Collision Course [The real reason Al Gore lost FL in 2000 - forget Palm Beach and hanging chads...]

The Miami New Times ^ | Nov. 23, 2000 | Jim DeFede

[summer]

About "Collision Course"

To FR, from summer:

"Collision Course" is the 2nd news article listed on "no airport", a FL environmental activist website I mentioned in my newest editorial about Governor Jeb Bush.

This news article - "Collison Course" -- details Al Gore's extremely serious problems with FL environmental activists and other FL voters involved in a certain FL environmental issue, prior to Election Day 2000.

The wide rift resulted when Gore refused to take a stand on whether or not the USA Homestead Airforce Base, located in Homestead near Miami, should be developed into a potentially lucrative commercial airport -- and thereby, potentially threaten the Everglades:

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Feature Story published November 23, 2000 in "The Miami New Times":

"Collision Course"

by Jim DeFede



Award-winning columnist Jim DeFede chronicles how the Gore campaign tried and failed to muster support from South Florida environmentalists prior to election day due to Gore's political pandering to developers and power-hungry Democrats.

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3 Excerpts:

1. WHY FL PROTESTERS FORCED GORE TO CANCEL PLANS FOR A CAMPAIGN RALLEY IN FL

....McGinty [Gore's environmental issues campaign consultant] revealed that Gore was contemplating a campaign rally in South Florida that would emphasize his lifelong defense of the environment and the Clinton administration's efforts to restore the Everglades. If the vice president were to hold such a rally in South Florida, McGinty wondered, would there be protesters?

The answer she received was unambiguous: You can count on it.

According to those present, McGinty replied, "It breaks the vice president's heart" that he can't schedule an environmental event in South Florida for fear of being embarrassed by protesters over the Homestead issue.

"There were a lot of questions about whether he could risk showing up down here," recalls Chinquina. "And our answer was no. Unless he is coming to announce his position on the air base, don't come."


2. THE REAL REASON GORE FAILED TO WIN FLORIDA

As the meeting drew to a close, after more than two hours of debate, McGinty tried to end on a positive note. "Win or lose, the vice president wants you to know that he cares about you," she reportedly said.

"Well, take our friendship back to the vice president," Chinquina replied, "and tell him that only a true friend will tell you what you don't want to hear. And what you don't want to hear is that you are going to lose this election because of Homestead. Because no matter what we say, a lot of our folks are going to vote for Nader.

Chinquina was right. Forget about hanging chads and butterfly ballots. Forget about confused voters and missing ballot boxes. Forget about recounts and lawsuits. If Al Gore loses Florida's 25 electoral votes, and with them the presidency, he can blame himself for refusing to stand in opposition to an airport at Homestead Air Force Base.

Ralph Nader received more than 96,000 votes in Florida. In the final week of the campaign, he visited Miami and hammered away at the vice president's silence regarding Homestead. "Al Gore is waffling as usual," Nader exclaimed. "He refuses to take a position as usual."

On the eve of the election, Nader sent out a letter to environmentalists across the state, attacking both Gore and Bush but singling out Gore for particular scorn. "On the Everglades, currently a key issue in a hotly contested state...."Gore has not opposed a proposed commercial airport on the site of the former Homestead Air Force Base, despite the protest of local people working for conservation and his own EPA. There are no airports situated on the border of national parks in America; the Everglades is the last place to consider changing that fact. In general, work to restore the Everglades should be done for the public, and for future generations, not on the basis of debts called in by the sugar industry and local power brokers."


3. HOW THE DEM LEADERS CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO SUPPORT FL VOTERS ON THE FL ENVIRONMENT - BUT, CERTAIN GOP LEADERS DID SUPPORT THESE FL VOTERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

...In 1996, for instance, The New Times reported that [ US-DEM Sen. Bob] Graham pressured Sen. John Chaffee (R-Rhode Island) to withdraw a request he had made to the General Accounting Office for an investigation into the Homestead airport proposal.

County Commissioner Katy Sorenson says she also has been disturbed by Graham's actions. "I've been frustrated with Senator Graham's position on this issue," she reports. "I've talked to him myself and met with members of his staff. At first he was noncommittal, then he was more pro-airport. I don't think he's ever been with the environmentalists on this issue."

Adds Alan Farago: "Bob Graham has left a trail of anger and disappointment over the Homestead Air Force Base. It is a terrible disappointment that this issue will now be a lasting part of his legacy and will seriously tarnish his reputation as an environmentalist."

"We've talked to Senator Graham many times," says Ocean Reef's David Ritz, "and we have not been very successful. He is more concerned with the airport issues than he is with the environmental issues. It does surprise me that he is not leading the charge to protect this national resource."

....Environmentalists find it ironic that, with regard to this subject, their strongest allies have often been Republicans while their fiercest opponents have been Democrats. Outgoing Republican Sen. Connie Mack, for example, opposes the development of a commercial airport at the air base. One of Mack's Republican colleagues, Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, tried to guarantee that the proposed airport would not hinder plans to restore the Everglades.

On the other hand, redeveloping the base as a commercial airport has been supported over the years by Graham and fellow Democrats such as Penelas, Congresswoman Carrie Meek, former Gov. Lawton Chiles, Senator-elect Bill Nelson while he was state insurance commissioner, and State Sen. Daryl Jones...



Click on the source link if you would like to read the entire article.

[summer]

The whole sordid episode says so much about so many things -- Algore, the Democrat Party and its principles, plus the media.

And, thus, the answer as to why the major media never bothered with asking any of these questions at all. SO much more fun to tell me for the 200th time the latest definition for a hanging chad.

[GUIDO]

Thanks, happened to read this post just a little earlier and this was an interesting one. Also just heard about the terrorist attempt on his life. Will wait to get more info on that until more news comes out. I hate to believe this and my prayers are with the ENTIRE BUSH FAMILY.

[summer]

LOL! And, ghostrider, I DO enjoy YOUR posts! Truly! :)

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for the ping...this is a very important story that the media ignored during the election recount aftermath....BRAVO to GWB & JEB who worked together to save the Everglades.

[summer]

BTTT on your post, GUIDO.

[summer]

Julie, thanks so much for taking a look here.

And, yes, a big BRAVO to GW and Jeb for their efforts today.

Also, I must say -- when this whole Everglades restoration originally started, there was another signing of an agreement in DC, while President Clinton was in office. And, President Clinton invited Gov. Jeb Bush to attend the signing. I was glad Clinton did that, and glad Jeb went. Just my independent heart speaking here, in the hopes that people on whatever side of the aisle can get together for the benefit of ALL the people! :)

[ghostrider]

I have learned much about psychology by reading the posts on the Free Republic. I think the Repos are doing an excellent job of beating the Demos at that their game. However - in the end the economy will determine who wins, and the Repos haven't connected with the people. I come from generations of Repos, and they simply do not understand that so many aren't so fortunate as we are. I fear that is our Achilles' Heal. When the battle is marketed as "steal your soul" or "steal your gold" affair, I think the Demos will get a lot of souls - just as they have in the past.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Kline gives Castro a FDNY hat

[summer]

But ghostrider, if what you say is absolutely true, then the GOP would never win any elections. There are always people doing well and not doing well. I agree with you though, that the GOP has the reputation you describe. On the other hand, the GOP always had the reputation they did not care about the environment -- yet, look at the facts here in this case. I also think the world is a different place since 9-11, and swing voters who might have voted for a Dem in presidential races will no longer do so as easily. The economy, as important as it is, may take a back seat to security. How can you go to work if terrorists blow up your office, as they did on 9-11?

[summer]

Luis, thanks for posting that link. :)

[Walkin Man]

Reno gains in race for donors' cash

You might want to read this post, summer.

[summer]

Thanks, I had not seen that! :)

[summer]

I thought you might find this interesting. :)

[summer]

RC, this is another good one for the FL ping list. Thanks! :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[independentmind]

On the other hand, redeveloping the base as a commercial airport has been supported over the years by Graham and fellow Democrats such as Penelas, Congresswoman Carrie Meek, former Gov. Lawton Chiles, Senator-elect Bill Nelson while he was state insurance commissioner, and State Sen. Daryl Jones...

Carrie Meek is of particular interest to me. Anytime you want to bump me to articles discussing her is fine with me.:o)

[summer]

I can't reading much about about Carrie Meek, but if I do, and if I remember, I will certainly bump you! Let me know if there is a particular topic or issue of interest, and maybe that will help me remember! :)

BTW, interesting that one of the Dems on the wrong side of this airport issue -- Darryl Jones -- is also one of the Dems' current candidates for FL gov! LOL... I guess they are planning to hand Gov. Jeb Bush a win on environmental issues, even though his record on this important FL topic is strong enough without any help from Darryl Jones! LOL! :)

[summer]

I meant to type: I can't recall reading much about Carrie Meeks...

[summer]

FYI -- thought you might find this an interesting read...

[ghostrider]

There are always people doing well and not doing well.

And.....sometimes more are doing well, and other times less are doing well. Many Administrations have been swept away simply because less were doing well.

The economy, as important as it is, may take a back seat to security. How can you go to work if terrorists blow up your office, as they did on 9-11?

If terrorism is still happening on a significant scale, three years from now and the economy is still in the tank, then the political landscape will have changed in very unpredictable ways. However, you and I have different visions of of Americans, if you think they will sit passively out of work for long. Especially, if this Enron case explodes upon the political landscape with the impact of a $600 Billion financial dagger in the heart of the baby boomer's retirement accounts.