"President Gore?"
The 2000 election is over a year and a month away, yet we hear and see little else in the media than George W., Al, Bradley, Dole, Pat, McCain, Orrin, and the others. Al Gore, despite having been the Vice President during basically eight years of prosperity, cannot seem to get a break. No polls show him even coming close to Bush, and this past week, one poll places Bill Bradley closer to George W. than it does Gore. Why?
Al Gore, a man who seems to have all the right opinions on all the right issues at all the right times, can�t manage to get a point in his favor. When he does say something not on mark (for example, his Internet creationism argument), the little positive press he does receive is lost for months. What can someone in his position do?
He needs to fight. That much can be said. The "Rose Garden" campaign is obviously not getting Al anywhere, and if he wants to be more than a footnote in a couple of history books, then he had better come out swinging. The man has solid plans, a great heart, and a powerful vision for our nation. No other candidate can claim to have all three of these essential qualities.
Albert Gore, Jr. can. He needs to spend the next thirteen months living those plans, that heart, and that vision. As Bush�s once-impenetrable wall of compassionate conservativism crumbles around him, people will see that phrase for what it truly is - lip service. I am not in agreement with most Democrats; I do believe in compassionate conservativism. I have seen it in many dedicated public servants. I have not, however, seen it in George W. Bush. In his words I do not hear compassion, I hear condescension. In his actions, I do not see compassion, I see a tortured, unforgiving compromise. In this important millennial election, I do not see George W. Bush reuniting our country with a vision of inclusion. I do, however, see a man whose past political actions have served to divide Texans, and whose vision is one of exclusion. That is not the way to begin an Administration, let alone a century.
Vice President Gore needs to get out on the campaign trail and show Americans the vision that he holds in his heart and the plans to make it happen that he carries in his briefcase. Only then will people know the Al Gore who should be President. Only then will we all know a President Gore.