Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Thursday, May 26, 2005

South Dakotans Choose Republican Base, And Lose Military Base

Debate Deception: Thune (left) Overstated Influence With Bush

In his venomous race to unseat Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, John Thune made a lot of promises he has failed to deliver. Foremost among them, was his vow to use his supposedly close relationship with President George W. Bush to prevent the closing of Ellsworth Air Force Base, which is crucial to the state's economy. During the campaign, he said that he would be effective at keeping the base open because he had the president's ear.

Despite this promise, the recent announcement of the Pentagon's suggested base closings include Ellsworth. This has led to a round of well deserved heckles and jeers from indignant South Dakota Democrats.

"John Thune said he had the ear of the president," Steve Hildebrand, Daschle's campaign manager told The New York Times. "People are saying that, obviously, it was a deaf ear."

Voters in South Dakota have no one to blame but themselves. They unseated a powerful politician with seniority, in favor of an ineffectual Bush parrot that spouts conservative pabulum. Daschle, if still in office, would have had a seat on the base closing commission and likely could have used his clout to help South Dakotans.

Hildebrand justifiably sent an e-mail mocking Thune, who clearly overstated his influence with Bush. Under the headline, "What Power in Washington really Means", he pointed out that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's home state of Tennessee will gain 1,088 new jobs under the military base realignment. And the new Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's home state of Nevada would add 1,059 new military jobs. "

"South Dakota, home of presidential ear-whisperer John Thune, loses 3,797 jobs and has a major closure in Ellsworth Air Force Base," Hildebrand bitterly wrote in the e-mail.

Hildebrand is correct. Conservatives tricked South Dakotans into believing periphery issues with little consequence to the rural state, like homosexuality and abortion, were more important than jobs. Voters chose to be part of the Republican base, and now they rightfully lose their military base. Although I am liberal, I somehow have trouble feeling the pain of these bamboozled buffoons. Now, they can fight their churlish "culture war", but preparing for real wars will be at bases in other states - not South Dakota.

I want to add that that there is a small possibility that this is a set-up. Perhaps, the strategy of Karl Rove is to pretend that the Pentagon wants to close down Ellsworth. Democrats, like myself, will criticize the failed Senator. Then, there will cynically be a round of meetings between Thune and the Bush administration. In the end, Ellsworth will be "saved" by Thune who gets to play the superhero - much like Bush in his "post-war" flight suit. This administration has a flare for the dramatic, so anything is possible.

9 Comments:

I totally agree with you Wayne. The voters of South Dakota made one of the stupidist decision in memory. The truth is, Daschle is the only reason cared about that flat, wind-swept ice pit.

Larry
New York City
posted by Anonymous, at 5/26/2005 1:44 PM

As a Republican in South Dakota I am offended by Been's arrogant writing. Jobs are important, but there are things - such as faith - that are more important. Thune is a solid Christian man. and in the end his principles will win over short-term political gains. A man of the Lord wins over a man of this world every time. We will miss Ellsworth, but the Bible will guide our way to better days ahead.

J.L. from Sioux Falls
posted by Anonymous, at 5/26/2005 1:47 PM

I hope J.L. feeds his family on prayer. The rest of us need jobs.

Kate - Rapid City
posted by Anonymous, at 5/26/2005 1:48 PM

I agree with Wayne too.... smells like a dirty trick. Oh well, Bye-Bye Ellsworth.

Trixie Trash
Columbia, SC
posted by Anonymous, at 5/26/2005 3:56 PM

Hey JL, why do you christbots automatically assume that any politician, who isnt an extreme right wing wack-job like you, is by default 'unchristian'. What IS Tom Daschle then; a high priest of Baal?! By the way WHO CARES if he werent a christian! There are other perfectly good spiritual paths in the world. I'd take a kind and gentle Buddhist Lama any day over one of you hate mongers.
ps...who the hell is 'Been'?
posted by Anonymous, at 5/26/2005 6:01 PM

And on it goes. The christian right will ignore, deny, condemn, but they won't accept fact, they won't accept the truth and they will continue to support a man who LIED. Who'd want his ear anyway.
You get what you pay for.
posted by sttropezbutler, at 5/27/2005 12:27 PM

I'm interested to see that the political conversation in SD is just like it is all over the country.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/19/2005 12:08 AM