Gore Campaign

January 7, 1999

This time next year the presidential campaigns will be in full swing, but that doesn't mean that the early presidential campaigns haven't already fired their first shots. Take Vice President Al Gore. He is already taking shots at Texas Governor George Bush, probably because he believes Bush will be his opponent next year.

Speaking at the Democratic Leadership Council, Mr. Gore explained his "dynamic center" philosophy. He was calling on Democrats to rally around "the politics of the vital center" in preparation for the year 2000 elections. So far so good. But then he launched into an early attack against his possible opponent.

Mr. Gore said his philosophy should not be confused with George Bush's philosophy of "compassionate conservatism." Mr. Gore says that it is merely a subterfuge to hide the real agenda of Republicans to cut taxes, enact school choice vouchers, and restrict abortions. He said, "America needs something better than compassionate conservatism—we need an approach that will take this country forward, not backward; and not only forward, but also upward."

He went on to say that "Compassion means reserving the surplus until we save Social Security first . . . not going back to the risky tax schemes and economic upheaval of the 80s. Compassion means ensuring that all our children, even the children of middle-class families who can't afford private schools, have a first-class education . . . not draining away dollars from our public schools. . . . Compassion means more police on the beat, and fewer guns on the street—not an agenda that's written by the gun lobby, lock, stock and barrel."

Well, I could go on, but you get the idea. The Gore presidential campaign is already in full swing and taking swings at people who haven't even announced their candidacy. Just remember that when next year pundits talk about negative campaigns. It started with the speech given by the Vice-President.

I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.

© 1998 Probe Ministries International