🚀 go-pugleaf

COMMENT: FYI ....... By Alan Simpson

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 promised 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.

Alan Simpson is a former Republican senator from Wyoming.

End of letter.


Gore Sold Out Our Soldiers