Stephanopoulos: Why Daschle Withdrew His Nomination ("he didn't have the stomach for the fight.")

[Pirate Smile]

Why Daschle Withdrew His Nomination

February 03, 2009 3:24 PM

Tom Daschle and his team went to bed last night believing they had had a good day after a horrible weekend.
Monday's Senate Finance Committee meeting was not easy. (Ranking Republican Chuck Grassley pushed Daschle hard on his relationship with Leo Hindery and his paid work on healthcare issues.)
But Daschle and his team thought they had done well enough. Finance officials, and even some Republicans, in the room signaled support for Daschle.

And Daschle spent the evening calling finance committee members to thank them.
No question, many Democrats grumbled about the position they'd been put in.
But Senate leaders and the White House -- especially President Obama -- were firm in their support.
Even Senate Republicans believed Daschle would be confirmed after getting roughed up a bit.

So, what happened?

Administration sources insist this was Daschle's decision alone.
That was certainly the line from Robert Gibbs at the podium Tuesday

A source close to Daschle says "he didn't have the stomach for the fight."
The double-barreled combination of a blistering New York Times editorial and a front-page story raising questions about President Obama's commitment to ethics reform in Washington convinced Daschle he had to go.

Already depressed by the recent discovery that his younger brother is stricken with brain cancer, Daschle wasn't prepared for another week of Senate hazing and damaging headlines.

And, he didn't want to hurt his friend, Barack Obama.

The fact that the White House had scheduled President Obama with five interviews with network anchors today is one more piece of evidence that suggests this was not what top White House officials were looking for today, but the President didn't try to convince Daschle to stay and fight.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/02/why-daschle-wit.html

[JayMusgrove]

1. Oh PLUEEEEEEEEEEEEZE Snuffy gave up his White House job

in order to make a lot of money on ABC. And Snuffy doesn't have to make any decisions or be facing public scrutiny daily for his boss now.

[Pirate Smile]

2. What does that have to do with the content of the article? I didn't know Daschle's brother

had recently been diagnosed with brain cancer. I thought there was some new information in here which is why I posted it.

DU today is one big :wtf:

[monmouth]

3. Pain in the ass, there I said it for you. I'm here less and less, it's getting toxic...n/t

[Pirate Smile]

4. Today, we might as well be reading Politico or Freeper comments half the time.

[spanone]

5. there ya go, fucked if you do, screwed if you don't

[Arkana]

6. Daschle wasn't much of a fighter as Senate Minority Leader either.

I honestly think this was the right decision.

[DRoseDARs]

10. That's the Daschle I remember. We need people who have spines, not gelatinous cartilage.

And ones that don't tell such bald-faced lies and get schooled on them by bloviator-extraordinaire Michael Moore on live television (we're looking at you, Gupta).

[Occam Bandage]

7. Sometimes it takes more strength to give up power than to insist upon it.

I earnestly congratulate Daschle.

[DrDan]

8. he is correct

when he was the Dem leader in the Senate, he would never fight.

[JuniperLea]

9. Wow... now I'm sorry Daschle threw in the towel...

Seems like a good-hearted guy.