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Starr, Ken

Vice President Gore's Obstacles to Restoring Political Tranquility

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the United States prepares for the possibility of President Clinton's resignation, Vice President Albert Gore's potential succession has raised concerns about the nation's ability to recover from the scandal. Unlike Gerald R. Ford, who successfully reinstated public faith in the constitutional system after Richard Nixon's resignation, Gore's own ethics charges and polarizing views on the environment may hinder his ability to restore political calm.

Key Takeaways:

  • Vice President Gore faces serious ethics charges related to fund-raising improprieties by the Clinton-Gore '96 campaign and the Democratic National Committee, which could lead to a prolonged and divisive debate.
  • Gore has made dozens of fund-raising calls from the White House in 1995 and 1996, allegedly violating a federal law prohibiting fund-raising solicitations on federal property.
  • The chief organizer of a fund-raiser hosted by a tax-exempt Buddhist Temple in 1996 was Maria Lynn Hsia, thought to be an agent of communist China.
  • Gore's views on the environment are outside the mainstream, and his advocacy for global warming regulations would impose significant economic costs on the poorest Americans.
  • Gore has a history of hypocrisy, as evidenced by his opposition to logging old-growth forests while using old-growth redwood and Douglas Fir for the verandah of his residence.
  • Gore's lack of shrewdness as a politician has led to several gaffes, including the revelation of a dump on property owned by his father during the 1992 presidential campaign.

Statistics:

  • 24% of Americans believe that Vice President Gore is more closely associated with President Clinton than Gerald R. Ford was with Richard Nixon (Source: Gallup Poll).
  • 71% of Americans think that the Clinton-Gore '96 campaign's fund-raising activities were improper (Source: CNN/USA Today/Gallup pol).
  • 96 million gallons of water were released by the Denver Water Department in 1998 to improve the backdrop for a Gore photo-op (Source: Denver Water Department).
  • 300 families could have used the 96 million gallons of water released for a year (Source: Denver Water Department).

Sources:

  • KRT FORUM By David A. Ridenour WASHINGTON _ (No specific date mentioned)
  • Gallup Poll (No specific date mentioned)
  • CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll (No specific date mentioned)
  • Denver Water Department (No specific date mentioned)
  • "Earth in the Balance" by Albert Gore (1992)

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