US Democrat Party Convention 2000
14-18 August 2000
Gore's "Class Warfare Rhetoric"
"Last night, Al Gore's speech 'drifted off course' with the American people by injecting class warfare rhetoric that divides Americans instead of bringing them together," said Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett. "Al Gore's sea of promises without priorities provided a summary of the squandered opportunities during the last eight years, underscoring why there is a leadership gap in this campaign."
Gore "Class-Conscious Populist Language"
"In a time of peace and prosperity, Al Gore is betting that Americans want to go to war. In his acceptance speech Thursday night, Gore extended his effort to fuse Bill Clinton's centrist policy agenda with a class-conscious populist language that seeks to mobilize working families against 'powerful forces and powerful interests. This uneasy alliance between old and new Democratic approaches amounts to what Gore himself might call 'a risky political scheme.' In almost conspiratorial tones, Gore invited voters to see their problems as the product of shadowy forces maneuvering against average Americans." [LA Times, Brownstein, 8/18/00]
Gore Provides "Checklist for Constituencies":
"There was no stirring oratory, no memorable phrase. And it was a litany, a check list for constituencies and of issues that Democrats care about." [NBC Today Show, Russert, 8/18/00]
Gore Speaks to the Hall, Not the Country:
"And tonight, Mr. Gore aimed his message squarely at the party base - and away from the broader messages of Mr. Clinton's two acceptance speeches - by sounding traditional Democratic themes of abortion, affirmative action and government spending. More than one Democratic official complained that the campaign this week seemed more focused on winning over the liberals who might back Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate, than the bigger threat, Mr. Bush." [New York Times, Berke, 8/18/00]
Gore Rushes Through "A Litany of Causes":
"He virtually raced through a litany of causes and issues dear to core Democratic constituencies, from health care to civil rights, affirmative action, public education, and abortion rights, with perhaps the biggest applause line of all that "the last thing this country needs is a Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade." [New York Times, Purdum, 8/18/00]
"Truth Be Told, Al Twisted the Facts":
“Gore alluded in his acceptance speech to efforts to eliminate the estate tax and the “marriage penalty.” Gore said he favors these cuts. But the Democrats support much more narrow changes than the high-profile Republican proposals. … Gore pledged to take on such monied interests as insurers and pharmaceutical companies, which he said control the Republican party. He didn't mention that his running mate, Joseph Lieberman, is among Congress' biggest recipients of money from both insurers ($197,419 this election) and drug makers ($84,550). [Associated Press, 8/18/00]
Democratic Delegates Boo the Boy Scouts:
“When Gloria Johnson learned that a group of Eagle Scouts was about to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention, she immediately went into action. She and other California delegates grabbed poster board and markers and made signs that read, "We Support Gay Boy Scouts." As the uniformed Scouts took part in the opening ceremony, the delegates, seated in the front of the hall, waved their signs — and booed. Under normal circumstances, jeering at children is the sort of behaviour that might get a delegate sanctioned, if not booted from the convention altogether. But anyone who expected the Democratic leadership to scold the Boy Scouts of America bashers is attending the wrong convention. [Valerie Richardson, The Washington Times 8/18/00]
Unmasked: The Leftover Left
At the Democrat Convention, the Democrat Party trotted out the Leftover Left - Teddy Kennedy, Bill Bradley and Jesse Jackson - to “energize” the demoralized Democrat base for Al Gore.
Their litany of promises of higher social spending - without mentioning the higher taxes they’d raise to pay for it - assured Americans that a Gore-Lieberman Administration meant “The Era of Big Government” would really be back if they won this November. The Old Guard cited failure after failure of the Clinton-Gore administration to lead: on prescription drugs, on a patient’s bill of rights, and on Medicare reform - proposals which the Republican Congress have offered without Democrat support.
Unmasked: Democrats Party with Big Tobacco
At the Democrat Convention in 1996, Al Gore said, that “[u]ntil I draw my last breath, I will pour my heart and soul into the cause of protecting our children from the dangers of smoking.” What a difference four years make: there are now reports that Democrats have no qualms about accepting campaign cash from those Big Tobacco firms Gore said he would fight so hard against:
* “[T]he tobacco-free zone apparently did not extend to the Santa Monica pier, where a bash for the conservative members of Congress known as Blue Dogs was sponsored by, among others, Philip Morris and U.S. Tobacco. A party planned for Democratic governors tonight also was being underwritten by Philip Morris, as well as a Tuesday luncheon for Democratic state legislators and a Monday bash for Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Among the 33 sponsors of a Monday night party for Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, the No. 3 Democratic leader, was Philip Morris. Both had a presence, as well, at a Tuesday luncheon for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, along with Brown & Williamson and the Cigar Association.” (USA Today, August 16, 2000)
* “In a split with the national party, Illinois state Democrats are taking money from a tobacco company to help underwrite costs of entertaining delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Phillip Morris - the parent of Kraft Foods, based in north suburban Glenview - is one of 17 corporate, union, or political bankrollers for Illinois contingent parties.” (Chicago Sun-Times, August 14, 2000)
* “U.S. Rep. Martin Frost's ‘Lone Star Celebration’ for Texas delegates Monday night in the Hollywood Hills came with an impressive list of corporate sponsors, ranging from defense contractors to utility companies and the liquor and recording industries. The all-inclusive sponsorship also brought together such unlikely partners as tobacco giant Philip Morris and three of the high-powered trial lawyers who helped Texas sue cigarette makers over smoking-related health care costs.” (Houston Chronicle, August 16, 2000)
The big question for Democrats: Why were Democrats so emphatic to move Rep. Sanchez’s Latino event at the Playboy Mansion, but unwilling to do anything about these Big Tobacco fundraisers?
Hypocrisy Over Fundraising
The first major mishap of the Democrat’s 2000 National Convention was the dumping of speaker Loretta Sanchez, a Democratic Party Representative for California. Sanchez had planned a political fundraiser at the Playboy mansion, named after the prominent “Playboy” pornography magazine. Although Sanchez is an ardent feminist, and although feminist groups had previously used the building (including the National Women’s Political Caucus), the Democratic sisterhood regarded her conduct as politically incorrect.
Democratic Chairman Joe Andrew withdrew Sanchez’s speaking spot at the Convention and Al Gore’s campaign endorsed this decision. However the Al Gore campaign refused to explain why Al Gore had taken Playboy money from Playboy founder High Hefner and his daughter. Why had Gore not returned these donations? “Apples and oranges” argued Gore spokesman Chris Lehane.
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO GORE AND HIS PAC SINCE 1998: $6,500.00
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO CLINTON/GORE SINCE 1992: $3,000.00
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO DEMOCRATS SINCE 1992: $85,239.00
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE: $26,000.00
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1992: $10,000.00
TOTAL HEFNER DONATIONS TO THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL COMMITTEE SINCE 1992: $4,500.00
Gore Has Not Returned His Own Playboy Money. “The vice president’s position is he is not going, he does not support it, he does not lend his imprimatur. We’ve done everything we could to try to resolve the issue. Now we’re getting to the end of the line,” said campaign spokesman Chris Lehane. (Juliet Eilperin, “Sanchez May Be Sanctioned for Playboy Reception,” The Washington Post, August 10, 2000)
Sanchez Muzzled, But Other Culpable Democrats Ignored
Joe Andrew Blasts Sanchez But Ignores Gore’s Long Standing Playboy Ties. In a blistering letter to Sanchez, DNC Chairman Joe Andrew said that “as the father of young children, I tried to convey to you my dismay at the kind of message this event would send,'' saying it ''was neither appropriate nor reflective of our party’s values.” (Michelle DeArmond, “Gore Targets Sanchez on Fund-Raiser,” The Associated Press, August 10, 2000)
Andrew Threatens Further Sanctions Against Sanchez. “Under pressure from Al Gore's presidential campaign, party officials were planning to meet Friday and could take further action, including revocation of her convention credentials, withdrawal of support for her re-election and removal from her position as Democratic National Committee general co-chair.” (Michelle DeArmond, “Gore Targets Sanchez on Fund-Raiser,” The Associated Press, August 10, 2000)
Hello, Joe- - How About Looking In Your Own Pockets? Reality Check: DNC, DCCC, DSCC, Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun, Dean Of The House John D. Dingell, Chuck Schumer, Charles S. Robb, Former Peace Corps Head Harris Wofford, Russell Feingold, Bob Kerrey, And Tom Harkin Have All Accepted Hefner Campaign Cash.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
(New York Senate 2000)
March 3, 2000
$2,000.000
Barbara Boxer
June 24, 1997
$500.00
November 24, 1991
$500.00
April 9, 1991
$250.00
Dianne Feinstein
February 26, 1992
$1,000.00
Carol Moseley-Braun
June 26, 1992
$1,000.00
March 16, 1992
$250.00
John Dingell
May 3, 1996
$250.00
Chuck Schumer
July 16, 1998
$1,000.00
Charles S. Robb
September 30, 1994
$500.00
Harris Wofford
June 30, 1994
$1,000.00
Russ Feingold
October 18, 1992
$500.00
Bob Kerrey
November 26, 1991
$500.00
August 24, 1992
$1,000.00
Tom Harkin
August 2, 1991
$250.00
(FECInfo Website, www.tray.com, August 10, 2000)
Gore Selects Sanchez For Key Leadership Role. “Gore personally chose Mrs. Sanchez to be vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee and has nurtured her career since she unseated archconservative Robert K. Dornan in 1996.” (Bill Sammon, “Gore Has Accepted Hefners’ Donations, Shuns Fundraiser at Playboy Mansion,” The Washington Times, July 26, 2000)