Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., smiles during the rehearsal of the Democratic Response.

As the most powerful Democrat in Washington for at least the next two years, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota will be one of the chief architects of the post-Bill Clinton Democratic Party. Last night, he made his national debut as "leader of the opposition," offering the Democratic response to President George W. Bush's budget proposal along with House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri.

Daschle's soft-spoken voice and Midwestern accent have spurred comparisons to a country pharmacist rather than a podium-pounding politician, but last night, he and Gephardt took an unexpectedly pugilistic tone.

"When President Bush proposes ideas that bring us closer to that goal, like his literacy initiative or increases in military pay, we will work with him, and work hard, to turn those ideas into laws," Daschle said. "When he makes proposals with which we disagree, we'll work with him to find common ground. But when he insists on proposals that threaten the prosperity of all Americans or that harm Social Security or Medicare, we will fight, and fight hard, to put the interests of working families first."

The Senator charged that Bush's tax plan is far more expensive than the $1.6 trillion he claims, and would consume nearly all of the available surplus at the expense of prescription drug coverage, education, defense and other critical priorities. He pointed out that Texas currently faces a serious budget shortfall, and blamed Bush's budget projections as that state's Governor. He called Bush's estate tax elimination "deeply unfair."

Early media reaction to Daschle and Gephardt was mostly positive, but whether they swayed voters' minds remains to be seen. ABC News called it "direct and biting." On ABC's "Good Morning America," former Clinton aide George Stephanopoulos called the Democratic response "pointed and tough." Reuters wrote that the two men "came out swinging."

"After all the nearly euphoric backslapping that met the President's speech, it fell to the Democrats to make a case for boring old frugality," wrote Jessica Reaves of Time magazine. "As far as numbers and common sense go, the Democrats' response was solid. But in terms of political dexterity or public relations acumen, it was a bust. Daschle and Gephardt's dour response to Bush's ebullient address to Congress should serve as a stark reminder to Democrats still trying to decipher Gore's loss to Bush: Most Americans don't need or want to be reminded that life is hard, money is tight and things could be better¿ As Reagan-era Democratic veterans should know, reality is often far less appealing to voters than a dose of uncomplicated good cheer."

Another negative review came from Andrew Sullivan, columnist for The New Republic. "The old Dems looked truly pathetic," Sullivan said. "They're crippled by Clinton. Whenever they mention working families, my mind immediately sees Beth Dozoretz [former finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee] taking the Fifth. They then have to be in favor of tight budgets and class warfare - the Grinch meets Trotsky. Not an appealing combo, or a winning strategy."

Unsurprisingly, conservatives were critical of Daschle's response. Syndicated columnist David Limbaugh, called it "carping, demagogic, divisive, and insincere."

Wlady Pleszczynski, editor of The American Spectator, said they "pulled it off with all the aplomb of a pair of morticians."

Daschle's manner is polite and plainspoken, but as current Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott has learned the hard way, he plays expert political hardball. Daschle was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, and elected to the Senate in 1986. His mentor was former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who he succeeded as leader of the Democrats in the Senate. In the history of the Senate, only Lyndon Johnson had served fewer years before being elected to lead his party.

As Minority Leader, Daschle has pressed the Republicans who have controlled Congress to use the budget surpluses to pay down the national debt, shore up Social Security and Medicare for future generations, and increase spending in health care, education, crime fighting and agriculture. One of his top priorities for this session is passing the Democratic version of the "Patients' Bill of Rights," and he wants to pass an education package that will reduce class size, enhance technology, modernize schools and provide after-school activities.

According to Newsweek, the Senate Minority Leader is currently focused on winning back the Senate in 2002, but has consulted allies about a presidential bid if the Democrats fall short. In the weeks since that news was reported, he has downplayed any plans for higher office.

A New Democratic Vision	A Churlish Democratic Response