Gore Lashes Out at White House in Florida
Sat Apr 13, 4:25 PM ET
By John Whitesides
ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - Al Gore (news - web sites) got a hero's welcome Saturday at his first Florida appearance since the 2000 election recount, delivering blunt criticism of the White House's domestic priorities and urging party activists to stand up and fight.
In his highest-profile speech since emerging in February from a year of political seclusion, Gore gave a rousing list of what he said were the Bush administration's shortcomings on the economy, environment and values and urged Democrats to speak out in opposition.
"I've had it," Gore told a roaring crowd of 2,500 activists at the Florida party convention. "America's economy is suffering unnecessarily. Important American values are being trampled. Special interests are calling the shots.
"If you agree with me, then stand up with conviction for what we believe in and fight for it," he told the activists, many of whom sported signs and stickers proclaiming "Still Gore Country."
Showing the fire he often was criticized for lacking during the 2000 campaign, Gore rejected arguments that criticism of the White House was unpatriotic. He said he stood with the president and the military in support of the war on terrorism, but patriotism "means speaking up."
"SPEAK OUT BOLDLY"
"The time has come to speak out boldly -- not only when we believe the administration is right -- but to offer constructive alternatives when we believe what they're doing is wrong for America," said Gore, who did not refer directly to President Bush (news - web sites) by name.
Gore, 54, has not said whether he will run in 2004, but sounded like a man who was ready for a campaign, telling delegates: "Regardless of who the nominee is, we're going to elect a Democratic president in 2004."
Gore is one of five potential Democratic presidential contenders appearing this weekend at the Florida Democratic conference in hopes of making an early impression in a state that is certain to play a key role again in 2004.
The former vice president lost to Bush in 2000 after a five-week post-election recount battle in Florida and largely stayed out of the public eye for more than a year afterward, taking some teaching jobs and giving occasional speeches.
He had stepped up his pace in recent months but jumped back on the political stage with a bang on Saturday, appearing to satisfy party critics who had urged him to take a stronger role in rallying opposition to Bush.
Gore thanked the crowd for their campaign efforts in 2000. Many of those attending the party conference at a hotel near Disney World worked for Gore during the recount.
"I know in my heart that he won the race," said Randy Fleischer, an attorney in Broward County who supports Gore for the nomination in 2004. "He won before and he'll win again."
LIEBERMAN TO SPEAK
Among the other speakers at the conference will be Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman. The two, making their first appearance at the same event since the end of the 2000 campaign, had a morning breakfast before Gore gave his speech.
Lieberman, who does not appear in public on the Jewish Sabbath, will speak on Sunday along with Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
Also appearing Saturday were Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Edwards spoke shortly before Gore and earned polite cheers while extolling Democratic positions on health care, education, prescription drugs and the environment.
Dodd also earned a polite reception from the crowd, agreeing with Gore that Democrats must be willing to take on the administration and "stand up and identify the differences when they exist."
"It is not unpatriotic in this country to debate the issues of the day," Dodd said.
Three others considering White House bids in 2004 -- Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt and Vermont Gov. Howard Dean -- have other commitments and will not appear in Florida this weekend.
Gore, along with the other potential Democratic candidates, is expected to decide whether to make a presidential run sometime after the November mid-term elections.
His speech came one day after a Gallup poll found that only 43 percent of Democrats thought he should run again, with 48 percent preferring that he sit out the 2004 campaign. More than 80 percent of the poll's respondents also had said Gore should not criticize Bush.
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