James K. Glassman, a columnist for Scripps Howard News Service, has an excellent column out today headlined "Wild-eyed Democrats." Excerpt:
So Moore is radical and a hater. But we've had a lot of those in our history. The big difference is that Moore is now embraced by the Democratic Party's establishment. Among those paying homage at his film's Washington opening were Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and Florida Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat. What on earth are these people doing at a Michael Moore premiere? They're scared. America has been undergoing a sea change over the past quarter-century, and Democrats, in this election, are trying to turn back the tide. Whatever it takes.
(Emphasis added.) Yes, much as Tom Daschle is trying to give South Dakotans the impression that he was just casually going out to the movies last Wednesday night, that's hardly the case. According to the Daschle campaign blog, it's "absurd" for us to assume Daschle endorses Michael Moore's views (see the June 25 post by Dan Pfieiffer). Oh, really? Well, why can't Daschle publicly say that he doesn't endorse Michael Moore's views then, instead of making some lame comment about "sparking debate"? The answer is simple: because to do so would outrage the base of the Democratic Party, and cost him his leadership post.
The Washington premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" was politically symbolic for the Democrats. If Tom Daschle had not shown up, that would have been big news, because it would have been seen as a public disavowal of Michael Moore by a Democratic leader. Tom Daschle was not just casually going to the movies. He was engaging in an act of political symbolism that his duties as Democratic Leader required.
In a telling passage, liberal columnist Maureen Dowd reported that Senate Democrats, Daschle presumably among them (he is, after all, their leader) delayed final passage of a defense spending measure in order for him and his colleagues to attend the premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11." Thus Dowd:
While Democratic lawmakers delayed final passage of a defense spending bill so they could mingle with Michael Moore, the once sweat-free Bushies were acting jangly.
Daschle delaying final passage of a defense spending bill so he could mingle with Michael Moore. I think that speaks volumes.
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