Understanding the Senate: A Leader's View

The Center for American Progress held a Progressive Policy Skills Seminar called Understanding the Senate: A Leader's View. The Senate has long been known as the world's greatest deliberative body. Navigating the Senate has always been and continues to be a great challenge for the American public, as well as for senator themselves. Nevertheless, no great progressive advance can be enacted without the Senate. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle discussed his experiences as a Senate leader.

Senator Tom Daschle is a Distinguished Senior at the Center for American Progress. Senator Daschle's work for the Center focuses on health care policy and global economic, security and health issues. Senator Daschle is also a member of the Global Alliances' steering committee, an international coalition of progressive leaders dedicated to the development and exchange of progressive policy ideas. In addition to his work at the Center, Senator Daschle is also a visiting professor at the Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute, conducting student seminars, guest lectures in classrooms, and holding public discussions related to politics and policymaking. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, Tom Daschle served there until 1986 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate from South Dakota. He became Minority Leader of the Senate in 1994 and Majority Leader in 2001. He was the second longest serving Democratic leader in history. Daschle now serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Washington office of the law firm Alston and Bird.

In the discussion brought up four key points that are needed for democracy: Level of Tolerance, between competition; Respect of the Rule of Law, a good example is Russia; Leadership, without it you can not have a democracy; Participation, the degree people get engaged/they will give a lot more. He stated that for when running for political office the "Less time, [the] more money you need". Senator Daschle then explained how a congressman is divided. The Natural, legislator (8,000 votes in 4 terms); Ambassador of your state, foreign travel and economic trade; Political Leader, encourage participation; Service to your state. As a Senator, your priorities are broken down to Washington, State and Home. Some senators' priorities fall in that order also. Senator Daschle felt that family should come first. While on the subject of family he made the following statement: "If your kids become more of a liability to society than an asset, then all the rest of it [statesmanship] doesn't matter. And you only have one shot at raising them."

I am really grateful this event was held at the Center for American Progress. Even though Senator Daschle is in house, his appearances are far and in between. Following the discussion, I had the opportunity to meet Senator Daschle. I was so excited and jovial that I just told him my name and that I was an intern at the Center for American Progress. The Center for American Progress offers numerous events to help the community meet people with political influence. In addition to meeting him, three people from the UNC in Washington program that I invited attended the event. This was a very pleasant Monday to start a week on!