The Republican Media- No. 18b

Again, here is the comment (p. 4) David Gregory, NBC's Chief White House Correspondent and host of MSNBC's "Race to the White House," made on the 7/20/08 edition of "Meet The Press" (relevant portion in bold):

Can I make one point related to this? I do think that, you know, inside the White House, there's always been a feeling that Al Gore thinks he's got the monopoly on this debate, and so there is sensitivity among conservatives about this that he, he commands the microphone, and nobody else can, can be an entrant into this debate. So I think he's, he's politically divisive in that way. I--I'm hard-pressed to believe that he wouldn't necessarily go in the administration if he got the platform, but I also take seriously the idea that working outside, "so I can keep making money in all of this," but he can also have a really profound impact on the flow of the debate both here and overseas.



Here are those "politically divisive" comments (p. 3) Gore had made on Meet The Press:

Asked by Brokaw how he would "characterize.... no major, sweeping initiatives coming out of this Democratic-controlled Congress, Gore stated the obvious: "well, I think that when, when you don't have 60 votes in the Senate to overcome filibusters, nothing can happen."

Despite Brokaw's goading, Mr. Gore declined to criticize Hillary Clinton over her recommendation of a "gas-tax holiday," replying "I, I disagreed with those who wanted a so-called gas tax holiday. And I think taking it from that to sort of the whole..." He did not criticize fellow Democrat Clinton- who is no longer in the race- but did not criticize even Republican John McCain, who is the presumptive GOP nominee, squaring off against the candidate, Democrat Barack Obama, whom Gore wants to be elected.

And speaking of being divisive! Gore remarked "and, and I think it's an illustration of how this, this climate crisis has to, to push us as Americans to take this issue out of the old partisan squabbling and political fighting that we're--we have to be in this as Americans."

So why does the White House believe Al Gore "thinks he's got the monopoly on this debate?" Why a belief he (selishly) "commands the microphone?" Doesn't the President of the United States (admittedly a position to which Mr. Gore was elected but for which he was not permitted to serve) command the bully pulpit? Mr. Bush has a)committed our nation to combat (twice, in Afghanistan and Iraq) without a declaration of war; b)has claimed for himself, initially without approval, sweeping and extra-legal wiretapping authority; and c)routinely claims "executive privilege" for any member of his Administration asked to testify about any actions or discussions with anyone. And he is afraid of an ex-Vice President?