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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JP Sullivan who wrote (22380)	5/9/1999 4:51:00 AM
From: blankmind	Respond to of 74651

drudgereport.com GORE AIDE BULLIED AOL AND MICROSOFT Exclusive Vice President Al Gore's senior domestic advisor on technology, telecommunications and Internet policies, Jim Kohlenberger, bullied representatives of AMERICA ONLINE and MICROSOFT during a conference call initiated by the White House earlier this week. The DRUDGE REPORT first reported details of episode in a Wednesday night flash. More has now been learned. Representatives from YAHOO, DISNEY/ABC, MICROSOFT and several public interest groups participated in the Tuesday call that was made to win support for a press conference held the next day announcing Gore's new post-Colorado shooting internet initiative. "Kohlenberger wanted to make sure that we would be there," one participant told the DRUDGE REPORT. "But when he was asked if this was going to be a bipartisan event, the tone of the call turned aggressive." Reps from AMERICA ONLINE and MICROSOFT were first to question the political nature of the press conference. One executive involved in the conference call expressed concern that the Congressional Internet Caucus was not going to get credit during the White House event for its push to protect children online. According to three participants involved in the call, the Gore advisor hinted of retaliation to those who would not show support. "You guys can show up tomorrow or not. The Vice President has a long memory and your presence or absence at the event will be duly noted," Kohlenberger told the group. "It was pretty clear he was threatening us," said one source. All sources spoke to the DRUDGE REPORT on condition of anonymity. "If my name gets out, I will be punished for exposing this... It was wrong for the White House to pressure anyone in the private sector this way, simply to win political points during a shooting at a high school." Kohlenberger did not respond to voice messages left on his White House answering machine. X X X X X