Two-Faced Daschle Debate Team on Capitol Hill

May 11, 2003

Washington, DC – Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle has his hands full during a continuing series of public debates on Capitol Hill, or rather two demonstrators with Daschle masks did. The events are taking place outside the Dirkesen Senate Office Building where two volunteers from Public Advocate of the United States both stood opposite each other and debated the issue of judicial nominations with each other. This street theatre presentation demonstrated the Senator's hypocrisy when it comes to Senate confirmations.

Public Advocate President, Eugene Delgaudio has announced that the Daschle debates will continue on Capitol Hill as long as the Senator continues to obstruct a vote on the two nominees being blocked by filabustes.

One of the volunteers represents the Tom Daschle from 1999 when the Senator went to the floor of the Senate and proclaimed that he found it "simply baffling that a Senator would vote against even voting on a judicial nomination…" The other volunteer represents the modern Daschle who is a leaded of the unprecedented filibustering of two highly qualified nominees to the federal bench.

The Clinton-era Daschle holds a sign reading "Confirm: Every nominee deserves a vote," and yells at the modern Senator, who has a sign that says "Obstruct: Block qualified nominees from receiving a vote."

"What we have done today is represented, in a humorous fashion, how Tom Daschle has really been 'two-faced' when it comes to the issue of confirming judges," stated Public Advocate President Eugene Delgaudio. "Just a few years ago he said 'lets give everyone the decency of a vote before the Senate,' now he is obstructing not only our justice system by blocking these much needed judges from starting their work, but the U.S. Constitution by raising the threshold of confirmation from a majority to three-fifths."

Public Advocate has been fighting for the American family and against government hypocrisy for over twenty-five years. The group is 501.c.4 non- profit organization based in Falls Church, Virginia. For more information contact Jesse R. Binnall at 703/582-7924 or by email at [email protected].

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