Gore shouldn't tell us to fall in line

[tpub]

I'm disappointed in Al Gore. Sure, I would've loved it if he had endorsed John Kerry instead. But I don't think it's right that he tried to tell Democrats to fall in line and stop criticizing Dean, especially when a number of us don't believe Dean will be able to beat Bush in the general election.

The media has had a great time covering Dean's story. But the real battle has yet to begin. Not a single vote has been cast. Next month we will start to see who voters really prefer.

[molly]

1. Someone called me this morning

and he had missed the Gore support announcement - caught it when he picked up a newspaper last nite. He was in shock! He has not picked a candidate yet, but felt it was premature and a very bad move.

You got it here ....."But the real battle has yet to begin. Not a single vote has been cast. Next month we will start to see who voters really prefer."

[LA4Kerry]

2. Letter writing campaign

That's exactly right, tpub! I'm on a letter writing campaign this morning on this very subject...here's the letter I'm sending. You with me?

December 11, 2003

Because our primary is so late in the year, it's disappointing that the nomination process is sometimes decided before it gets close to Louisiana. In 2004, let's make sure the Democratic nomination is not decided before it gets to Iowa!

What has happened here? Will we allow the anointing of a Democratic nominee before one vote has been cast? Is this still the land of the free; do we still have a democracy? Disenfranchising voters is happening all too often of late, and it is beyond belief that Al Gore may have a role to play in it this time.

Furthermore, no one really believes that Howard Dean can beat George W. Bush in November 2004. It becomes even more unbelievable that Al Gore may have a role to play in the re-selection of this President!

Name
Address

[liberalhistorian]

5. ROFLMAO!

You have GOT to be kidding me, right? Jesus, people are acting as if Gore has anointed Dean king and demanded that everyone vote for him or they'll be shot on sight! HE HAD THE RIGHT TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE! His endorsement does not automatically "crown" the candidate. And he explicitly said in his speech that he would fully support and campaign for whoever won the nomination, even if it wasn't Dean. And it it not premature, a lot of endorsements are made before primaries.

[Kahuna]

8. He did anoint him King! When you tell other candidates..

that they're wasting their time and to fall in line to support Dean, that's exactly what he did!

[LuminousX]

15. If Gore had that kind of power, Dean would have the nomination

Since Dean doesn't have the nomination, Gore doesn't have that kind of power.

Gore's remarks were about eating our own. There are ways to campaign that don't cut at the base of the opponent.

We are in a war with friends... we need to make sure at the end of the day, nobody is seriously hurt.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberalhistorian]

13. LOL!

That was my reaction as well.

[tpub]

17. oh?

people here who don't support Dean are freepers?

[deminflorida]

12. Thank's where can I get a list of Addresses in New Hampshire

and Iowa to send this letter to? Do you mind if I cut and paste it?

[LA4Kerry]

14. Please feel free to copy!

I have the address for the Des Moines Register:

[e-mail]

[9119495]

19. I really believe Dean can beat bush so your letter is inaccurate.

Did you mean to say a specific number but it came out "No one really believes...?"

In my letters to people urging them to support Dean, I'm always respectful of other candidates and their chances. I wish all would join me in this.

[helleborient]

20. Unfortunately the letter is a lie...

I firmly believe Howard Dean can beat George W. Bush.

[diamondsoul]

39. I agree, helle.

While I personally dislike Dean for my own reasons, I firmly believe he can beat Bush, and I respect those of you who support him.

[drfemoe]

34. No One?

"no one really believes that Howard Dean can beat George W. Bush in November 2004. "

I think a LOT of people would be surprised that you think that.
You'll find many people at DU really believe Dean can take out *u*hco. Once J Baker (Kerry's friend) gets through taking over the current misadministration, people will be begging the democrats to take back our country.

welcome to DU :hi:

[Rose Siding]

38. I suppose that's one way to go

But the letter writing campaign to Iowa has been so successful, you might want to consider something a little more positive. You don't want to shackle yourself with that "anger" thing.

There's more strength in saying any one of our candidates could beat George Bush. Joey Tribiani could beat him as long as the people are behind him.

[liberalhistorian]

3. Why should he have endorsed Kerry?

He's been against the Iraqi invasion from the beginning, because he could see the real reasons for it and knew Shrub was lying, so why would he have endorsed a candidate who voted for the IWR when he damn well should have known better?

The only reason Kerry voted for the IWR was political expediency, there's no way he could have actually believed Shrub's lies. I don't want a president who acts on political expediency, recklessly and knowingly endangering the lives of American soldiers.

And, if he really believed Shrub, that makes it even worse as far as I'm concerned. And if Gore had endorsed Kerry or any other candidate, said candidate's supporters would be singing a different tune.

Once again, for the five millionth time: Gore has the right to endorse whoever he wants and to make that endorsement public. He does not "owe" his endorsement to anyone.

[LA4Kerry]

4. Missed the point

I'm not suggesting he should have endorsed Kerry (although that would have been a better choice!)

I'm suggesting he should not participate in the coronation of a particular Dem candidate before one vote is cast!

[liberalhistorian]

6. And once again, I say that Gore

was not "coronating" anyone, he was simply expressing an endorsement of a particular candidate. As I said above, he explicitly stated in his speech that he would fully support whoever the nominee was, even if it wasn't Dean. And again, why should he have endorsed Kerry, since Kerry voted for the IWR out of, I'm beginning to believe, pure political expediency, and he knew better.

[tpub]

7. I'm not here to discuss the IWR

though I completely disagree with you that Kerry voted for political expediency.

Maybe you should read my post again. I didn't say Gore owed his endorsement to anyone. I said I would've loved it if he endorsed Kerry. I'm disappointed that he tried to tell Democrats to fall in line at this point. But I'm repeating myself. Either you didn't read my post or you're responding to someone else, not me.

[GalleryGod]

26. For an Alleged "Historian" you don't know much "History"

Albert "Just Call Me Al" Gore's endorsement is worthless in 21st Century American Politics...the dust-up has been silly & overblown, much like the discourse on this website.:puffpiece:

[drfemoe]

35. The reason he voted

for it was because he is part of the group of dems in the house/senate who do NOT believe the true government of this nation (the People) have or should have any *Power*.

Res referred to the no-war crowd as "focus groups" (with his habitual smirk). Who among our elected officials stood up to say, "These are our People"? It's a pure failure to honestly and truthfully represent your consituency.

The dems who sincerely had reservations could at least have stalled until after the elections.

It wasn't to be.

[asjr]

9. I don't feel

Gore is trying to tell us what to do. You are not required to do anything he says. I don't know who will be the nominee, but I will support the nominee. I think what brought gore to Dean's table is the Iraq issue. Gore was against it from the beginning as was Dean. We all knew Gore would endorse someone and I feel the timing is irrelevant. The media has made far too much about Gore not endorsing Lieberman. We all have our choices and that is our right. We need not be "follow the gang." I do believe in loyalty, but not for the wrong reasons. Let's just all let it play out. We each still have a vote in this and I feel we all matter. I am somewhat older than most of you and I have seen so much in my day. Older doesn't make one any wiser, but experience does. Our charge is to get rid of this evil administration and what it has done to our country. We are all so eager for that to happen it sometimes clouds the issues. We still have the right to say what we think. And on DU we do and many state the reasons. That is good in a free country. I do not denigrate anything anyone says on this board. Thank God we have that privilege. If Democrats don't win I foresee the diminishing of that privilege.

[liberalhistorian]

10. Very well said,

thank you!

[pruner]

16. those grapes of yours sure are sour…

A rising sense of injustice

Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean gives voice to Democratic voters' outrage over the 2000 election -- and the spineless conduct of their party since then.

By Sidney Blumenthal

Dec. 11, 2003 | Since the trauma of the 2000 election the Democrats have endured a history of loss and defeat, not only of office and program but identity, self-confidence and self-respect. As a congressional party that lost its majority in 2002, it has seemed to be in a nightmare from which it is incapable of escaping. Republican bullying has been met almost inevitably by Democratic cowering, the ruthless will to power by timid retreat. Before this spectacle, Democratic voters have felt themselves unrepresented and voiceless. But until the presidential candidacy of Howard Dean their burning sentiments lacked expression. Now, Al Gore's early endorsement of Dean dramatically amplifies them and partly explains them.

…

All the major Democratic candidates running for president from the Congress voted for the war resolution. Only Howard Dean, the only key noncongressional candidate in the race, stood against it. The late entry, former Gen. Wesley Clark, not only flip-flopped on the war -- in effect turning himself into a congressional Democrat -- but declared that he had voted for Nixon, Reagan and the elder Bush, and spontaneously volunteered that he's for a constitutional amendment banning the burning of the U.S. flag, a hoary Republican demagogic device.

Al Gore's endorsement of Dean is the most important since grainy film was shown at the 1992 Democratic convention depicting President John F. Kennedy shaking hands with an eager teenage Bill Clinton. Gore's endorsement is not the passing of the torch to a new generation, but another conferring of legitimacy. For Democrats, he personifies the infamy of the last election. He is not another politician, but the rightfully elected president -- by a popular majority of 539,895 votes.

But the Gore of today is not the Gore of 2000. The careful political figure trying to distance himself from Clinton and contorting his personality to project likability has been tempered by defeat. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd just let it rip," Gore told the small group of his supporters a year ago. "To hell with the polls, the tactics, and all the rest. I would have poured out my heart and my vision for America's future." Gore now calls the right-wing media a "fifth column" within journalism, and he's raising millions to build a TV network of his own as an alternative. In his own way, he's absorbed the lessons of the past three years and become a representative Democrat. His endorsement of Howard Dean is his commentary on his campaign and the conduct of his party since.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2003/12/11/gore/?ref=http://www.salon.com/src/ads/soe/esa/action.asp

[tpub]

18. that's odd

I keep re-reading my post and I don't notice anything sour about it. I admitted I was disappointed and would have loved it if Gore had endorsed Kerry. But believe me I still would've been unhappy if Gore had told everyone to fall in line behind Kerry.

[Demobrat]

21. When did Gore tell everybody to fall in line?

I remember Clinton saying that at the Harkin Steak Fry, but not Gore. Do you have a link?

[genius]

23. It explains why Bush is in the White House.

Gore fell in line like he wants us to. Four more years of Bush.

[genius]

22. Gore fell in line and that's why Bush is in the White House

Gore fell in line on Dec 12, 2000 when he stepped down because his handlers told him to do so. He fell in line when he told Democratic Senators not to object to the wrong Florida electors. Boxer was prepared to object if Gore had wanted her to. Gore fell in line when he let the DLC convince him not to run and now he has fallen in line by letting the party conservatives tell him to endorse a conservative Republican for the Democratic nomination.

My respect for Gore has gone way down. I was one of his strongest supporters. Now I have to ask: If he were to become President, who would be calling the shots? It certainly doesn't look like it would be him.

[killbotfactory]

24. He didn't tell anyone to fall in line

Jesus, it was an endoresment, not a command. He asked people to support Dean and said he respects people who don't, but to stop the mudslinging. That's pretty much it.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

25. Thank you

Some people are really in a tizzy over this. But I suppose it's understandable, I might feel the same way if Gore had endorsed Clark or Kerry or someone else. :)

[Padraig18]

27. Gore didn't tell *anyone* to 'fall in line'.

He endorsed Gov. Dean, which it is perfectly within his rights to do. I think the outrage stems far less from the fact that it was 'early', or any of the other specious objections I hear raised, than it does from recognition of the fact that it was a hugely important and desired endorsement to receive.

[Meshuga]

28. I feel the same way...

It's okay that Gore chose to endorse Dean. But who the hell is he to tell people to fall in line. That's the part that made me disappointed with Gore.

[Padraig18]

29. Bob Boudelang moment, almost...

Gore did NOT tell anyone to fall into line, so please quit repeating that falsehood; what Gore did was to endorse Dean and urge others to do the same. Don't put words in Gore's mouth, please.

[diamondsoul]

41. It's not putting words in his mouth-

It's questioning the words he chose to speak.

I don't have a problem with the endorsement. As my candidate said "Well I can't say I was really counting on it", so it's not a big deal to me, but I do take exception to the implication that all voters should support Dean at this point, and that IS what he implied with his comments.

[RetroLounge]

30. Poop!

eom

[Hope4]

31. This is what the two camps are doing let us suprise them

Show the Clark power group and dean power group that we will not select but elect and vote for one of the others (abcd) in Iowa and NH. It would be fun to see the others win a state each to start and none for dean and clark (is he a dem yet?).

That would make the media stand up and look.

Elect, don't select.

[drfemoe]

37. What would be fun about that . exactly?

are you suggesting Clark or Dean supporters abandon their candidate and vote for any of the others?

It would be fun to see the others win a state each to start and none for dean and clark (is he a dem yet?).

Or do you mean you haven't decided yet who to vote for?

welcome :hi:

[redqueen]

40. I think what would be funny

Is the media's having to scramble to try to redirect all their focus. It would be HILARIOUS, IMO.

The media's treatment of politics like some kind of bastard stepchild to me is absolutely out of control. I would LOVE to see them sent into total chaos this way. :)

[redqueen]

32. "All of us need to get behind the strongest candidate"

"Democracy is a team sport. I want to do everything in my power to convince you to get behind Howard Dean... All of us need to get behind the strongest candidate.

"I'm asking all of you to join in this grassroots movement to elect Howard Dean president of the United States."
--------

IF someone would like to post more where the ellipsis is, that would be great.

I don't see this as anything BUT a request for everyone to fall in line.

It's not an order, no. But it's not a request, either:

"I want to do everything in my power to convince you to get behind Howard Dean..."



And I won't even START on his 'only leading candidate to blah blah blah'...

[adadem]

33. Thanks

I have no problem with the endorsement but the tone of those words really turned us off.

[drfemoe]

36. Well that reads like an endorsement not a commandment

to fill in the ...

"I want to do everything I can to convince you to get behind Howard Dean and let's make this a successful campaign as a group. It is about all of us and all of us need to get behind the strongest candidate. Now I respect the prerogative of the voters and the caucuses and the primaries. I'm just one person, but I'm offering my judgment and I'm also going to say one other thing here," Gore continued.

"Years ago, former president Ronald Reagan said in the Republican Party that there ought to be an 11th commandment, speak no ill of another Republican. We're Democrats and we may not find that kind of commandment as accessible, but to the extent that we can recognize the stakes in America today, I would urge all of the other candidates and campaigns to keep their eyes on the prize. "

... con't http://www.deanforamerica.com/
bolding added

The commandment he suggests is "to keep their eyes on the prize".