Analysts Say Clinton’s Convention Speech Toots His Own Horn More Than It Praises Gore
By Fred Jackson and Bill Fancher
AFR News
August 15, 2000
(AgapePress) – President Clinton took center stage at the Democratic convention last night. Going into the speech, analysts said he needed to use the opportunity to promote Al Gore. They believe the President failed to do that.
The President spent most of his 40 minutes talking about how prosperous America has become under his leadership. Despite the fact that during his watch there have been numerous deadly shootings in our nation’s schools and a dramatic increase in attacks against traditional family values, Clinton believes America is now a better place.
“We are not just better off,” Clinton said, “we are also a better country. We are today more tolerant, more decent, more humane, and more united. Now that’s the purpose of prosperity.”
Over the last eight years, President Clinton has boasted about the increase of homosexuals on the federal payroll. He addressed that “diversity issue” again last night.
“If I could just get my administration up here,” he said, “it would be just as good a picture as anything you saw a couple of weeks ago in Philadelphia. The real people running it.”
According to The Washington Times, analysts–both Democratic and Republican–noted that by making so little reference to Al Gore during his speech, Clinton seemed more interested in promoting his own legacy rather than helping Gore’s campaign to succeed him.
“It took so long to talk about Vice President Gore,” said George Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton strategist. Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore said: “Tonight, Bill Clinton chose to promote himself, rather than Al Gore.” And Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson said: “Bill Clinton did nothing to help Al Gore close his leadership gap.”
Among the featured speakers yesterday was First Lady Hillary Clinton. She wasted no time in praising Bill Clinton.
“Thank you for supporting my husband,” she said, “whose visionary leadership and hard work led America into the 21st century.”
Terry McAuliffe, who is directing the convention, also addressed the conventioneers. He reminded them just who they are.
“We will always fight for the people, not the powerful,” McAuliffe said. “We will always stand up for equal opportunity for all, instead of special privileges for the few. We will always move America forward. And we will never, ever leave anyone behind.”
McAuliffe, who is known primarily for his fundraising efforts on behalf of the Clinton Administration as well as his efforts to target for defeat members of the House impeachment team, used his speech to label the Republican convention a “sham” and a “performance” designed to make them look like Democrats.
“The Republican convention proved that their party didn’t have the guts to stand up to the special interests,” he said. “They didn’t stand up to the pharmaceutical companies, the big oil companies, or the NRA.”
McAuliffe failed to mention the huge fundraising party that was held Sunday night and featured the National Rifle Association and many of its Democratic supporters.
Meanwhile, as the convention began yesterday, delegates were met by a host of protesters in various places around Los Angeles and outside the Staples Center where the convention is being held. Some of the demonstrators were part of a pro-life youth group called “Survivors.” Jesse Slovenec says they have been busy.
“Today we were outside Staples Center showing the delegates coming in pictures of aborted babies,” Slovenec said, “because when the Democratic Party says that they are committed to family values, we want to show them what they are committed to. They’re all pro-choice, and being pro-choice is allowing the murder of children. How is that ‘family values’?”
Among those attending the convention is the governor of Vermont, Howard Dean. He came to national prominence earlier this year as he led the fight for his state to legalize homosexual unions. For that effort, Dean was honored yesterday at a reception sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Center in Los Angeles.
Copyright 2000, Agape Press. Used with permission.