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VICE PRESIDENT GORE? AGAIN?
James Carville says Obama should pick Al Gore for vice president. Here are some reasons Democrats are likely to take this option seriously, unless Gore himself rules it out.- Gore answers the need for "experience," but unlike Nunn and various others who've been mentioned, he doesn't contradict the message of change or raise any tensions or conflicts with Obama's views.
- Gore could help Obama govern, and he would be fully competent--and perceived as fully competent--to become president should something happen to Obama.
- Although in a different way from 1992, Gore is a reinforcing choice--he reinforces the sense that Obama would bring visionary leadership.
- Gore provides a link to the prosperity of the 1990s, but without the baggage that Hillary would bring.
- Gore also has the defense and foreign-policy credentials that the ticket needs.
- Gore has run a national campaign, and he has been fully "vetted."
The choice of a VP is probably not going to make that much of a difference in the voting this fall because the election is going to be "all about Obama," so the case for Gore is not primarily that he could help Obama win. But the thinking is that he could contribute an enormous amount to an Obama administration. After all, he's done that kind of thing before.
So would he do it? Only he can answer that question. But clearly, the vice presidency has become more important since he held it. He could have the administration's energy and environmental portfolios and use that position to achieve some of the goals that have been dearest to him. He was probably right to stay out of the presidential race this year because he judged that he couldn't win it. But he hasn't said he's not interested in high office. This could be his way back in.
--Paul Starr
COMMENTS (9)
It's an interesting idea. I'd be more inclined to support it, though, if it were being proposed by someone less odious than James Carville.
Posted by: Midwest Product | June 12, 2008 11:46 AM
this one site has a VP poll, and it shows who America thinks should be the Vice President. Check it out at http://www.votenic.com
Posted by: Brandon | June 12, 2008 12:12 PM
I wouldn't lose sleep over this. Some people just aren't born to be VP -- under two different presidents.
Posted by: leo | June 12, 2008 12:55 PM
I would quibble with the idea that the position has become more important since Gore last had it. Certainly it has been occupied by a madman with no regard for tradition or rules, but the office itself probably underwent its most political transformation during Clinton/Gore, when Gore was in charge of the Good Government initiative and trimmed hundreds of thousands of jobs (through attrition, mostly).
In any event, prior to crazy Cheney, Gore was perhaps the most powerful and involved VP ever. The changes that have occurred since then are not policy issues, but rather questions of how far the executive will go in shredding the constitution, and how far congress will let them.
Posted by: abject funk | June 12, 2008 1:36 PM
I think Gore is mature enough (sufficiently egoless) to realize the incredible good that he could do for the country, the world and of course the Obama administration.
I would be thrilled if this were offered and he accepted.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2008 4:08 PM
Uh, I think it might be unconstitutional.
Posted by: Joe S. | June 12, 2008 5:05 PM
Uh, I think it might be unconstitutional
How come? I don't think there's anything in the Constitution preventing someone from serving as VP more than twice...
Posted by: T. Paine | June 12, 2008 5:19 PM
The Cigar Store Indian won an oscar, big deal, so did America's greatest actor, Joe Pesci. Does that mean he should be governor of New Jersey?
Posted by: cuzinvinny | June 13, 2008 1:15 PM
Actually, I think Gore HAS said he doesn't want to run for high political office again. I don't remember his exact words, but it was something to the effect that he believes he can do more good from outside the political system than from within. Anyone who's read his book The Assault on Reason knows that he has a very low opinion of the current state of the American political system, and how it denigrates honest and useful debate.
Posted by: beckya57 | June 15, 2008 3:09 PM