May 16, 2009
Irony so thick you can use it as pancake syrup
Referring to Dick Cheney's criticisms of the Obama administration, Al Gore asserted to Ben Smith of Politico "I waited two years after I left office to make statements that were critical."
Unfortunately, the man who invented the internet forgot about Google. John McCormack at the Weekly Standard blog received an email from TWS contributor Adam White who made Gore out to be a liar:
That struck me as completely untrue, and it took me about two minuets to confirm my recollection. Here are just a few samples:
Contra Costa Times, 1/10/02: "While praising President Bush for his leadership in the war effort, he went on to say that the economy was another matter. 'I'm not here to make a political speech, but I am concerned,' Gore said."
Boston Globe, 4/14/2002: "'They are wrong to vilify honorable men and women who oppose their right-wing domestic agenda and oppose a blatantly dishonest budget,' Gore said. 'They are wrong to imply that those who stand up to them are somehow unpatriotic.'" (Headline -- "Combative Gore Lashes Out At Administration Policies In Fla. Speech, He Hits Bush For 'Radical Agenda'") [Note: So much for his assertion today that his early criticsm of the Bush Administration focused on policy.]
USA Today, 4/15/2002: "Gore's speech was the emotional peak of the convention. With practiced skill, humor and a passion some delegates said they did not see during the campaign, Gore denounced virtually every element of Bush's domestic policy." (Headline -- "Gore's fiery speech raises questions of plans")
There's more at the link.
The irony is incredible. Gore criticizing Cheney? Using the tools of the internet to show him up as a serial liar?
This is the stuff of epic poems or classic literature. And if you add his hypocrisy on environmentalism, it can be said that Al Gore is the most ironic figure in in modern politics.
Given his ego, he's probably proud of that.