Daschle Praises W on War, But Not on Economy

By KENNETH R. BAZINET Daily News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON

enate Democratic leader Tom Daschle hailed President Bush's handling of the war on terror and Indian-Pakistani tensions, but warned yesterday Bush must compromise if he wants an economic stimulus bill next year.

Daschle (D-S.D.) was particularly complimentary over Bush's efforts to get Pakistan and India to back away from their warlike rhetoric. Bush called the leaders of both countries Saturday.

"The President's doing it about right" by "trying to bring down the tension on both sides by intervening personally, by talking directly to those leaders," the majority leader said.

He also approved of Bush's handling of the Afghan war and the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

"We've done everything we know how to do in searching the caves and using the intelligence tools that we have available to us. So I think, by and large, it's been done correctly," he said.

But he talked tough when it came to domestic issues and stalled negotiations over an economic stimulus bill.

"What we've got to do is work together, as we did on all the other issues relating to the post-terrorist attack.

"It really takes give on both sides," Daschle said of negotiations that have failed to deliver a stimulus package to try to offset a slumping economy.

"We didn't see a lot of give on the part of the administration or engagement on the part of the administration until the very end," Daschle told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Congress adjourned Friday without passing a bill to cut taxes or increase assistance for the unemployed, and on Saturday, Bush said he was "disappointed by the failure of the Senate" to approve an economic stimulus plan.

Daschle has staked his claim as leader of his party and come under attack by top Republicans for opposing Bush's economic stimulus plan, arguing against its tax breaks for the rich and limits on health care coverage for the unemployed.

In the past month, Daschle has been called an "obstructionist" by Vice President Cheney and labeled a "bad faith" negotiator by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).

Original Publication Date: 12/31/01

-- Anonymous, December 31, 2001