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Al Gore, One Who Sounds Like a Candidate, But Isn’t One

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Mary MacElveen

I have just finished watching Al Gore's speech on MoveOn.org, which was web broadcast and I wonder what the reaction to it is from those who watched it. That is, if you have watched it. I say that only because he is not running for president in the 2004 presidential election. So, I often wonder how closely his speeches are paid attention to by those who both supported and voted for him in the 2000 presidential election.

While I agree in totality with what he said throughout his speech; are his speeches being paid attention to by those who thirst for an alternative to what we have been living through under George W. Bush? Or are his speeches being summarily dismissed because he is not willing to go the distance and rethink his decision not to run?

For a non-candidate, he sounded very much like a candidate. Also, since he is not a candidate, what is the purpose of these speeches that he has given? What expectations does he have from us as citizens after giving them? More importantly, what expectations should we have coming from him? While I still support Mr. Gore’s message, my reaction to this latest speech was for him to get back in the race.

When he stated in his speech at New York University, “We all need to figure out how to fix it because we simply cannot keep on making such bad decisions on the basis of false impressions and mistaken assumptions.” I agree with him on that point, but without a leader to lead the ‘we’, can this be accomplished? More importantly, who is our leader?

Because as it stands right now, we have nine candidates with many important messages, yet an overwhelming positive message is just not there. While all of them cite we must get rid of Bush, through their attacks on his administration, there is not a common uplifting and uniting theme to rally the base. I still remember Al Gore’s unifying message he gave during his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention where he said, “I will fight for you, are you with me?” If ever there was a uniting message that was it.

Also what I find appalling coming from our nine candidates is how many attack each other. America wants to be united and feel good about something in these uncertain times. But, I feel when they see such fracture from the opposition; they may wish to stick with what they have. Even if what they cling to is wrong. I have heard two phrases when it comes to leadership and one is “Strong and Wrong” and the other is, “Weak and Right”. What we have right now is leadership coming from this administration that is “Strong and Wrong” Americans have always wanted to be thought of as a strong nation. So, it stands to reason why they may be following the wrong message. Right now, through the fracture that is happening with our nine candidates, perhaps they see them as being weak. Also, by this fracture, the Republicans can and will exploit that for their own self-serving purposes.

When Mr. Gore spoke in relation to the Clinton/Gore administration as having honor and integrity when it came to many of that administration’s policies, his message through this speech came across as being, “Strong and Right”. Something that I think Americans is thirsting for right now.

When he spoke about having those checks and balances within our federal government, we need a leader in order to bring about positive change for America’s future.

Towards the end of his speech when he said, “For eight years, the Clinton-Gore Administration gave this nation honest budget numbers; an economic plan with integrity that rescued the nation from debt and stagnation; honest advocacy for the environment; real compassion for the poor; a strengthening of our military -- as recently proven -- and a foreign policy whose purposes were elevated, candidly presented and courageously pursued, in the face of scorched-earth tactics by the opposition. That is also a form of honor and integrity, and not every administration in recent memory has displayed it.” I sat back and hoped that he would come out and become the leader that America must be thirsting for at this very moment. I was also hoping he would state something like this, “You want that back, America? I will fight for you, are you with me?”

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY