original title: pot.kettle.black.
in a speech that was mostly about condemning illegal wiretaps, al gore added this interesting combination of words:
Moreover, in the Congress as a wholeboth House and Senatethe enhanced role of money in the re-election process, coupled with the sharply diminished role for reasoned deliberation and debate, has produced an atmosphere conducive to pervasive institutionalized corruption. The Abramoff scandal is but the tip of a giant iceberg that threatens the integrity of the entire legislative branch of government.
if i’m al gore, and apparently still have the delusion of running for president again, this is not a good attack strategy… not with his fundraising background. two words: buddhist temple.
al gore has quite a bit of nerve condemning people involved with lobbyists. some of his closest personal friends had a few run-ins with similar type people to abramoff, including al’s new friend grover norquist.
Read more here:
Aides to Reno Twice Urged Independent Prosecutor for Gore, Interviews and Files Show–new york times
Longtime Fund-Raiser for Gore Convicted in Donation Scheme–new york times
Al Gore’s Special Interests — media monitor
Well-Connected Lobbyists Are Gore’s Core— washingtonpost.com
McCain Tapping Smaller Donors in Presidential Money Race— opensecrets.com. points out that al gore received more money from lobbyists in 2000 than george w. bush did –$62,000 more in fact.
let’s be clear about this. al gore had some association with lobbyists. the proof is there. this does not make what he said about the abramoff scandal wrong. i’m just surprised that he wants to bring this up at all based on past history. there are quite a few democrats losing credibility rapidly right now. one is hillary clinton. i’ll get to her in future posts. another is john kerry. the last of these unfortunate souls is al gore. nobody has paid any attention to al gore for quite a while, and i see no reason for us to pay attention to him now.