Gore Accuses Bush Administration of an 'Attack on Civil Liberties' After Sept. 11

ABC News.com ^ | 9/16/02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 26 — Democrat Al Gore, criticizing President Bush as he tests the waters for another possible presidential bid, accused the administration Thursday of an "attack on civil liberties" and ignoring signs that Osama bin Laden had been planning a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

It was the former vice president's second scathing attack on Bush in a week.

Speaking at a Democratic fund-raising breakfast in Wilmington, Del., Gore took issue with the administration's handling of intelligence information prior to the Sept. 11 attacks and for its treatment of some terrorism suspects since then.

"The warnings were there" before the attacks, Gore said. He asserted that Bush's Justice Department had devoted more time and agents to investigating a suspected brothel in New Orleans than to monitoring bin Laden and his al-Qaida network.

"Where is the sense of priorities?" asked Gore.

On Monday, in San Francisco, he accused Bush of squandering the international goodwill that the United States had accumulated in the aftermath of the terror attacks by his increasingly hard line on Iraq.

Gore, who was narrowly defeated by Bush in 2000, challenged both the wisdom of targeting Saddam Hussein at this time and the president's suggestions of unilateral U.S. action should he fail to win United Nations backing.

The strong words of the San Francisco speech a rare direct challenge of the popular president's conduct of the war on terrorism caught some Democrats by surprise. But analysts suggested it also emboldened others to speak out, and may have helped pave the way for harsh criticism of Bush on Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

The vice president's activity was widely seen as an attempt to position himself for another run at the presidency in 2004 and to set himself apart from Bush as well as other would-be Democratic contenders ahead of the presidential primary-election season.

"Al Gore is stepping up his political activity in a number of ways by speaking out and traveling across the country to help raise resources for Democrats in the 2002 election," said Jano Cabrera, a Gore spokesman. Gore plans to give another strongly worded policy speech in the coming days, though the exact topic and timing have not been announced.

Gore's Thursday comments came at a fund-raising breakfast for Delaware attorney general candidate Carl Schnee.

Gore said "highly questionable" decisions are being made in the criminal justice system under Attorney General John Ashcroft.

"What's going on nationally, with the attack on civil liberties, with American citizens in some cases just disappearing without right to counsel, without access to a lawyer, I think that is disgraceful," he said.

"I think we need to stand up for our principles in this country and stand up for what this nation represents, even as we face the terrible dangers that we have to confront in the world today," he added.

Gore also decried any efforts to portray Democratic critics of the administration's homeland security plans and possible war with Iraq as unpatriotic or unconcerned about national security.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Gore's vice presidential running mate two years ago, has taken issue with some of Gore's earlier comments that targeting Saddam could damage the war on terrorism.

But he said Thursday on CNN that he considered Gore's criticism of Bush's national security policies "definitely responsible."

He said of Gore, "He's got great credibility on national security matters. He was vice president for eight years, making these kinds of decisions. I think his voice is important to be heard."

Lieberman is exploring a potential presidential bid himself, although has said that he won't run if Gore does. Gore has said he'll make up his mind by December.

Analysts saw Gore's tactic as maneuvering for position in such a race.

"He has gotten out in front of all the other Democrats, even those who have offered some criticism of Bush," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist. Sabato said that Gore is seeking to distinguish himself as "the peace candidate," which can help particularly in Iowa the first presidential caucus and home to a considerable number of anti-war Democrats.

"This is a nomination strategy," Sabato said.

[mhking]

And where the f*** was he for the eight years prior to that point!?!?!????

Al Qaeda didn't hatch this thing overnight!

[Shermy]

He's so timely in voicing the concerns of the American people.

< /sarcasm>

[My2Cents]

I used to thank God every day that George W. Bush is President, and not that other guy. Since Algore's speech to the Commonwealth Club, I thank God TWICE a day that George W. Bush is President.

[OldFriend]

His complaints are contradictory. On the one hand he says we didn't violate enough civil rights to find the terrorists before they struck us and then he is complaining that we are now violating civil rights by trying to prevent the next attack. How very Gore!

[DugwayDuke]

"Al Gore, criticizing President Bush as he tests the waters for another possible presidential bid..."

Evidently, Al Gore will challenge Harry Browne for the leadership of the Libertarian Party.

[areafiftyone]

"What's going on nationally, with the attack on civil liberties, with American citizens in some cases just disappearing without right to counsel, without access to a lawyer, I think that is disgraceful," he said.

If thats the case why don't they just pick him up and make him disappear. I wonder if they need someone to sweep up the woodchips that come out of his head when he finishes his speeches.

[texasbluebell]

bttt

[finnman69]

the funny things is that as Gore makes himself the front runner for 2004, he creates SO MUCH MATERIAL for hi opponents to bash with as he continues to change his past stances and lie about it.

[section9]

Folks, we can't get enough of this.

This stuff is a gift. The most prominent Dems in the country are anti-war, now. That has become the salient political feature of this campaign. Bush has occupied the center and is being attacked from the Left by Gore, Daschle, and other Democrats. The White House understands this now and will have Bush react more in sorrow than in anger, and continue to act to "unify" the country before the terrible task ahead.

The Democrats have unlearned the valuable lessons they learned in 1998. Clinton, despite his criminality, was able to fend off Republican attacks from the "right wing extremists" in the Republican Party precisely because in the mind of the American people, Clinton held the Center! Bush commands the center now, and is about the business of waging war, what Master Sun called "...the most serious business of the State."

These events will prove to be decisive in November and beyond.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[aristeides]

This must be the speech Hannity was referring to.

[areafiftyone]

You are absolutely right! (still wish he'd disappear though!) :-)

[au eagle]

He said of Gore, "He's got great credibility on national security matters. He was vice president for eight years, making these kinds of decisions. I think his voice is important to be heard."

Credibility my butt. These so-called (no)decisions got us where we are today. You lost, algore. Shut up you irrelevent twit and get over it.

[riri]

Credibility my butt

These two were a foreign policy debacle. We didn't lose Germany overnight (No big loss, IMHO but..) nor were Bush et al responsible for almost completely destroying any advances we had made with our relationship with the Russians. As far a foreign policy and national security issues go these two morons were MIA for 8 long, long, long years.

[Havoc]

Gore is irrelevant. He's a sideshow - a distraction at best. He doesn't rate anymore attention on the scale than the lint that gathers on one's butt while sleeping under knit blankets. The effect is lost in the shower when the night time scum is washed away with any decent soap. But it can be an irritant for those who wait till after work to wash LOL.

[layman]

Thank God Dubwa is president!
Signed ... Tipper

[dfwgator]

Sounds to me like Gore is politicizing the war.

[ChadGore]

bttt

[ChadGore]

nice graphic