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Editor's Note: This article was originally published at Relax Online in April of 2000, before the elections, lawsuits and hanging chad. But we wanted to re-post this opinion because Mr. Gordonson was right -- maybe not for the right reasons -- but because the outcome was the same and you heard it here first!
WHY AL GORE IS UNELECTABLE IN 2000 It's not because he's boring and stiff. It's not because he has less money than the Republicans. And it's not because he won't make a good President. But Al Gore will not be elected President in 2000 because of one man... Bill Clinton. I actually thought about leaving this opinion at that. However, as my editor pointed out, it is necessary to provide a supporting position in order to be taken seriously. Besides, Mr. Gore's political downfall is much deeper than the superficial scandal of Monica Lewinsky, and the Impeachment of our 42nd President. Or is it? The majority of Mr. Gore's political problems start with himself. Born in 1948, Al was the son of Senator Albert Gore Sr. of Tennessee. Although he claims that he was raised on the family farm in Carthage, the reality is that he was a "Washington Brat" spending the majority of his formative years in D.C. He attended Harvard and graduated with honors in 1969, earning a degree in Government. After graduating, he enlisted in the Army, and served his country in Vietnam. Tough duty, as he served as an Army Journalist, and admitted that he never saw any real action. After the war, he and wife Tipper married, and eventually worked together as Journalists at the Nashville Tennessean. Al ran for Congress in 1976, with the support of Senator Gore Sr.'s old political machine, and Junior has been working the family business ever since. It could be said that Al Gore Sr. -- who himself aspired to the high office but was un-electable as President -- groomed Al Jr. for the job since childbirth. After a distinguished carreer in the House, Al Gore Sr. served in the Senate from 1956 to 1971, and was a staunch liberal supporter of Civil Rights legislation and Anti-Poverty measures. His vocal and boisterous opposition to the Vietnam War ultimately led to defeat in his 1970 re-election bid. Al Gore Sr. retired from public life after his defeat, vowing, "The truth shall rise again." He died in December, 1998. The only truth he knew at his death, is that his son was the Vice-President to a soon-to-be Impeached President. If only Bill had resigned, Al Sr. may have realized his dream. Al Gore Jr. actually has been a good public servant. Serving eight years in Congress, then eight more in the Senate, Mr. Gore's political credentials are impeccable. However, his claims of being a Washington outsider are laughable, at least to this writer. While he says that he "understands the working man", he's a bureaucrat, born to a bureaucrat, and groomed to someday run the bureaucracy. Mr. Gore also has the unfortunate knack for over promoting himself, or at least exaggerating his influence or importance. He has claimed on several occaisions, that he "Invented the Internet" and that he coined the phrase "Information Superhighway". Indeed, he has been a strong supporter of the Internet, endorsing initiatives to wire up the public schools and libraries to the 'Net. However his support of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, paints Mr. Gore more as a supporter of Big Business, helping to de-regulate the industry, rather than the "Father of Online Education". By the way, Mr. Gore's campaign funds have been supplimented by numerous soft-money contributions from the Telecommunications Industry. And no he did not invent the Internet, nor did he coin the phrase "Information Superhighway". He was investigated briefly by the Justice Department in 1997 and 1998, for alleged election law violations. Specifically, he was accused of using government facilities (the Office of the Vice President) to solicit campaign contributions for the 1996 elections. He did admit to this, but claimed he did not know he was violating any laws. Although he wasn't exactly cleared from any wrong doing, the Justice Department chose not to pursue any further investigations. 
Mr. Gore's political problems also extend to his wife Tipper. Yes... remember Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center, the organization that testified on Capitol Hill proclaiming the downfall of our society through explicit music lyrics. Her PMRC organization was extremely aggressive towards censoring the Music Industry, specifically Rap artists, proposing the parental warning labels still in use today. The Music Industry caved into the demands of the PMRC, by volunteering to place Parental Advisory labels, or "Tipper Stickers" on albums with explicit lyrics.
Tipper's advocacy of the PMRC mysteriously dissappeared during the Clinton era. Even the White House web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov, only mentions this chapter of Tipper's life in passing, favoring her current interest in promoting such causes as Lead Poisoning awareness. Such a dramatic shift in focus can only be attributed to the Clinton's strong affillation with the Entertainment Industry. The surge of soft money contributions, not to mention all those media types that contributed to the Clinton spin machine through the years, must have put pressure on Tipper to turn off the heat. In the world of the World Wide Web her husband claims to have invented, the PMRC is nowhere to be found. But what would happen if Tipper were first lady in the Internet age? Anyone who would attempt to censor the Music Industry, would have a field day going after the Internet. Besides all the porn, there are thousands of sites like Relax Online that offer unrestricted free speech. And that means that certain words and subjects are presented for anyone to see. If Al Gore is "the Father of the Internet", Tipper Gore as First Lady would be like "Big Brother". She would have a very powerful soapbox to preach a kinder, gentler, and censored Internet... which may mean no more porn. But it would also mean government censorship and control of the Internet, from newsgroups and chatrooms, to sites like this one dedicated to the free excange of ideas. Despite all of Al and Tipper's misgivings, they would probably make a very good First Couple. Al has the potential to be a good President, and continue the "Clinton Economic Boom". Some people will vote for him for this very reason, (eventhough the economic success of the 1990's can only be attributed to the expert management of Alan Greenspan and no one else). His moderate stance with liberal leanings, is far more consistant with the majority of Americans. But when it comes down to that moment of truth -- which box to check -- they won't be voting for Al Gore. At that moment of truth, every voter in the country is going to suffer a massive flashback. As they put their #2 pencil to the ballot, or get ready to throw that switch, a blur of images and soundbites will flash through every voters mind. You are already thinking them now. A crowd of reporters swarming Monica Lewinsky's Watergate Apartment, (what a strange quirk of history that was!). The photos of the Blue Dress, avec Presidental Semen. Ken Starr's quiet arrogance and the frenzied release of The Starr Report. The Congressional sham job they called a Judiciary Committee. The Impeachment Vote... and Trial. The lies that we let Bill Clinton get away with for 8 years will haunt each and every person that votes in 2000. Anyone that voted Bill Clinton into office, will make Al Gore pay for his crimes. Because, quite frankly, Americans are really tired of the political bullshit. We're tired of the high crimes and misdemeanors committed on a daily basis by our elected officials. We're tired of seeing hundreds of millions of dollars going to a political process that is so corrupt, the team with the most money and the best spin always wins. Politicians will always do what they must to raise the money, favors are always granted by the winning party, and the people with big money can buy whatever government policies they want. But the rest of us -- remember us... the voters -- are sick of it. If we do bother to show up for the elections in 2000, we won't be voting for Gore. Bill Clinton and Al Gore promised us the "most ethical administration in history", and instead gorged at the troth of "politics as usual". Sooner or later, the voters will decide enough is enough. The system must change someday, or someday it will totally collapse. Close this window when finished. |