Daschle questions Thune's character

DVT discusses the "issue of the other half," in other words, the troubling fact that corporations can legally put money in Senator Daschle's bank account because of his wife's position as a "lobbyist." John Hinderaker of Power Line made the point more succinctly: Linda Daschle describes herself as a "lobbyist," but her value as such derives from her ability to deposit checks into Daschle's bank account.

Last Wednesday, Daschle released an ad implying Thune lobbied for big drug companies. On Saturday, Thune responded with a print ad in the Argus Leader by pointing out that Senator Daschle is the only candidate in this race who has personally profited from big drug companies (Daschle's wife has lobbied for Schering Plough). In response, Daschle has released an ad questioning John Thune's character:

Tom Daschle: I’m Tom Daschle and I approve of this message.

Male Voice: What does it say about a man’s character when he attacks another man’s wife? John Thune’s lying about Linda Daschle to hide his own record as a Washington lobbyist.

Once again, don't listen to what Daschle says, just look at the record. Thune pointed out that Daschle is the only candidate in this race who has personally profited from big drug companies. That's the truth. Here's a photo of the official document showing Linda Daschle lobbied for Schering Plough, taken from the Senate Office of Public Records website:

Obviously, Thune's not lying about Linda Daschle getting paid by Schering Plough. The Daschle ad then goes on to say that "Thune’s firm helped the pharmaceutical industry stop efforts to lower drug prices." Thune himself did not lobby on behalf of the pharmacuetical industry. Again, Daschle is the only candidate in this race who has personally profited from big drug companies. There's no getting around that fact. Daschle is the one who instigated the brouhaha over lobbying by falsely implying that Thune lobbied for big drug companies. Nothing he can do can obscure the fact that he is the only candidate who has had money placed in his bank account by Schering Plough.