Daschle faults Bill Clinton's criticisms

AIKEN, S.C., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Tuesday that former U.S. President Bill Clinton's recent criticisms of Barack Obama are not presidential.

"It's not in keeping with the role of a former president," said Daschle, D-S.D., in a conference call with the Illinois senator announcing the creation of the South Carolina Truth Squad ahead of the Palmetto State's Democratic primary election Saturday, The Hill reported.

Daschle said the group will "respond forcefully" to distortions made by the

former president or his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is Obama's chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Daschle said the Clintons are using the same play Republicans used to go after him in 2004, the newspaper reported.

"This is the same kind of tactic that Washington uses quite frequently," Daschle said. "I think it destroys the party. Ultimately, it divides us."