Posted on 10/18/2002 5:06:52 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
Ex-vice president gets college crowd behind him during Valley visit.
BETHLEHEM TWP. PA-- Republicans have completely mismanaged the American economy since George W. Bush became president almost two years ago, former Vice President Al Gore charged during a stump speech Thursday at Northampton Community College.
"If you compare what's happened today to what was happening during the Clinton-Gore years, the turnaround has been so dramatic and taken us so far down, there has not been such catastrophic mismanagement of America's economy since the presidency of Herbert Hoover," Gore said during a half-hour speech.
Hoover was president when the Great Depression began in 1929. Gore lost the controversial 2000 election to Bush and served as vice president under former President Bill Clinton from 1993-2001.
"Speaking of my good friend Bill Clinton, I think he and I did an awfully good job." the Democrat from Tennessee said to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 300 at the college's Lipkin Auditorium.
Gore visited the Lehigh Valley on Thursday to stump for Ed O'Brien, the Democrat trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley. He also helped raise money for O'Brien and state Rep. T.J. Rooney, D-Northampton/Lehigh.
O'Brien introduced Gore as "the man who won the popular vote," and before getting into the meat of his speech, Gore quipped, "I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States."
Gore later asked the crowd how they felt when Bush won the Electoral College vote after the U.S. Supreme Court stopped a recount of the popular ballot in Florida. Several people yelled out to him.
"Yeah, you got screwed," one person shouted.
Gore then asked, "Whatever word you use to describe it, are you over that?"
"No!" the crowd responded in unison.
"I want you to take those feelings, and I want you to hold them right here, at least for the next three weeks," Gore said with his hand on his chest. "And anytime somebody tells you that it doesn't matter which candidate wins or which political party wins, I want you to tap into those feelings and think about what kind of future you would like to have."
Gore compared the Nov. 5 mid-term elections to half-time of a football game.
"If you're behind by 50 points, the quarterback is getting sacked and things aren't going well, you may want to make some personnel changes," Gore said. "Come up with a new game plan."
Gore then asked, "Are you better off than you were two years ago?"
"No!" the crowd answered, again in unison.
"Two years ago, we had the biggest surpluses in the history of the United States and the history of the world," Gore said. "Two years ago, we had the strongest economy the United States of America has ever had. ... Well, that's changed. ... But if you would like a new game plan and put some different players on the field to try to get things moving in the right direction, I would like to ask you to vote for Ed O'Brien for Congress."
Gore said he agrees that "Saddam Hussein is a bad guy and the world is going to be a better place if he's removed from power. But if you're going after Jesse James, you have to organize the posse first, and you ought to go about it in a deliberate manner. And I'm hopeful that we will do that."
Gore said the Bush administration's focus on Iraq could distract from the war on terror. Before introducing Gore, O'Brien said he disagreed with the congressional resolution authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq.
Toomey campaign spokesman Morrie Pulley said of Gore's visit to the Lehigh Valley, "He's going around getting ready to run for president. O'Brien saying he's here stumping for him is an exaggeration. He's here for T.J. Rooney and Al Gore. Ed O'Brien is an afterthought."
O'Brien campaign spokeswoman Kimberly Kowalchik responded, "The Toomey campaign is in denial. Al Gore spoke out publicly endorsing Ed O'Brien. Al Gore doesn't have to be told what to do."
The White House declined comment when asked about Gore's comments, according to the Associated Press.
Gore has said he will decide by year's end whether he will run for president in 2004. After finishing his speech at the community college, Gore shook hands and chatted with some of the people in the auditorium.
Marilyn Lieberman, chairwoman of the Northampton County Industrial Development Authority, said she enjoyed Gore's quips and anecdotes.
"He's loosened up," said Lieberman, a former county councilwoman and a Democrat from Plainfield Township.
Lieberman's daughter, Becky, introduced O'Brien to the crowd at the auditorium. Becky Lieberman is president of the community college's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for students in two-year colleges.
"Gore-Lieberman has a nice ring to it," Gore said during his address. "They're not related, but Becky, you have a great future."
Gore was referring to his 2000 running mate, U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. Becky Lieberman said she briefly spoke to Gore before they entered the auditorium, and she said Gore asked if she was related to his former running mate.
"We always say we are," she joked, standing next to her mother.
Reporter Michael P. Buffer can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at mpb@express-times.com.
Republicans have completely mismanaged the American economy since George W. Bush became president almost two years ago, former Vice President Al Gore charged during a stump speech Thursday at Northampton Community College.
But if you would like a new game plan and put some different players on the field to try to get things moving in the right direction, I would like to ask you to vote for Ed O'Brien for Congress."
THE MOST useful idiot of them all. LOL!
Compare his(or Daschles)harsh rhetoric to that of President Bush on his campaign appearances. Bush, like Reagan before him, is always upbeat and positive. He's always looking ahead.
I can't help but think that the contrast cannot be lost on the average voter.
Come to think of it AlGorebatross has only campaigned for 2 Tennessee canidates. Leftist boby clement who is running against Lamar, and socialist sherry fisher who is running against Heroine anti-income tax warrior Mae Beavers for state Senate.
Weasel phil refuses to call in the dem big guns shillary, slick, dashole, gebhard, teddy K, leaky leahy, kkk byrd.
Gore's role minor in state politics Bredesen keeping his distance from ex-vice president
This tool is going to carry this miserable obsession with him like Captain Ahab until the day he dies.
What could be more beautiful? Heh-heh.
Rep. Toomey, the conservative congressman that Gore was campaigning against, is also positive. O'Brien, the opponent, is a typical Carvile, negative, and despicable Democrat running around scaring people for months now.
I asked my niece on Sunday who the Vice-President is, and she didn't know. She'll be voting in 2 yrs.
Believe it or not, I'm sorry to say that a lot of people in my area like Al Gore.
Believe me when I tell you that some of these Democrats and union people have been brainwashed, and they think Gore's great.
The problem is that a large number of Americans really seem to believe this scenario.
A lot of Americans do believe this propaganda, but I think more people realize the effect 9/11 had on the economy.
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