Former Political Rivals Set Aside Differences for ONE Vote ’08

By Herman Wang, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.

Jun. 12–WASHINGTON — Three years ago, the sight of former Senate Majority Leaders Bill Frist, of Tennessee, and Tom Daschle, of South Dakota, shaking hands and exchanging beaming pleasantries on a stage together would have been rather unlikely.

But Monday, the two former political rivals from their days on Capitol Hill joined to launch ONE Vote ’08, a nonpartisan campaign backed by U2 lead singer Bono to convince presidential candidates to make the fight against global disease and poverty a key foreign policy issue.

“For the next 18 months, you’re going to see us like this, as one,” Mr. Frist said, clasping his hands. “Tom and I will do everything we can to help this effort.”

In a rousing ceremony at a church near the U.S. Capitol that included a performance from the African Children’s Choir, the now-retired senators said global poverty transcends partisan politics.

Mr. Frist, as Republican majority leader in 2004, traveled to South Dakota to campaign against Mr. Daschle, helping lead to the then-Democratic minority leader’s defeat. It was the first time a floor leader campaigned against the other in his home state.

“Life goes on,” Mr. Daschle said, questioned by reporters about his history with Mr. Frist. “There will always be differences of opinion on other issues, but on this, there is no Republican or Democratic or right or left position.

“I’m prepared to put aside what differences we’ve had in the past because we think it’s bigger than that,” Mr. Daschle said.

ONE Vote ’08, which includes several high-profile political veterans from both parties, plans to spend $30 million on its campaign and is starting out by targeting early primary states Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

As ONE Vote ’08 co-chairmen, Mr. Frist and Mr. Daschle will travel the country talking with candidates and voters in support of the campaign. They will ask the presidential candidates to support committing resources to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; increase access to universal basic education; provide access to clean water; and combat hunger.

Thirty thousand children die each day, and of those, 20,000 die of preventable and easily treatable diseases, Mr. Frist said.

Mr. Frist and Mr. Daschle said the fight against global poverty is not only a moral issue, but it holds the key to ensuring global security by bringing hope to the underprivileged.

“People do not go to war with people who have saved their children’s lives,” Mr. Frist said.

ONE Vote ’08 is an offshoot of the ONE Campaign, launched by Bono to raise awareness about the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield signed on with the ONE Campaign in December 2005.

E-mail Herman Wang at hwang@timesfreepress.com

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