Finance Committee. He was a member of the committee for many years and worked closely with all of the veteran members. As for Dobson, he won’t be happy with anyone, unless they advocate beating evil demons from the sick!