LOS ANGELES -- Like a boxer entering the ring before a title fight, Vice President Al Gore ran down a side corridor at the Staples Center and entered the presidential arena to the cheers of the thousands of convention guests and delegates assembled here.
In his acceptance speech, which also had boxing-like, reoccurring theme of "I will fight for you," Gore used a combination of McCainesque "straight talk" and policy promises to deliver the most important speech of his campaign, and possibly his entire life. With an unusual (for Gore) level of energy, he seemed to focus on dispelling the charges that have been made against him over the past year -- that he is too boring, too stiff, and too uninspiring to be president. Before even starting the speech, Gore climbed the stairs to the podium and pounced on Tipper and embraced her in a kiss so passionate and long-lasting that it was greeted by catcalls and louder cheering from the crowd. So much for being stiff. What was most surprising about the speech was that near the end Gore outright acknowledged that he talks too much about policy. "I hope I didn't talk too much about policies, here tonight," he said. And in what might have been his strongest attacks yet, Gore accused Texas Gov. George W. Bush and his running-mate Dick Cheney of representing only the powerful, and concluded with the words, "the presidency is more than a popularity contest. I won't be the most exciting politician, but I will never let you down."
Gore separated himself from the Clinton administration in the speech by saying, "I'm not asking you to vote for me on the basis of the economy we have, but for the one we can build." His speech included a surprisingly long list of policy promises including making college tuition completely tax deductible, cutting crime every year, a patients' bill of rights, a minimum wage hike, campaign finance reform, giving all children health care by 2004, universal pre-school for every child, and hiring another 50,000 new community police officers.
Gore's speech reinvigorated a convention that had been struggling to keep its spirits up after hearing the news that Independent Counsel Robert Ray, Ken Starr's replacement, had begun a new grand jury investigation of President Clinton's lying under oath during the Paula Jones sexual harassment suit.
On Wednesday night, Sen. Joe Lieberman, not previously known for his speaking abilities, gave a rousing acceptance speech. Strolling out onto the stage, he remarked, "Isn't America great?" The first Jewish-American on a major party ticket, Sen. Lieberman told his party that he was humbled by the nomination and that the time had come to "tear down the walls of discrimination, of gender, race, and sexual orientation." With thousands of delegates chanting "Go Joe Go," Sen. Lieberman told the crowd that "every time a barrier is broken, the doors of opportunity open widen for all of us."
His speech illustrated the unusual mixture of policy philosophies that the Gore/Lieberman ticket includes. In reference to the poverty-stricken in America, Sen. Lieberman said, "It's not just the size of the national feast [that concerns us] but the number of people we can fit at the table." He said that he wants to mend affirmative action, but not end it, although it is unclear exactly what that means. In contrast to President Clinton's 1992 pledge of national health care, Sen. Lieberman promised to deliver universal health care to only the children of America. And in an indication of his disdain for Hollywood, he said that, "no parent should compete with popular culture to raise their children."
Sen. Lieberman followed Republican vice presidential candidate, Dick Cheney's lead, by using his speech to criticize the opposite party. "Our Republican friends tried to walk and talk a lot like us," he said, "But not since Tom Hanks won an Oscar, has there been that much acting in Philadelphia."
Also on Wednesday, a number of prominent speakers rallied the party regulars from the podium. House Minority Leader, Dick Gephardt took the podium amid shouts to "Take Back the House." New York Sen. Chuck Schumer used his podium appearance to promise that a President Gore would close the gun show loophole -- a reference to the lack of background checks on people buying guns at gun shows. "Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when government is on the right side," he told the convention. Georgia Rep. John Lewis, the former deputy to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., loudly proclaimed Joe Lieberman to be a man of principle. "We will always win when we do what is right," he cried. Almost breathless with excitement and emotion, Hadassah Lieberman told the convention that her husband Sen. Lieberman "is a man whose mission is inspired by the people he serves." She introduced him with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, my Joey."
Democratic wrestling fans got a surprise on Wednesday, when WWF wrestling star, the Rock, appeared at the convention to publicize the WWF's "Smack Down Your Vote" campaign, in conjunction with MTV's "Choose or Lose," campaign intended to energize the youth vote in America. The Rock said he hopes to invigorate young Americans about voting in the same way that they are excited about wrestling matches. The Rock said the issues that are most important in this election are education and taxes and that he would like to see more women in office.
New Jersey candidate for Senate, John Corzine is also interested in making sure young voters feel comfortable participating in the democratic process. In an interview with The Dartmouth, he said he felt it was important to speak to young voters' issues. "Making sure Social Security is available to the younger folks in America is one of the most important issues under debate. We also need to address the responsible development of the Internet -- and to make sure our privacy protections are appropriately implemented without stifling entrepreneurship."
New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen told The Darmouth that if there were one thing she would want to express to Dartmouth students most it is that they should, "get involved, make sure you vote in November. It makes a difference."
Only a few blocks away from the Democratic National Convention, the Shadow Convention has met every day this week, to discuss issues the organizers say the Democratic and Republican conventions have ignored. The Shadow Convention's themes have ranged from the income gap and the war on drugs to campaign finance reform. Marty Meehan was the keynote speaker on Wednesday. Meehan, the Democratic House sponsor of legislation parallel to the McCain/Feingold bill that would ban soft money, decried that rapid increase in soft money donations to both parties which have grown from $86 million in 1992 to a projected $500 million projected in 2000. "Everyone think Congressmen have it so good at these conventions," he told the crowded hall, "but I couldn't even get a shuttle to my hotel because I wasn't a donor.
