Al Gore's Thoughts During the Speech

Washington D.C. (WEB Wire Service) VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE DELIVERS REMARKS CAMPAIGN 2000: VICE PRESIDENT GORE DELIVERS REMARKS DECEMBER 13, 2000 SPEAKER: ALBERT GORE JR., VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Good evening. I sure hope it's past 6 PM. Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States, and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time. If I never call him again it will be too soon. It's not fair. I should be the 43rd president. My daddy wanted it that way. I offered to meet with him as soon as possible so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we just passed. I'll lure that hillbilly Texan to my town, DC, and find out what he thinks he will do. Then I'll let Leiberman know and we will nail him to the wall. Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you." That little shrip may have said it but in his heart he knew they cheated him. Just like me. Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country. They can put it aside and come over to our way. Otherwise, we'll call them partisan and worse. Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our democracy. That damn Supreme Court did me in. Why didn't one of them die so Billy could put a good Democrat activist on the bench. Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, "Not under man but under God and law." That's the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties. I've tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided America's deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks. We had the Law in our pocket on the Florida Supreme Court but I don't know where God was. He should have ruled in my favor. Maybe I should have had the Reverend Jackson talk to him. Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession. Strongly disagree is putting it mildly. And they shouldn't be too sure about the Electoral College. As Bill says "what does concession mean anyway". I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new president elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our Constitution affirms and defends. I'll honor him alright. Daschel and Gephardt will twist him into a pretzel. He won't know which way is up. I'll get every black to hate him, Hispanics too, women, gays. He'll wish he never was born and stole my election. Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership and opened new doors, not just for our campaign but for our country. Should never have picked Joe and Hadassah to get the Jewish vote. I had it without them. Whose idea was that anyway? Did Tipper let me down too? The smooch was great but maybe Laura is just better looking. This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this belatedly broken impasse can point us all to a new common ground, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people with a shared history and a shared destiny. The only shared destiny for Bush is four years and out. I'll be back and next time I'll really take the gloves off. "Bush hates our children, Bush hates seniors, Bush hates working people". Hah,Hah. I can't wait. Indeed, that history gives us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their own challenges to the popular will. What the hell does that sentence mean? Damn Shrum writes this stuff but I have to get up here and mouth it. I wish he would write in simple sentences. Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation. I've got the high ground as the peacemaker. A reasonable fellow. Kind hearted in defeat. Starting tomorrow we brand him as partisan. Out for his dad's old gang. The oil barons. The special interests. Inflexible, rigid, hard hearted. Boy, there can be fun in losing. So let it be with us. Yea, right! I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country. And love of that check from the treasury. If only we could have given away more money, it might have all been different. And I say to our fellow members of the world community, let no one see this contest as a sign of American weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome. I hope they don't know about the armed forces too. Some have expressed concern that the unusual nature of this election might hamper the next president in the conduct of his office. I do not believe it need be so. It need not be so but we are sure going to make sure Bush falls on his face. The do nothing president. Maybe a recession. Boy, that would be the icing on the cake. President-elect Bush inherits a nation whose citizens will be ready to assist him in the conduct of his large responsibilities. I personally will be at his disposal, and I call on all Americans -- I particularly urge all who stood with us to unite behind our next president. This is America. Just as we fight hard when the stakes are high, we close ranks and come together when the contest is done. If old Bushy thinks the contest is done, he must be smoking something. Divide and conquer. Slash and burn. And while there will be time enough to debate our continuing differences, now is the time to recognize that that which unites us is greater than that which divides us. While we yet hold and do not yield our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party. This is America and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new president. I'll be right behind him ready to trip him up. The democratic party is America and I'm the democratic party. As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and old friends. I know I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences, literally and figuratively. Tennessee! Those schlunks! Vote against me will they. When I get back in power they'll get what's coming to them. Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people over the next four years, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard. I heard you and I will not forget. We'll push this as hard as we can. Bush stole the election by disenfranchising the blacks. Blacks, whose voices haven't been heard. I only got 90%. Next time 100%. I've seen America in this campaign and I like what I see. It's worth fighting for and that's a fight I'll never stop. As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe as my father once said, that no matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out. Let the glory out? Another Shrum nutso saying. Nothing shapes the souls like a good old fashioned victory. Why do I have to say this stuff. So for me this campaign ends as it began: with the love of Tipper and our family; with faith in God and in the country I have been so proud to serve, from Vietnam to the vice presidency; and with gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers, including all those who worked so hard in Florida for the last 36 days. You know Vietnam wasn't that bad. Lots of hash and chicks and nothing much to do. And if they had worked harder in Florida...oh well Now the political struggle is over and we turn again to the unending struggle for the common good of all Americans and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom. In the words of our great hymn, "America, America": "Let us crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea." Why didn't they recognize that I am the great hymn, the savior of the country. I wanted the crown. I need the crown. I am the common good. And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others, it's time for me to go. Thank you and good night, and God bless America. I think I'm going to cry now.