Former Senators Daschle and Lott debut book at NPC Book Rap

The National Press Club was the only suitable place for the debut of the book by former Senate leaders Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, and Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, Lott told a Press Club Book Rap on January 19.

"We couldn't roll this book out anywhere else," Lott said, referring to `Crisis Point: Why We Must -- and How We Can -- Overcome Our Broken Politics in Washington and Across America.' He thanked NPC President Thomas Burr for inviting them and moderating the discussion.

Lott and Daschle, who led their Senate parties during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, are friends, which amazes some people, Lott said. He noted that while they are of opposing political parties, "we are Americans and we want a government that works for the people."

Working with and being friendly with the other side has been detrimental to those who have done it, Daschle said. “We have seen people who have tried to do the right thing and have been penalized for it,” he said.

Burr asked the authors whether the news media contributes to the political dysfunction because Americans self-segregate into political and ideological silos getting information slanted to one side or the other.

Media organizations have stopped refereeing the two sides and "become players," Daschle said. Lott agreed, saying that the "media is part of the problem but can be part of the solution." This will happen when the news media stops giving the headlines to the angry voices, they said. "I don't want an angry official representing me. I want an optimistic man or woman representing me," Lott said.

The airplane has had a corrosive influence on governing in Washington, the men said. Lott remembers that when he first came to Washington as a staffer in the 1960s, members went home only four to six times a year.

"A lot of people leave on Thursday and come back on Tuesday, and run the country on Wednesday," Daschle said. "You can't run a country on Wednesdays."

Members should move their families to Washington, as "the job is in Washington," Lott said. I

Daschle called it "inappropriate" for 50 members of Congress to sleep on their couches in their offices, adding "this gives new meaning to public housing." Because members don’t live here, they don't build relationships and relationships are key, he emphasized.

Lott recalled a now-defunct traditional card game held Thursday nights in the Capitol with leaders from both parties and from all over the country. The card game was an example of how relationships are necessary to get things done.