Gore's Endorsement Slaps Bill & Hillary

NewsMax.com ^ | 12/08/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

While the press is focusing on Al Gore's endorsement as a slap in the face to the ever-so-loyal Joe Lieberman, the real story is about Gore's real target: Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Gore is expected to endorse Dean in Harlem, of all places, the adopted home of Hillary and Bill, where the former president's office is situated.

Clearly, Gore knows that Bill and Hillary are trying to stop Howard Dean.

And Dean has made no bones that he'll fire DNC Chief Terry McAuliffe, handpicked by the Clintons.

It's also no secret that the Clintons urged Wesley Clark to run in an effort to stop Dean's momentum, and helped raise his initial funds. Top Clinton aides run Clark's campaign.

And the Clintonistas who don't work for Clark, like Hillary strategist Harold Ickes and former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta, have begun trashing Dean as unelectable in published interviews.

Apparently, Gore would have none of it. He is backing Dean, and early, before a clear front-runner emerges after New Hampshire.

Gore has several reasons for rolling the dice with Dean and slamming the Clintons.

First, it's payback to the Clintons.

Gore has quietly blamed Bill Clinton's scandal baggage as the main reason he lost to Bush in a razor-thin electoral margin in 2000.

Gore and his wife, Tipper, have little love for Hillary, who started the Clinton presidency by demanding she get the office traditionally reserved for the VP in the West Wing.

Things went downhill from there.

There was Hillary's Senate bid in 2000, which Gore believes drained national Democratic Party resources, not to mention publicity, from his presidential campaign.

To add insult to injury, Gore wanted to run in 2004 and views Bush as vulnerable. But Hillary's political machine told top Democratic donors in New York and Hollywood not to back him.

In November 2002 Hillary pointedly pulled the rug out from under Gore when Chris Matthews asked "when" she was going to make a formal endorsement. She declined to say anything nice about her husband's loyal VP, let alone offer an endorsement, much to the chagrin of a stunned Matthews.

A month later, Gore dropped out of the race.

Gore no doubt sees Dean as just desserts for Bill and Hillary.

He may also see Dean as a path for his own return to power.

As NewsMax reported, Gore shares Hillary's view that the Democratic convention next summer may not offer a candidate in the first round of balloting.

While Dean may have the most delegates, he may not have enough to win.

In that case, Hillary envisions a presidential draft that would hand her the nomination at the last minute.

Gore sees the same possibility himself. By aligning himself with Dean, the ex-VP will have the first dibs on any deal cut at the convention. A Gore-Dean ticket may sound crazy now, but it could be a real possibility by next summer.

Editor's Note: Also See "Gore Sees 2004 Option Open"

[squidly]

Now that is interesting, to think that Gore might put himself in a position to be drafted instead of Hillary. This should be a fun election year.

[God luvs America]

Gotta love all this backstabbing amongs the Rats!!

[Az Joe]

There ain't gonna be no draft at the convention! Jeez!!

[Theresawithanh]

It's going to be a fun, and interesting election year! I have to admit, though, I was surprised at Gore endorsing Dean. When I read the first article about it, I thought it was a joke.

We sure have heard many theories - Hillary wants Dean to be nominated, so they'll realize their mistake and nominate her at the convention, Hillary wants a "loser" to run so Bush will win, and she will get the nod for 2008, or that Hillary and Bill want Clark to run, and she'll run as VP.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

This is the exact take I had on Gore's endorsement. It hit me when I read the announcement would take place in Harlem.

After I read that it was easy to see how it laid out. I thought it was just to hold Dean's crazy supporters for 2008 but I can see how it plays for 2004.

[Lancey Howard]

Evening, kat.

Great post. (I love NewsMax!)
BUMP

[archy]

Gore has quietly blamed Bill Clinton's scandal baggage as the main reason he lost to Bush in a razor-thin electoral margin in 2000.

Naturally. Instead of Gore's own drug money scandal baggage in his own family, that cost him his electoral victory in his own state, his home county, and hos own home precinct. Now wouldn't it be interesting if Gore's criminal baggage does damage to Dean's reputation too. Dean's secret records from his period as governor are bad enough, but connected to Gore family drug money ties, they could be really bad news for Dean. And I bet Hillary wouldn't mind spilling the beans in a New York minute.

Watch Gore's blundering cost the Dems yet another election....and offer reports of ties of Howard Dean to Fidel Castro via Gore and his drug money pals.

Convicted cocaine smuggler Jorge Cabrera with Al Gore

[ladyinred]

I keep hearing this, but I wonder if it is true. Are Bill and Hillary really backing Clark? I am confused, as I think the Clinton' s only back themselves, especially Hillary.

[kattracks]

Good evening LH, and thank you.

(So do I)

[sissyjane]

>>A Gore-Dean ticket may sound crazy now, but it could be a real possibility by next summer. <<

Someone shoot me---I know I can't take this!!!

I knew it----It's going to be Dean-Gore.

I'd say I'm moving to Canada, but I hate them even more.

AARGH!!

[squidly]

The thinking is that Clark is running interference for them, just trying to keep the party divided until that day when Hillary chooses to unite it.

[McGavin999]

Oh, this is going to be very interesting. A war between Gore/Dean and the Clintons. They're going to be fighting for the soul (what's left of it) of the democrat party.

[kattracks]

By backing Clark the clintons hoped to stop Dean, whom they don't control. Dean is a real threat to them, so in effect, by backing Clark, the clintons are backing themselves.

[ladyinred]

Oh I see, lol, I think! My , my, those two are something.

[kattracks]

They're going to be fighting for the soul (what's left of it) of the democrat party.

Not to mention the $$$ of the democratic party, although hillary! seems to be making plans for another avenue of that $$$. Amricans Coming Together.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

Somebody should slap Bill & Chillery.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I just read something that made me look at this another way. On another thread the article talked about the Unions and Moveon.org coming to Gore and basically telling him to get on board before he gets left at the station.

If this is true [apparently Moveon.org is the only folks that have been willing to host (read pay for and fill the seats) his political speeches that last year] then it may have been Dean that chose the Harlem location as a slap at the Clintons, which if you think about it is an act that is more in line with his personality than Gore's.

[KellyAdmirer]

I think the author is wrong, the jockeying by Gore and Hillary is not for 2004 at all. It is and always has been all about 2008. I can only hope and pray that the Republicans come up with the best possible candidate then to stop them.

[Jeff Chandler]

A war between Gore/Dean and the Clintons

Is that you, Gordine?