DEMS WARY OF GORE CRITICISM OF BUSH

Associated Press ^ | 24 September 2002 | David Espo

[PhiKapMom]

Dems Wary of Gore Criticism of Bush

By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Prominent Democrats stepped gingerly Tuesday around former Vice President Al Gore's criticism of President Bush's policy on Iraq, and at least one House candidate hastened to disagree.

Gore's vice presidential running mate of two years ago, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, said he did not agree that action against Iraq could detract from the overall fight against terrorism.

``I respectfully disagree with that part of it,'' said Lieberman, D-Conn. ``I am confident the American military can do, and will do, both at once.''

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said he, like Gore, had ``raised the questions, what will it do to our international partnerships, what effect will it have on the war on terrorism, what does a pre-emptive strike mean for other countries, does it set the wrong example?''

Some Democrats opted for silence on the subject.

Terry McAuliffe, national chairman of the Democratic Party, said through an aide he would have no comment.

And House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt offered no immediate response.

In remarks delivered Monday in San Francisco, Gore said he was concerned that ``the policy we are presently following with respect to Iraq has the potential to seriously damage our ability to win the war against terrorism and to weaken our ability to lead the world in this new century.''

The former vice president spoke as Democratic congressional leaders were seeking agreement with their GOP counterparts and the White House on legislation that would authorize President Bush to use force to move against Saddam Hussein and any Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

A vote on the legislation is likely by next week, and overwhelming bipartisan approval is expected in both the House and Senate.

With Gore campaigning for Democrats in New Mexico for two days this week, one congressional candidate in the state, John Arthur Smith, distanced himself from the former vice president's remarks.

Smith ``is supporting President Bush. He's the commander in chief. If John Arthur Smith were a sitting member of Congress he would ... support President Bush,'' said a spokesman, Tony Bawidamann.

Smith is one of several Democrats seeking election in Southern and Western districts this fall where candidates often emphasize their differences with national party leaders on issues - and where support for Bush is particularly strong.

Some strategists said Gore's remarks could underscore voters' doubts about the national party six weeks before the midterm elections.

But others said they doubted the remarks would have much of an impact - particularly since Congress is likely to give Bush the authority he seeks within a matter of days.

Gore was in the minority among Senate Democrats in 1991 when he voted to give then-President Bush authorization to use force to free Kuwait and its oil fields from an invading Iraqi army.

In that case, he said, Bush waited until after the midterm elections to seek congressional authorization. Many Democrats have expressed similar sentiments, but with Bush calling for congressional support, Gephardt and Daschle decided the wiser course was to vote before November.

Gore strongly suggested that politics was playing a role in Bush's request - speaking out at a time when the party's leaders are trying to shift the public's attention away from Iraq toward economic issues.

``Rather than making efforts to dispel concern at home and abroad about the role of politics in the timing of his policy, the president is publicly taunting Democrats with the political consequences of a `no vote,'' the former vice president said.

09/24/02 18:16 EDT

[Stultis]

Algore, less relevant than Gerhard Schroeder.

[terilyn]

Did anybody else hear Brit Hume tonight, proving once again that Gore is a liar?

He ran Gore's comments today where he said that he was, (not a direct quote because I can't find it), upset when we left Iraq without getting rid of Saddam during the first Gulf War. The first Bush administration basically quit early without finishing the job.

Then Brit read a direct quote from then Senator Gore on the Senate floor where he stated that he supported President Bush I and his withdrawal because neither the UN or Congress had given a mandate to remove Saddam, but rather the goal was to drive him out of Kuwait.

I hope this gets posted on Brit's page on the Fox News website. I checked and it's not there yet.

[jwalsh07]

GO Gerhard Gore!

[hchutch]

Oh, please, Mr. Gore, PLEASE don't make conduct of the war on terror an issue for the mid-term elections. PLEASE don't make that a part of the national debate prior to November 5th. PLEASE don't throw us in that briar patch...

Whoops... uh, too late now.

[FreeReign]

Terry McAuliffe, national chairman of the Democratic Party, said through an aide he would have no comment.

You have to wonder if McAuliffe and friends set the big dummy up.

*Witchy laughter from Chapaqua*

[hchutch]

But then why would Gore do something that would lock him in with the left-wing base of the Democratic Party?

I think it's more the opposite. Gore's doing this to insulate himself FROM a set-up - going to the same "progressives" who believe he is the REAL winner of the 2000 election.

[The Wizard]

bump

[mjf]

Gore is just a fat, bitter loser.......and that is all he will ever be!!!!!

Heck, I'll bump that!

[PhilDragoo]

Democrats in disarray.

Gore puts both feet in mouth.

Daschle agrees.

Lieberman disagrees.

McAliffe and Gephardt afraid to speak.

It's all good.

[mjf]

You know, it's a damn good thing that Al invented the internet because without it we wouldn't be able to see the guy lie so often! It's kind of amazing how the internet, (Al baby's creation) is so effective at drawing out the "What they said when" aspect of history, and I'm just loving it!

I'm feeling pride and love right now, THANK YOU AL BABY FOR CREATING THE INTERNET!

I am rethinking the old DelusionAL sign I used in 2000, like maybe, Albaby I was wrong.

NOT! AlGore ya delusionAL idiot. I'm glad the Dems and the RATS are havin' fits over you! Jump in anytime you want to!

[cubreporter]

Gore IS irrelevant just like the Bush Administration stated.

[terilyn]

I sincerely hope that Al the idiot runs in 2004.

It will be so much fun seeing him reinvent himself over and over and over...

We've seen the black Al, the gay Al, the macho Al, the intellectual (choke) Al.

How many more Al's can there be? Maybe we'll see a cross-dressing Al just for fun.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

As usual Gore's selective prevaricating memory serves him not well. His statements of what he said and when he said it are so full of holes, easily checked and reported, that he simply continues to be the Al Gore who can't tell the truth,makes up fictional stories so he can talk in parables
and is still in the process of reinventing himself.All of which may take him into 2004 still looking like the inefectual idiot he really is.

[PhiKapMom]

You would think he would have learned that when he told the whoppers, he was going to get caught but I guess not. I can still remember during the debates that Austin had a link going that put up the Gore Lies as the debate was going on.

I put up more Gore Lies than I could possible believe and now he is at it again! At least with Gore, there is a database of lies that just needed added to!!!

[PhiKapMom]

I saw this and just sat and laughed! I cannot believe that daschle stepped in it again!

[jtrowbr212]

Absolutely!

When AlBore opens his mouth, he just digs himself into a bigger hole.

I say, give him a bigger shovel.

[Mfkmmof4]

Better stated: What a stupid man!

[GOPJ]

bump

[PogySailor]

He doesn't CARE if he's caught. Will Dan, Peter or Tom point out the fact that he's flip-flopped again? Heck no.

[PhiKapMom]

Very true! Typical cover-up by the national media for someone who should be a laughinstock!