American Politics Journal

Shakedown Street?
Why I don't believe the latest media attack on Al Gore
by Jeff Koopersmith

Tuesday, March 4th, 1997 -- NEW YORK -- "All calls that I made were charged to the Democratic National Committee. I was advised there was nothing wrong with that. My counsel tells me there is no controlling legal authority that says there was any violation of federal law," Vice President Al Gore told reporters.

Gore said a memo written by a White House lawyer barring use of White House facilities or equipment for campaign fund raising did not apply to him or Clinton, but added that as a matter of policy, he would not make such calls again. "If I had realized in advance that this would cause such concern, I wouldn't have done it in the first place," he said.

The Washington Post reported Sunday that some potential contributors contacted by the vice president felt like they were being shaken down for money. Gore, who until now has had a squeaky clean political image, denied he exerted undue pressure. Of the shakedown complaints, he said: "I never ever said or did anything that would have given rise to feeling like that on the part of someone who was asked to support our campaign."...and so says the wire services.

Let me share something with you.

I have known Al Gore since 1983. He's a good and decent man. He doesn't shake down anyone. He helped one of my family members and never received a dime of support. He's done the same over and over in his home state of Tennessee, and while Vice President.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting sick and tired of the media trying to pillory everyone they possible can for engaging in the most American of all practices -- politics. Who the heck cares which phone someone uses? Are we so petty that the thought of someone who achieves the highest office in the world can't be permitted to use his or her own discretion? Al Gore's "squeaky-clean" image is not serendipitous -- it's earned.

Frankly, I can't wait until the congressional fundraising probes begin.

Then you'll see the real shakedown artists.

P.S.: Here's what "Malibu" Ken Starr is up to at the expense of your tax dollars: Courtesy -- Drudge:

Whitewater investigators so feared that key witness Jim McDougal had become a victim of the weekend's nightmare tornado swarm in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, they rushed a search team out to see if his trailer was still intact...