Why all the fuss about Gore?

[littlejoe]

Since most of the candidates were vying for his endorsement, isn't it more like a case of sour grapes now? Would Lieberman be complaining if Al Gore came out in support of him now? What about Kerry or Gephart or the rest? No. They would be ecstatic to have his endorsement.

[CMT]

1. of course

what you say is true.

[Larkspur]

2. It's evident that they are crybabies

Dean earned his quality endorsements -- IUPAT's, SEIU's, AFSCME's, Rep Jackson Jr.'s, and Gore's. He worked for them and built the greatest grassroots movement in history. Dean's endorsements, especially Gore's, recognize that.

The others' campaigns are either stalling or never caught on to begin with. They are sucking lemons because of their bad decisions or because of their lack of ability to connect to primary voters and activists they need.

[mmonk]

3. Your point is?

Yes, to some it would matter to have his endorsement. The fuss, I think, is more of an inference that's its time to line behind Dean for the nominee instead of further debating.

[littlejoe]

4. I thought I made my point very clear.

Are you going to tell me that Wesley Clark would have turned down Gore's endorsement, instead telling him that maybe we ought to wait until the primaries are over? I don't think so.

[mmonk]

5. No

I don't make that claim. I'm sure he would accept it. I was saying Gore's inferences in his endorsement speech was what the fuss was about. Also, Gore's a big fish in the democratic sea. That's what makes the inferences sting more to others.

[deminflorida]

7. No, Clark would have accepted his endorsement, thank god....

he didn't have the opportunity. The endorsement to Dean prior to the primaries, has caused people to look at Dean closely now for what he stands for and they are looking at his past records more closely now as well. The candidates themselves are calling Dean on issues that affect moderate democrats in areas other than Iowa and N.H. The right wing has even jumped on board now with a smash Dean crusade, because they think he's going to be the guy and this even before one vote is counted. Even Parody sites have sprung up about him:

www.deanforamericans.com

And Washington insider democrats themselves are starting to question his electibility more seriously than ever.

No it hurt more than it helped in the long run, he may get a bump in the polls, but he has the holiday season to go thru...people go home then and discuss who they'll be voting for and now Dean's under the microscope.

I agree with you that Wes Clark would have accepted the nomination, I'm glad also that it wasn't offered now.

[Jerseycoa]

8. I don't know the answer

But the problem seems not to be in Dean's accepting Gore's endorsement, he would have been a fool not to, but in Gore's deciding all good Dems should come to the aid of the Party and fall in line behind Dean. That's an argument for a general election, not a primary race. Particularly not a primary race that hasn't seen a vote yet. Particularly not from a national leader in the primary's party. It was poorly timed, poorly phrased, poorly executed, and not something any candidate or supporters of any candidate should take lying down. And we're not.

:dem:

[sendero]

6. Because...

.. if the message hurts, shoot the messenger.

[littlejoe]

11. I understand your points

and I am truly sorry for your candidate. Maybe if Clark hadn't waited so long before jumping into the race, maybe if he captured the passion and the imagination of the majority of democrats, maybe if people didn't feel so uneasy because he was a military man....

[mmonk]

14. Its not about Clark

Sounds like a redirect.

[John_H]

9. I don't see much handwringing except on DU

I for one, have sad Gore's endorsement is good for Clark because it will get rid of Lieberman and maybe Gebhardt. Now, do you promise on behalf of the Deanies that there will be no sour grapes if Gebhardt and Clinton endorse Clark? Can we have your word on it?

[littlejoe]

12. You have my word on it,

But don't look for Clinton to endorse Clark now. It would split the party wide open. Clinton is much too astute of a politician to put himself in that place.

[theboss]

15. I would be pissed if Clinton endorsed anyone before the Convention

But no one believes me.

[Cheswick2.0]

10. people are poopyheads

I can understand why it would feel like a blow to supporters of other candidates. What they don't realize is that most people would still prefer to vote for Gore in 2004 given the chance and to attack him turns many of us off.
Gore is doing what he thinks is right and he is doing it for honorable reasons because he is an honorable man. Anyone who doesn't know that is probably not going to get enough respect from me to convince me to favor their candidate... I mean if I was not already. I have not made up my mind.

hey, if you are tired of the rancor, join us in the lounge for the FEEL THE LOVE THREAD

[mmonk]

13. Maybe honorable reasons

but poor method and I'm not worried who's offended by my comments on it just like Gore isn't worried if his words offended anyone.

[caledesi]

16. Yes, any of them would have been ecstatic to get Gore's endorsement.

And Lieberman lied about "not knowing"...Randi Rhodes said he sure as hell did know, so why the "Academy Award" performance?

[theboss]

17. They would have been excited; I'd be angry

Gore should not have endorsed anyone. Period.

And he certainly shouldn't have called for the other campaigns to fall in line behind his choice.

[retyred]

18. Gore is a legend in his own mind

I have no doubt that any of the candidates would have excepte Gore's endorsement, but Gore's attitude of importance was not needed as condition of endorsement.

His statement was one of a self-centered proclimation in assuming his preference should dictate the direction the primary should head, not that he felt dean was the better candidate but that everyone should now stop what their doing and climb on board the dean train because he said so, it was a pompus assed statement.

It will hurt more than help and not just because he endorsed dean, it will hurt because it is Gore and it was done ahead of a vote, it would have carried a lot more weight if he would've waited until a nominee was chosen instead of thinking his endorsement alone should be concieved as the deciding factor.

With Gore on the campaign trail with dean let's hope he keeps it relevant to deans candidacy and not his ever growing head.

I never thought I'd say this about a dean endorsement but, thank god it was given to dean and not Clark.


retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Q]

19. This sounds like 'soreloserman' rhetoric...

...and it's a shame we have to look at this crap on DU. The bitterness coming from some of you is simply astounding. The disrepect you're showing Gore is unnecessary and should be reserved for the enemies of the Democratic party.

- Gore has gone out of his way to stay out of politics since he was exiled by Republicans and Democrats alike. When few in the Democratic party spoke out against Bush*s fascists policies...there was Gore with great speeches telling it like it was.

- I'll never understand the need to attack someone like Gore...who has spent most of his life serving his country.

[littlejoe]

20. Aren't all political endorsements

more or less coronations? And isn't the idea to back a winner? And if you thought you could accomplish that by doing what Gore did, wouldn't you? Is there any politician you can think of that wouldn't resort to those tactics, besides Jimmy Carter? Bill Clinton probably thinks he has just been trumped, and wishes he hadn't underestimated the political savvy of Al Gore. As we all know, all's fair in politics.

[mmonk]

21. Why ask the question

if you don't like the answers? Seems like the answers are going over your head anyway. Its not the endorsement, endorsement recipient, or anything as such. He could have endorsed his campaign without inferring to continue the primary race or to support someone else is some sort of interference with the democratic party's intention or chances to beat bush.

[littlejoe]

22. It's a rhetorical question.

And, it isn't that I don't like the answers. You don't like the answers. We wouldn't be having this conversation if Wesley Clark was the recipient of Al Gore's endorsement. As I said before, sour grapes.

[mmonk]

23. I frankly don't very much care

I was answering the question about what all the fuss was about. But I see it wasn't a question, just an attempt to say "in your face". But since it doesn't bother me much (except for the media attention for awhile), it doesn't work.

[littlejoe]

24. That's the spirit.

Your lucid and well thought out argument has won me over.

[mmonk]

25. I'm curious

Your post count doesn't seem to change (or is it my imagination?) Never mind, its me.