Gore responds to White House 'hypocrisy' comments

[rawstory]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Gore_responds_to_White_House_hypocrisy_0117.html'

RAW STORY

In response to White House comments that Gore exhibited "hypocrisy" in calling for a Special Prosecutor, saying that the Clinton administration had wiretapped some Americans, Gore will make this statement shortly. It was leaked to RAW STORY in advance.

GORE: "The Administration's response to my speech illustrates perfectly the need for a special counsel to review the legality of the NSA wiretapping program.

The Attorney General is making a political defense of the President without even addressing the substantive legal questions that have so troubled millions of Americans in both political parties.

More at link -- also says Gonzales "disrespectful": http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Gore_responds_to_White_House_hypocrisy_0117.html

[AtomicKitten]

1. self-delete

[sabra]

2. Thank you Gore, and thank you RawStory!

[goforit]

19. Here Here!!!!.............Go Al Go!!!!!

[Cronus Protagonist]

24. My Hero :)

[eppur_se_muova]

55. J'ACCUSE! Al looks positively prosecutorial in this pic. nt

[cal04]

3. Thank you Rawstory and thank you Al Gore

:bounce: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

[Caution]

4. Absolutely perfect response from Gore.

[emulatorloo]

5. Kick and Nominating -- thanks RS and a big thanks to AG n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

6. The investigation needs to be full and independent as Gore

indicates. No more of Bush cronies investigating Bush crimes.

[tabasco]

7. Great response by Gore.

Highlights the pervasive corruption of this administration.

[LuckyTheDog]

8. Don't back down!

Keep at it Al!

:headbang: :applause: :yourock:

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Beautiful Al, just beautiful

What else can you say?

"The Attorney General is making a political defense of the President without even addressing the substantive legal questions that have so troubled millions of Americans in both political parties."

Keep speaking for us Al. You make us proud to be Dems. SG

[EuroObserver]

10. 'Nuff said. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. A quick response from Gore. Good form.

[pinerow]

12. Ok...Am I the only one to wonder whether the spell check is set

to "huked on fonics"...damned shame...lol

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. This is a great scoop and a very important story. Let's make sure

Keith Olbermann knows about it ([e-mail]) - he will be covering the WH response to Gore's speech in his show tonight.

From the Countdown email newsletter for Jan 17:

------------------------------------------------------
Tonight on Countdown
------------------------------------------------------

Two leading civil rights groups filed lawsuits today against the Bush administration over its domestic spying program to determine whether the operation was used to monitor 10 defense lawyers, journalists, scholars, political activists and other Americans with ties to the Middle East. The two lawsuits are the first major court challenges to the eavesdropping program. They were filed separately by the American Civil Liberties Union in Federal District Court in Detroit, and by the Center for Constitutional Rights in Federal District Court in Manhattan. Both groups are seeking to have the courts order an immediate end to the program, which the groups say is illegal and unconstitutional. The Bush administration has strongly defended the legality and necessity of the surveillance program, and officials said the Justice Department would probably oppose the lawsuits on national security grounds. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/politics/17cnd-nsa.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10891444/

Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann broadcasts LIVE at 8 pm et, and the count is never complete without you. Join us.

In the anxious months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the National Security Agency began sending a steady stream of telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and names to the F.B.I. in search of terrorists. The stream soon became a flood, requiring hundreds of agents to check out thousands of tips a month. But virtually all of them, current and former officials say, led to dead ends or innocent Americans. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/politics/17spy.html?hp&ex=1137560400&en=998d7190aee080f7&ei=5094&partner=homepage
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10887725/

The White House accused former Vice President Al Gore of hypocrisy Tuesday for his assertion that President Bush broke the law by eavesdropping on Americans without court approval. McClellan said the Clinton-Gore administration had engaged in warrantless physical searches, and he cited an FBI search of the home of CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames without permission from a judge. He said Clinton's deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, had testified before Congress that the president had the inherent authority to engage in physical searches without warrants. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10891443

House Republicans moved to seize the initiative for ethics reform Tuesday with a comprehensive package of changes designed to curb abuses between lawmakers and lobbyists. Democrats, who have adopted a "culture of corruption" theme in a drive to oust Republicans from control of Congress, intend to unveil this week a proposed ban on lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Congress_Ethics.html

Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday blasted the Bush administration as "one of the worst" in U.S. history and compared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to a plantation where dissenting voices are squelched. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10889047/

(snip)

[wrate]

16. A liberal with balls! Will anyone else join him? n/t

[lovuian]

14. Gore tells Gonzalez shove it!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

I kinda like the Gore and Hillary attack combo!!!

[Karenina]

15. PUMP UP DA FUCKIN' VOLUME!!!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[toymachines]

17. Perfect reply

Dont fall into the spintrap!

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. The first link in the OP doesn't work for me, but the second one does.

Again, here's the good link to this important story:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Gore_responds_to_White_House_hypocrisy_0117.html

[LizW]

20. How can Congress NOT act now?

They know Gore is right. EVERYONE with any sense and integrity knows Gore is right.

Perfect, perfect killer response to Scottie and Gonzo's lame defenses.

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. Here's Gore's official released statement in a press release:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2047393
thread title (1-17-06 LBN): Statement by Former Vice President Al Gore (response to Gonzales smear)

Direct link to press release:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59370

[Grateful for Hope]

22. Thanks for the links

His response was perfection.

[wordpix2]

23. thank you, Pres. Gore! Quite a discussion on Hardball right now: Sharpton

and some repuke name of Ron Christie, a black man on BushCo payroll

[Straight Shooter]

25. Turning the tables and using their words against them.

Did we ever think we'd see the day?

Go, Big Al! :patriot:

[AlGore-08.com]

26. Statement by Former Vice President Al Gore (response to Gonzales smear)

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59370

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement by former Vice President Al Gore:

"The Administration's response to my speech illustrates perfectly the need for a special counsel to review the legality of the NSA wiretapping program. The Attorney General is making a political defense of the President without even addressing the substantive legal questions that have so troubled millions of Americans in both political parties.

"There are two problems with the Attorney General's effort to focus attention on the past instead of the present Administration's behavior. First, as others have thoroughly documented, his charges are factually wrong. Both before and after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was amended in 1995, the Clinton/Gore Administration complied fully and completely with the terms of the law.

"Second, the Attorney General's attempt to cite a previous administration's activity as precedent for theirs -- even though factually wrong -- ironically demonstrates another reason why we must be so vigilant about their brazen disregard for the law. If unchecked, their behavior would serve as a precedent to encourage future presidents to claim these same powers, which many legal experts in both parties believe are clearly illegal.

"The issue, simply put, is that for more than four years, the executive branch has been wiretapping many thousands of American citizens without warrants in direct contradiction of American law. It is clearly wrong and disrespectful to the American people to allow a close political associate of the president to be in charge of reviewing serious charges against him.

"The country needs a full and independent investigation into the facts and legality of the present Administration's program."

[MidwestTransplant]

27. This purely logical argument will make heads pop in the WH

It's tough for them to get their arms around arguments that aren't political and don't appeal to fear.

[Boo_Radley]

30. I love Al.

I hope to see a Gore/Clinton ticket in '08.

[goforit]

44. It kills the them at the WH that Gore is setting the agenda!!! CRIMES,

TREASON and TYRRANNY!!!!

The ball is now in AL GORE's court!!!

Let it rock Gore!!!

[Mabus]

28. Way to go Al! Keep hitting them with the truth

Hold them accountable.

[wordpix2]

50. Hit 'em while their down and knock 'em out with new Congress in 06

[lavenderdiva]

29. love your handle AlGore-08.com!!

I wish he would run in 08. I worked for his campaign in 00, and would gladly do so again!

That he hits back at 'them' immediately, decisively, and superbly is brilliant, and I only wish other Dems would take note. The truth, when spoken, loudly and plainly, always wins.

[JuniperLea]

31. Finally!

Honest Al gets it right again!

"The Administration's response to my speech illustrates perfectly the need for a special counsel to review the legality of the NSA wiretapping program."

Brilliant!

[nofoil]

32. This makes me proud

This is the way America should work. Let's hope Gore and party can keep up the momentum, and not allow themselves to be swiftboated off the issue.

[pinerow]

33. Come out swingin'...

It's refreshing to read a logical and cogent answer to the administrations position that "many" lawyers have reviewed and supported the illegal surveillance. Administration crony lawyers exist in order to give cover to this president...I fear the "08 elections will be suspended due to "National Security" concerns...sheesh

[area51]

54. "...`08 elections will be suspended..."

The nazis don't need to do that. They control Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia, etc. They control most of this elections in this country.

[Greeby]

34. grrrr, how many times?

It's PRESIDENT Gore ;)

[AlGore-08.com]

42. DU rules say you can't change the article title

We can change all the headlines to read "President Gore" with a little work. ;)

[jhain]

35. Incredible

It has been so long...
Timely, intelligent, logical, polite.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Keep it coming, President Gore. Keep it coming.

[rzemanfl]

36. When a lawyer like that asshat Gonzales says "It is my under-

standing that" at the beginning of each sentence you know the piece of shit is lying. Lawyers say "I can prove" or "the evidence will show" when they aren't flat-out lying.

Someone in Texas, please file a bar grievance against this lying little weasel.

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. Yep, them's weasly words.

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. Damn! A man who makes sense and sticks to the facts.

Definitely NOT Republican material. }(

[bunny planet]

38. I love you President Gore.

Really between Paul Hackett truthful response failing to back down from his comments about the extreme religious right, Murtha's unflinching defense of his right to speak the truth about the Iraq war and Al's quick and immediate rebuttal of Republican lies and talking points, I am loving these honest, fighting Dems. Now let's let the rest of the Dems know that this is how we expect all of them to behave. NGU, never back down, never let them see you sweat and continue speaking the truth.

When the Republicans stop telling lies about us and to us, we'll stop telling the truth about them (not really but it's a slightly altered version of an Adlai Stevenson quote that I like).

[Vidar]

40. Send 'em to helll, Al.

[benny05]

41. Kick their Elephants, Al

:kick:

[madrchsod]

43. how did he pass law school

that the poorist defense i`ve heard..dam these guys can`t come up with intelligent bullshit...

[AlGore-08.com]

45. Media Matters has an action alert about Gonzales' BS

Stand up for democracy! Take action with Media Matters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200601170014

[against all enemies]

46. Spoken like an intelligent adult. We need more like him.

[mrdmk]

47. Here is what most of these newscast are doing,

They are reporting on other newscast instead of coming up with their own material. One word for these newscast, "Chicken Shit"!

[antonialee839]

48. Earlier when Scotty tried the "Clinton did it too" argument

the first thing I thought of was, even if it's true, which it isn't,
two wrongs do not make a right. What happened to the adults who were supposedly bringing honor and integrity to the White House?

[shanti]

53. "...factually wrong." oh, i see

they're freakin LYING!!!! got that right, Mr. Gore! tell it like it tis!

[Robb]

49. Can the High Road lead to the White House?

...Sorry, I'm just happily writing future headlines. :)

Go Gore. :thumbsup:

[Julius Civitatus]

51. YEAH!!! HITTING BACK IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIGHT THEM!!!

Now see them squirm as they see a Democrat challenge them in their lies.

:bounce:

BRAVO, PRESIDENT GORE!!!

:toast:

[Cha]

52. gonzales is Disrespectful..

but there isn't anyone who is part of the chimp management company that knows anything about respect.