Rapid City Journal: Daschle exaggerating his role in saving Ellsworth AFB

Rapid City Journal political reporter Denise Ross has a report today headlined "Daschle: Recusal from BRAC panel not an issue." Ellsworth Air Force Base is a huge economic engine for West River South Dakota, and Daschle has spent this campaign demagoguing the prospect of Ellsworth's closure, saying he's the only one with enough clout to save Ellsworth. Well, it turns out that if the past is any guide, Daschle's clout won't matter, because those who sit on the base closing commission are obligated to act fairly and impartially when making decisions about base closings. Excerpt from the RCJ report:

Six days before the three-term incumbent stands for re-election in a close race against Republican John Thune, Daschle touted how his job as leader of the Senate Democrats would give him a voice in the membership of a new base-closing commission.

Daschle told reporters and supporters that as the newly minted Senate minority leader in 1995, he nominated Rapid City businessman Al Cornella to the Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

"It is critical that we have our voice this time just as we did last time," Daschle said.

About a decade ago, Daschle's nomination of Cornella drew fire from then-House Majority Leader Dick Armey, credited with designing the base-closure process.

"I assume this is a joke," Armey said of Cornella, who was then chairman of the local committee to save Ellsworth. "A parochial advocate should be testifying before the commission, not sitting on it."

During his confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Cornella pledged to stay out of any deliberations dealing with Ellsworth.

"I will conduct myself in a fair and impartial manner," Cornella told the committee.

The report goes on to note that the evidence suggests (surprise!) Daschle has been exaggerating his role in the last round of base closings. Well, Daschle has been known to take credit for the sunrise, so I suppose it's not that shocking that he would take credit for "saving" Ellsworth.