GOP donor compares Daschle to Walker Lindh

WASHINGTON, June 27 (UPI) -- A fundraising letter distributed by a conservative advocacy group says Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., poses a "far greater danger" than accused American Taliban John Walker Lindh.

The letter, which is being used by the National Conservative Campaign Fund to raise money for conservative candidates, compared Daschle's successful defeat of the Bush administration's plan for exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other Republican initiatives with Walker Lindh's alleged treason. After stating that Walker Lindh might deserve to die for joining the Muslim extremists in Afghanistan, NCCP head Tom Phillips said Daschle was an even greater danger.

"A few weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle also undercut America -- by engineering the defeat of President Bush's plan to expand oil drilling in Alaska, thus ensuring that America will remain energy-dependent on oil-rich Arab nations that promote terrorism," the letter says. "The fact is, by defeating the Bush drilling plan, the liberal Democrat majority leader in the Senate has put America in far greater danger than 'Johnnie Taliban' ever could."

Assistant Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters Thursday that he found the letter on the desk of an unnamed colleague on the Senate floor. He then got copies from other sources and condemned the group and called upon Republicans to reject the tactic and contributions from the group.

Conservative activist and lobbyist Mike Collins said the group's tactic was counterproductive.

"Phillips should switch to decaffeinated (coffee)," he said upon reviewing the letter.

Reid, Daschle's No. 2, said that, as a Nevada politician, he has seen tough tactics, but remains offended by even the slightest incitement of violence.

"I have seen a lot of things in politics. I have been involved in a lot of rough-and-tumble races in my time, but this is way outside the bounds of decency," Reid said. "I think it is vicious and consider this as an incitement of violence against my friend Tom Daschle."

According to Federal Election Commission records, the NCCP gave $76,000 in the last election cycle to Republican candidates involved in national races, putting it among the top 100 campaign contributors to the GOP. The fundraising portion of the letter released by Reid indicates the donations to the group will be used in campaigns by conservative candidates in an effort to retake the Senate from the Democrats, who hold a single seat majority.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., could not be reached for comment on Reid's request that Republicans reject further donations from the group, and his spokesman did not return repeated phone calls.