Too bad these kids don't know what he and his brother have called blacks behind their backs, and how he's just using them for his own personal political needs
Posted on 11/03/2002 2:36:51 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
EATONVILLE, Fla. - Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday urged black voters "to walk through fire" to cast their ballots, testifying to his experience during the Florida recount of 2000.
"If anybody ever tells you that one vote doesn't make a difference, ask them to come talk to me," said Gore, who two years ago lost the presidential election to George W. Bush in part because of the electoral debacle in Florida.
That line, repeated at three Orlando-area black churches, was met every time with applause and cries of approval.
Democrats have long regarded black voters as a crucial part of their base, and Gore's appearance was intended to boost Democrat Bill McBride in his race against Gov. Jeb Bush - the president's younger brother.
McBride also appeared with former President Clinton in South Florida during the weekend as part of the party's tactics during the campaign's last weekend to get out the vote.
A large turnout from the Democratic base is crucial to a McBride victory and preventing Bush from becoming the first Republican governor in Florida to win re-election.
Gore cited allegations in the aftermath of the 2000 election that blacks were improperly removed from the voter rolls.
He framed the issue as part of the Civil Rights struggle, even noting that his father had sacrificed to give blacks the vote. Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore Sr. lost his 1970 re-election bid, five years after helping pass the federal Voting Rights Act.
"I want somehow to communicate to you how important I believe it is that you overcome any obstacle, external or internal, to get to the polls," Gore said to a packed house at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. "That you walk through fire, if it's necessary, in order to exercise that right to vote."
Gore's visit was important, said Rep. Corinne Brown, D-Jacksonville, because it offered proof that turnout matters.
"Who better can say it?" asked Brown, who appeared at two churches with Gore. "Clearly, he received more votes in 2000 - 500,000 more nationwide and more in Florida. So, it's important for him to come and say, 'Listen, let's do it again. Let's try it again.'"
In Gore's short addresses, he mixed in self-deprecating humor over his election loss with jabs at the president's record on the economy, the environment and prescription drug plan for senior citizens.
"I'm concerned. For eight years, we had an economic plan that produced the strongest economy in the history of the United States," Gore said during an afternoon appearance at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. "And now, everything that should be up is down, and everything that should be down is up."
While much of Gore's rhetoric was against Bush, he declined to say whether he would run for the White House again in 2004. "I haven't ruled it out, but I'm not going to make a decision until the end of the year," he said.
After Gore's speech at St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church, a parishioner said he found Gore's appearance to be uplifting.
"I sense that people still believe in the vote," said Chris Harris, a 39-year-old computer business owner, "and that's very encouraging."
Gore was traveling to Miami later in the day to attend an early voting event.
LOL! You'd think that blacks would get tired of being lied to and used by the Democrats.
They're still convinced that the Republicans somehow stole their votes in 2002. It's sad how Democrats exploit ignorance to get votes.
So, this has bugged me for a long time...today is Sunday, right? Did I hear any sermon/homily about politics? NO. Were there any politicians there? MAYBE, but they were sitting anonymously in the pews and participating in the celebration of the Mass, and not "preaching" or "campaigning".
Where is the "church and state" rule?!
I'm not a Catholic, I just work there, but I have to say, there's such a thing as respect for the Church, and I expect even President Bush would have a hard time being invited to my church to speak at a worship service/Mass...and he is a devout Christian, unlike (caveat: IMHO) Al Gore...what does "getting out the vote have to do with "whoever would be great must be the least"?!?!
/rant...no offense intended to anyone!
For every black voter Algore's presence in the campaign mobilizes in Florida, it will alienate two Cuban voters who remember the Elian raid by the Klintons regime he was part of and two rednecks in North Florida into voting for Jeb Bush.
Algore in his own words, 1992-2000 - including Earth In The Balance!
This guy's IQ matches the temperature of a stump (about 55 degrees).
Too bad these kids don't know what he and his brother have called blacks behind their backs, and how he's just using them for his own personal political needs
I....have....the...music...in...me...buzz... *click*
Do the right thing.
Jeb's Higher Education Plan Is Clearly Helping Minorities [One Florida works], Tampa Tribune, Mar. '02UF Admissions of Minorities Rise [More good news for Jeb's One Florida plan], The Lakeland Ledger, April '02.
Results don't come in party labels or innocuous words like Affirmative Action. It comes by producing a positive result that improvers our lifestyle and delivers the bacon - and I've come to learn that no ones mastered keeping the bacon away from Black folks more than the Dixiecrats under the guise of the Democrat party.
Under previous administrations and under so-called affirmative action I've never witnessed such a prolific outreach effort by our university system to attract African-Americans students to their campuses - not during the administration of Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles was such an aggressive effort made. My sons and their friends were bombarded with overtures, offers, paid visits, phone calls - you name it to attend the University of Florida and Florida State, the two flagship school in the state's university system. If a young African-American high school graduate with good grades wants to attend at state university today - they're reaching out with open arms.
I dare to be different, I always have - but as voters, especially loyal to the Democrat party we can no longer afford to vote blindly Democrat nor to ignore the rules of exchange - we vote because we want something a candidate has to offer. Bill McBride has offered us nothing - doesn't have an inkling of the issue that affect our community and hopes you will vote - not for him but against Jeb Bush. Isn't that a sorry way to seek your vote?
And no, I don't agree with everything Jeb Bush proposes or some of the Republican rhetoric - the same would apply to almost any politician - but we need to begin voting based on facts and not emotions.
And never in our history has a governor been as accessible as Jeb Bush. Got a question? Bush responds in almost lightning like speed via the Internet. Heck, I could never get a hold of the old he-coon, Lawton Chiles.
Lastly, tell me one, just one major economic initiative under a Florida Democrat governor that was implemented successfully on behalf of Black Floridian. If you like the pandering, the verbal posturing, and empty actions of what you use to get - McBride's probably your man - for me I'm going with Jeb Bush - I like results.
The Broward Time recommends you re-elect Jeb Bush for governor.
How Leftists Play the Race Card Against Conservatives, Dems. made little children so afraid of 'evil Republicans' turning them into slaves, they cried in fear when Pres. Bush was elected.Knock and Drag: Ryan Lizza reveals how Dems. got out the black voteJohn Lott's Florida Election Study: Black Republicans, NOT Democrats had votes tossed in 2000 - in Dem. precincts.The MEMO to disqualify military ballots. Please let me know if you want on or off my "'til election day" Fla. ping list.
Is this a picture of Gore’s upcoming Saturday Night Live performance? ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.