Gore: Obama's "lack of experience" no different than that of Lincoln

US would not have invaded Iraq if he had won in 2000, former veep says

By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 28, 2008 at 7:29 p.m.
Updated August 28, 2008 at 7:29 p.m.

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INVESCO FIELD -- Al Gore, who lost the closest election in national history to George Bush in 2000, chided criticism of Barack Obama’s short resume of experience by comparing it to the most famous man from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln.

“A century and a half ago, when America faced our greatest trial, the end of one era gave birth to another,” Gore said as the sun was setting on the top seats of Invesco Field’s east stands.

“The candidate who emerged victorious in that election is now regarded by most historians as our greatest president.

“Before he entered the White House, Abraham Lincoln’s experience in elective office consisted of eight years in his state legislature in Springfield, Ill., and one term in Congress during which he showed the courage and wisdom to oppose the invasion of another country that was popular when it started but later condemned by history.”

Gore said the turning point the nation ended up taking in the 2000 election changed the nation for the worse, even though at the time many voters felt there as little difference between candidates.

But the nation would not be involved in a lengthy occupation in Iraq if he had won, Gore said.

“One of the greatest gifts of our democracy is the opportunity it offers us every four years to change course,” Gore said. “It’s not a guarantee, it’s an opportunity. The question facing us is, simply put, will we seize this opportunity for change?

“Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties and it didn’t really matter who became president. Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity. Some assumed we would continue both, no matter the outcome.

“But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn’t matter.

“Take it from me, if it had ended differently we would not be bogged down in Iraq, we would have pursued bin Laden until we captured him. We would not be facing a self-inflicted economic crisis; we would be fighting for middle class families.

“We would not be showing contempt for the Constitution, we’d be protecting the rights of every American regardless of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. And we would not be denying the climate crisis, we would be solving it.

The Nobel Prize and Academy Award winner for his work on environmental issues, used that theme to poke fun at Republican candidate John McCain.

“Today we face essentially the same choice was faced in 2000 though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them.

“The same policies all over again? Hey, I believe in recycling but that’s ridiculous.”

Noting polls show the two major candidates to be close in support among voters, Gore attributed it to a fierce campaign by those who support the current administration to keep it that way.

“So why is this election so close?” he asked. “Well, I know something about close elections so let me offer you my opinion. I believe this election is so close today because I believe the forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change that Barack Obama represents.”

The oil and coal industries particularly, Gore said, don’t want alterative and clean energies to emerge.

“This same industry has spent a half a billion dollars this year alone trying to convince the public they are actually solving the problem when they in fact are making it worse every day,” Gore said.

Then he resumed his attack on Republicans.

“After they wrecked our economy, it is time for a change. After they abandoned the search for the terrorists who attacked us and redeployed the troops to invade a nation that did not attack us, it’s time for a change.

“After they abandoned the American principle first laid down by General George Washington, when he prohibited the torture of captives because it would bring, in his words, shame, disgrace and ruin to our nation, it’s time for a change.

“When as many as three Supreme Court justices could be appointed in the first term of the next president, and John McCain promises to appoint more Scalias and Thomases and end a woman’s right to choose, it’s time for a change.”

After pointing out Lincoln’s comparative lack of experience with Obama, Gore said years of being a politician isn’t what matters.

“The experience Lincoln’s supporters value most in that race was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future in a time of impasse,” Gore said, purposely alluding to current times.

“He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator, with a passion for justice and a determination to heal the deep divisions of our land.

“In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning.

“And once again we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition.”

• August 28, 2008

  7:51 p.m.

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  GlacierDragon writes:

  I find this comparison absurd. 1860 was a much different time. Comparing the "experience" of these two people is incredibly simplistic.
  You wouldn't let a doctor practice medicine today with the same amount of experience as required back then. (When he may well have been your dentist and your barber.)

• August 28, 2008

  8 p.m.

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  HopiMedicineMan writes:

  This is like comparing P-Daddy to Bach.

• August 29, 2008

  12:03 a.m.

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  wolverb writes:

  Another ridiculous Al Gore thought. America is a much different Nation today than it was in 1860. Despite the complexities of the Civil War the United States is much more difficult and requires someone with more experience than being a Senator for 143 days. Barack Obama doesn't have enough experience to be Mayor of a mid-sized city much less American President, the hardest job on earth. If thrown into the job market as a no name person Barack Obama would not be hired to run a 7-11 without training. If Obama is elected president it will be a complete disaster for our nation. The Democrats have really messed up this time.

• August 29, 2008

  4:08 a.m.

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  S1574 writes:

  It bothers me greatly to hear Gore say he would have made different choices than Bush did concerning Iraq and Bin Ladin. Hindsight is always 20/20, and he wouldn't have been using hindsight if he had been sitting in the president's chair. Gore would have been given the exact same information that Bush was given by spy agencies, advisors, etc. He would have believed, as Bush and the rest of the world did, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was ready to use them. Maybe he would have sat on his hands and done little to nothing, but I tend to think he would probably have made many of the same choices that Bush did given the same information.

• August 29, 2008

  10:32 a.m.

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  gneubeck writes:

  Will the real Barack Obama please stand up! In spite of the determined attempts of the Obama handlers to obfuscate the details concerning Obama's subversive background, more and more Americans are seeing thru the Obama charade; and, are making an objective appraisal based on their own intelligence of the historical facts which are irrefutable. Obama is neither Christian nor Muslim. Unless he has had one of his very frequent epiphanies in the last week or two, he is a disciple and practitioner of Black Liberation Theology whose tenants have been amply articulated by Jeremiah Wright and James Cone. For 20yrs. Obama, under the tutorial of the fanatical Reverend Wright, immersed himself and his family in Black Liberation Theology, a Marxist derivative which rejects Christianity; and, which professes that the White race is equivalent to the Devil. It's amazing that anyone would be shocked at Obama's perverted view of the Bible, concerning which Obama recently publicly mocked Jesus Christ's "Sermon On The Mount". Rev. Wright's mentor, Black Liberation theologian, James Cone, in his book "For My People" states: "The Christian faith does not possess in its nature the means for analyzing the structure of capitalism. Marxism, as a tool of social analysis, can disclose the gap between appearance and reality, and thereby help Christians to see how things really are." It is this logic, reinforced by his mother who was an avowed Marxist, which has schooled Obama to seek economic parity in America thru income redistribution; i.e. Marxist Socialism; and, is an overriding theme of his campaign. Obama's repeated references to "economic parity" and "social justice" are simply Marxist jargon for "Taking more from you and giving it to others for the common good". Further, noone should be surprised at Obama's proclamation that American is NOT a Christian Nation. This from a man who is a fanatical advocate of the abhorrent procedure of partial-birth-abortions. Although the Obama campaign has painstakingly attempted to lay a smokescreen to confuse the past religious associations of their candidate, hopefully a Christian America will send Obama an unmistakable message in November. It's what you get with an un-vetted candidate whose only skill is reciting a text from a teleprompter while even Jesse Jackson admits Obama arrogantly looks down his nose and "talks down to the audience." A characteristic which was front and center in Obama's comments about bitter folks in Small Town America who "Cling to their religion." Greg Neubeck

• August 29, 2008

  4:13 p.m.

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  BroncoMarco writes:

  Lincoln grew into a great president, but the country paid a terrible price for his lack of experience. On coming into office he made serious blunders and miscalculations that resulted in civil war. Then, his incompetence as commander an chief resulted in military disaster for the better part of two years. Before it was all over more than 600,000 Americans had lost their lives. So maybe Lincoln's not the best example.

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