Gore's 2000 campaign team (including Chris Lehane and Donna Brazile) have stated pubicly that Gore has not changed, the times have changed. People I know personally who worked with Gore when he was VP say the same thing. The problem is that the mainstream media did not cover anything Gore did or said during his tenure as Vice President, during the 2000 campaign, or 90% of the time now.
They complained all through 2000 that Gore "lacked passion" because Gore was not passionate about the things they cared about - - cutting the estate tax. Gore's passion for civil rights, economic justice, the environment, etc. were dismissed as Gore's "failed populism". What happened is that too many of us in the grassroots were unable or unwilling to find out what Gore actually did and said, and believe the spin that the media spoon feed them.
The thing that most proves Gore's passion and commitment to me is the fact that he saved the life of my best friend's son, Ian, by embarrassing Aetna into living up to its contract. (Gore told Ian's story thousands of times during the 2000 campaign, but he never mentioned his role in keeping Ian alive.)
http://www.babyian.comHere are a few excerpts from some Gore speeches from 2000 which, IMNSHO, prove my point (I would have a lot more, but I did not have the foresight to tape every one of his campaign speeches, and I don't have transcripts for all the ones I do have):
The beginning of his Nov. 27th 2000 remarks on contesting the Florida Vote count:
http://www.algoredemocrats.com/news/gnn/EpEZyAFEAFbYKpmFhT.shtmlEvery four years, there is one day when the people have their say. In many ways the act of voting and having that vote counted is more important than who wins the majority of the votes that are cast. Because whoever wins, the victor will know that the American people have spoken with a voice made mighty by the whole of its integrity.
On that one day every four years, the poor as well as the rich, the weak as well as the strong, women and men alike, citizens of every race, creed and color, of whatever infirmity or political temper all are equal. They are equal, that is, so long as all of their votes are counted.
A vote is not just a piece of paper. A vote is a human voice, a statement of human principle, and we must not let those voices be silenced. Not for today, not for tomorrow, not for as long this nation’s laws and democratic institutions let us stand and fight to let those voices count.
The end of his Oct. 14th 2000 speech at Wayne State University:
http://www.algoredemocrats.com/news/gnn/EpEyAuVZEyAsTXRtOZ.shtmlWhen you leave this place, I want you to think long and hard about what you personally will say to one of your neighbors or one of your friends who, in an idle moment says: "I'm not sure who I'm going to vote for, what do you think?" I want you to arm yourselves, I want you to arm yourselves not only with the names Gore and Lieberman and Stabenow and Kilpatrick and all the other candidates that you support. I don't want you to just say "Vote for Al Gore". I want you to arm yourselves with the arguments about these issues that we've discussed here. Take some time to tell them that prosperity itself is on the ballot this fall.
Prosperity itself is at stake in this election. Jobs are at stake. Families are at stake. Health care, our schools, the environment - - they're at stake. Social Security is on the ballot this fall. Medicare is on the ballot this fall. Prescription drugs are on the ballot this fall. Civil Rights are on the ballot this fall.
Now, after you have given your choice and after you have given them your reasons, then I want you to give something else. And this is the last thing I'm going to ask you for. It's something that is difficult for you to give. It's something that people hardly ever give any more. I want to ask you to open your hearts and push past any fear of disillusionment, push past any fear of disappointment, push past any fear of having a broken heart, once you have invested your heart in the outcome of this election and in your choice for the future of our nation. Too many good people with high ideals and strong dreams have themselves decided to remain at arm's length from the political process, because they believe their hearts are brittle. And they don't want to get too involved, because if they get their hopes up, their hopes might be shattered. If they get their dreams invested in a particular outcome, then they think they might be disappointed and they may not be able to handle it.
Hear me well: your hearts are not brittle. Our country is not brittle. Your future is at stake. We need you - - not only to give them your choice and to give them the reasons - - give them your passion. If anybody is cynical, if anybody says it doesn't make a difference who wins, it doesn't make a difference which agenda governs us over the next four years, it doesn't make a difference the direction we take, I want you to tell them: "Wait a minute! I know for a fact that it makes a difference. It makes a difference to me. It makes a difference to you. It makes a difference to your family." And one of the reasons is it makes a difference if you have a President who's willing to fight for you. I ask for your passion, I want your hearts, I want your vote, I want your enthusiasm, because I want to fight for you! I want to fight for your families! I want to fight for Michigan, and Detroit and your future! God bless you. Let's win this election!
The end of his speech to the 2000 NAACP Convention:
http://www.algoredemocrats.com/news/gnn/EpkAuFlEFZeDtlVuMP.shtmlTalk doesn't cost much. The true test is to come here to Baltimore and vow to appoint a Supreme Court that lives up to the legacy of this city's greatest son, Thurgood Marshall, and interprets the Constitution in the way our founders intended it to be interpreted, not to give a commitment to the far right wing to stack that court, because stacking the court would threaten civil rights and threaten the fundamental guarantees of liberty in this country.
And when there is a closed-door meeting with the far-right-wing representatives and they come out and say that, "We heard everything we needed to hear about the Supreme Court," that may not be public, but it is not difficult to understand.
Talk doesn't cost much. The true test is telling Trent Lott and Tom DeLay the time has come for a tough new law against hate crimes because they are different.
We need to pass hate crimes legislation, because when we don't stamp out the sparks of hatred, we risk a fire at the very foundation of our house.
And when James Byrd is dragged to his death behind a pickup truck, then the governor of his home state ought to at least heed the family's plea for action.
In the words of James Byrd's nephew, "I asked him personally if he would use his influence to help pass the bill, and he told me no."
One brief sentence that said the word "yes" would have mattered a whole lot more to the cause of justice than a whole speech that didn't even mention hate crimes, the future of the Supreme Court, taking down the Confederate flag, ending racial profiling or defending affirmative action or Bob Jones University. One sentence with the word "yes" would have mattered a whole lot more.
I'm not asking you to read my lips, I'm asking you to read my heart and watch my feet and watch the work of my hands when joined with yours.
Standing together, marching together, we have a lot of work to do.
Let's heed the lessons of Clarence Mitchell, Charles Hamilton Houston, Roy Wilkens and Ben Hooks, Rosa Parks. Let's fight together. Let's struggle together. Allow yourselves to believe that we can do the right thing and be the better for it.
Let's make this country what it is intended to be. Let's rise above our differences. Let's establish respect for difference. Let's pass the legislation. Let's make the march that will take us to the mountaintop of justice and prosperity and progress and freedom for all of the people of the United States of America.
I want your help. I want to fight for you. I want to fight for your families and the future of America.
God bless you and thank you.
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