Posted on 02/01/2007 8:02:07 AM PST by Battle Hymn of the Republic
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS DEEPLY, AND RICHLY, CONNECTED TO TECH
When former Vice President Al Gore addresses a gathering of Silicon Valley business and civic leaders in San Jose on Friday, he will do so not only as the world's premier crusader on the peril of climate change, but also as a valley insider -- a key board member of Apple, an adviser to Google, an entrepreneur himself.
But what is less known -- and what could become a political problem -- is the way Gore has become enmeshed, and enriched, in Silicon Valley through his association with a close-knit elite that includes Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and venture capitalist John Doerr, a Google director.
A case in point concerns Apple's stock option improprieties. Gore served as chairman of an internal review, conducted by outside attorneys and accountants, that concluded there was no misconduct by Jobs and other members of current management.
Gore, as a private citizen, is no longer obligated to make financial disclosure statements. But the value of his director's option grant in Apple -- awarded upon his board appointment in March 2003 -- shows a net gain of nearly $4.7 million. He is due 10,000 more options on each forthcoming anniversary with the company.
Google is vague about Gore's role. ``The form his counsel takes is varied,'' said Jon Murchison, a Google spokesman. ``We appreciate the fact that he has made himself available in whatever way is necessary and helpful.''
Some of Gore's speaking engagements are gratis and some command fees, such as the $75,000 he received for a recent talk at Syracuse University. Russell Hancock, CEO of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, said he signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding Gore's fee to speak...
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
There is a comment field at the bottom of the mercury News article - feel free to make constructive criticism.
The only way of fighting Gore's loonie ideas is with REAL understanding and communicating this to the American people.
It would only be a political problem if Gore had a political future. He does not.
Propping Al Gore up as an "intellect" is like trying to convince me that Helen Thomas is a super model.
Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his bucket of lies and junk-science in an Inconvenient Truth? This is the definition of a soft "man".
He never achieved anything except being born into a politically powerful family, he's never had an original idea in his life. He's only capable of regurgitating others political "ideas" with the stiffest of deliveries, only concentrating on what he's memorized, what a joke and loser of a man.
Check this out...the guy does a really funny spoof of Al Gore and his affinity for technology!
After all, AlGore attempts to censor global warming "deniers".
AKA "Operation Whitewash".
Lol, Gore's just warming up a bit here after all the cold weather!
I never understood people on here avoiding products from companies he is associated with. I have no problem supporting them. Keeping him in the private sector seems like a great idea to me.
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