The Detroit News
Al Gore�s Gulf War vote put politics over principle
by Alan Simpson
9-5-00
Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore�s new campaign ad is
running in your state and says he is �fighting for us.� But the
true story of his Gulf War vote says he is usually fighting for
Al. Here is the inside story of what happened.
The Gulf War vote was pretty serious business. I can�t think of
anyone who didn�t have a lump in his or her throat as they
weighed the situation � 500,000 American troops already deployed;
Iraq�s Saddam Hussein promising the �mother of all battles�; most
�experts� predicting heavy American losses.
The choice was not easy. Senators with combat experience on both
sides of the aisle were on both sides of the issue. Some
Democrats openly supported the measure; some Republicans openly
opposed it. And vice versa.
The seriousness of the situation called for open, honest debate.
No deal-making. No politics. Just an honest discussion,
followed by an honest vote of conscience by each senator. As
Republican whip, I worked with the Republican leader Bob Dole and
the Democratic leaders, George Mitchell and Sam Nunn, to schedule
the debate. As Republicans, Sen. Dole and I were responsible
for scheduling time to speak for senators who supported the war.
As Democrats, Sens. Mitchell and Nunn were responsible for
scheduling time to speak for those who opposed the war.
The night before this monumental debate, I sat in the Republican
cloakroom with Sen. Dole discussing the debate schedule for the
next day. Then a senator walked in and asked to speak to us.
It surprised Bob and me because he was a Democrat coming to ask
for a favor.
He was Tennessee Sen. Al Gore Jr. Sen. Gore got right to the
point: �How much time will you give me if I support the
president?� In layman�s terms, Gore was asking how much debate
time we would be willing to give him to speak on the floor if he
voted with us.
�How much time will the Democrats give you?� Sen. Dole asked.
�Seven minutes,� came the droning response.
�I�ll give you 15 minutes,� Dole said.
�And I�ll give you five of mine, so you can have 20 minutes,� I
offered. Gore seemed pleased, but made no final commitment,
promising only to think it over.
Gore played hard to get. He had received his time. But now he
wanted prime time. And Dole and I knew it.
After Gore left, Dole asked Republican Senate Secretary Howard
Greene to call Gore�s office and promise that he would try to
schedule Gore�s 20 minutes during prime time, thus ensuring
plenty of coverage in the news cycle. Later that night, Gore
called Greene and asked if Dole had him in a prime-time speaking
slot.
When Green said nothing had been finalized yet, Gore erupted:
�Damn it, Howard! If I don�t get 20 minutes tomorrow, I�m going
to vote the other way.�
The following day, Gore arrived on the Senate floor, still
waiting to see which side � Republicans or Democrats � would
offer him the most and the best speaking time. Sen. Dole
immediately asked the Senate to increase the amount of speaking
time for both sides. I believe only then, after Gore realized we
were asking for more time to make room for him on our side, that
he finally decided to support the resolution authorizing the use
of force to drive Hussein out of Kuwait.
It brings me no joy to recount the events leading up to the Gulf
War vote. It isn�t something I wanted to do. But it is
something I have to do.
I was there. I have to set the record straight because the Gore
campaign is now running an ad proclaiming that Al Gore �broke
with his own party to support the Gulf War.� In reality, it�s
much closer to the truth to say he broke for the cameras to
support the Gulf War.
And I have to set the record straight because the Gulf War vote
was far too important an issue to fall victim to politics and
repulsive revising. It was a moment of challenge. Sadly, Al
Gore was not up to it. In January of 1991, Al Gore put politics
over principle.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
=================================================================
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
