Why Al Gore battled on: The promise of pardon
Dateline D.C. - Sunday, December 10, 2000
WASHINGTON - To many of us, the meaning of the words, "From now on all
will be sweetness and light," has changed from what it once meant. It has turned
into a sarcastic rejoinder, or a funny line in some Madison Avenue publicity jingle.
So, while some politicians believe that their immediate future is secure and rosy,
those more cautious are saying, "We can't expect sweetness or light for the next
four years."
Bill Clinton would love the promise of sweetness and light, but would be relieved
to settle for a pardon for all his criminal actions. The word is out in Washington
that the desperate bids by Al Gore to steal the presidency are at the urging of our
incumbent president.
The immense costs of Gore's maneuvering and the scorn being heaped on
America from abroad because of the delay in naming a new president could have
been avoided. The legal actions would never have happened if the vice president
had asked Gov. George W. Bush to give a blanket pardon to the president for any
charges, criminal or civil, related to Bill or Hillary's abuses of power or federal
election law violations. Compensation would have been offered to victims by a
government always generous with taxpayers' money. Al Gore could have
conceded; George Bush would be president-elect and Slick Willie would be home
free!
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