Focusing on the importance of students participating in the democratic process and ways to improve attitudes on mental health care, Second Lady Tipper Gore addressed a sizable student audience in the 1930s room in the Rockefeller Center yesterday morning.
With Dartmouth only one stop in a busy day of campaigning before the primary, Gore did not direct significant energy trying to influence voters in the room to choose a particular candidate.
She did say, however, that in order to handle the issues of the new century, her husband's experience, environmental devotion and ability to "keep the trains running on time and the economy strong" all qualify him to serve as the next President.
Gore began the event by impressing upon the group, many of whom were already involved in campus politics, the importance of voting and involvement in campaigns.
As a mother of college-aged students herself, Gore said she realized the numerous time commitments preventing students from voting or even considering becoming involved in a political campaign.
Nevertheless, she urged students to engage themselves with grassroots politics and above all to exercise their right to vote.
Gore used John F. Kennedy's 1960 Presidential victory as an example where voting made a difference -- Kennedy won by one vote per precinct when averaged out over the entire nation.
"Don't think that your vote or your effort to vote or help out on a campaign does not matter because it matters very much," Gore said.
One comment in the media that upsets Gore is when she hears that young people do not care about voting and are not involved in the process, or that turnout is less than 50 percent.
Gore urged the audience to recall historical figures who lived before us and who made the ultimate sacrifice -- including their lives -- so that we can live in a free society and even talk about he right to vote.
"Voting is a precious right that people have died and fought for," she said.
Gore emphasized that regardless for whom the audience casts their ballot, they should be part of the process because voting combats existing cynicism by becoming a part of the solution.
"If you don't participate, our democracy will wither and die," she said. "If you do, it will grow and you will nourish it and make it stronger, and that's something we all have a responsibility to do."
Another topic Gore stressed was the way citizens care for each other as a people, whether it be through health care or Medicaid.
"This election is all about practical political solutions to the problems people are having in their everyday lives. It's also about how we can create a climate to change the attitudes in this country," she said.
With continuing advancements in science and technology, Gore wishes to make this a country where anyone with a medical ailment can reap the full advantages of the latest research, translating into quality health care for all people, particularly for younger people.
In the past Gore said she has spent time talking to students about mental health care, and the stigmas attached to such issues absolutely have to change.
"Youth and new attitudes [towards mental health] have the ability to create a new type of understanding based on compassion and inclusion to make significant progress and changes in your life and in your community," she said.
Yet even with new attitudes, Gore said never to forget that we are a part of something larger than ourselves and that we have a special obligation to ensure we move towards creating a better society.
"That is something inherent in the American character and I think it has to be inherent in this election," Gore said. "It is inherent in our campaign, and I am proud of that."
Also campaigning with Gore was Bill Shaheen, spouse of New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen.
Citing Al Gore's eight years apiece in the House of Representatives and the Senate and two terms as Vice-President, Shaheen said there has never been a more prepared candidate to be the President than Al Gore.
