Former conservative ‘blogger' to become Thune senior adviser

By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer | Thursday, April 07, 2005

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A South Dakota State University history professor who ran a computer Web site critical of former Sen. Tom Daschle during the 2004 campaign is joining the staff of Sen. John Thune, the Republican who ended Daschle's 26-year congressional career.

Jon Lauck said Tuesday night that he would begin his new job as senior adviser to Thune sometime this summer. Lauck, who received $27,000 from Thune's campaign last year as a research consultant, said he was excited about the chance to work full time in helping Thune shape national policy on key issues.

"This is a very historic time for our country," the 33-year-old Madison native said. "Why would I want to be digging through the archives and writing history when I could be living history?"

Lauck already has been more than an observer of political history in South Dakota. He helped Thune with agricultural policy research while Thune was in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lauck also is a lawyer who was previously employed with two Sioux Falls law firms. He also worked for the national Republican Party investigating never-substantiated reports of voting improprieties on Indian reservations following Thune's 524-vote loss to Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002.

But Lauck received the most public notice for his computer Web log, "Daschle v. Thune," during the 2004 campaign. The sharply partisan blog gave critical scrutiny to Daschle and his voting record throughout the campaign, sometimes working with Jeff Gannon, a controversial conservative commentator recently scrutinized for his access to White House news briefings.

Another conservative blogger, Jason Van Beek, who was also paid by the Thune campaign for research services in 2004, also joined Thune's staff.

Lauck said he would "retire for a while" from political blogging and expects to maintain a lower profile while working for Thune. He will continue to live in Sioux Falls, making periodic trips to Washington, D.C.

Lauck said he would focus in particular on agricultural issues, including ethanol production and the upcoming rewrite of the federal farm bill.

Thune said Wednesday that Lauck would be a productive addition to his staff.

"Jon has a strong background in agriculture and other issues important to South Dakota, and I am glad he has agreed to join our team this summer," Thune said. "He will do a great job for our state."