N.H. senators repond to Daschle's angry words

By Max Heuer

WASHINGTON, Sept 25, 2002--Scathing remarks from Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) Wednesday accusing President Bush of trying to politicize the looming war in Iraq were met with harsh rebukes from New Hampshire's two Republican senators.

"In my experience I've never heard such an irresponsible statement by a major legislative leader in that he based his allegations on statements which the president and vice president had not made," Gregg said Thursday.

Daschle was responding to remarks Bush made at a political event in New Jersey this week, saying that Democrats had sold out to special interests on labor issues in the Homeland Security bill and that its Senate opponents are "not interested in the security of the American people."

"The president ought to apologize," Daschle said. "He ought to apologize to the American people. That is wrong. He ought not politicize this war. We ought not politicize the rhetoric about war and life and death."

Gregg said the president's remarks were taken out of context by the media and that Daschle was just frustrated.

Daschle "then hyperbolized into a period of almost uncontrolled rage." Gregg added. "He appears to have personalized it and I think that is a big mistake."

"Our country must join together to stave off threats at home and abroad," Sen. Bob Smith said in a press release. "The Democrats should not be playing partisan politics during these challenging times."

Published in The Manchester Union Leader, in New Hampshire.