"You blew it!" "No, YOU blew it" or Al and Bill clear the air.

OF · February 7, 2001, 12:05 PM

Gore: Clinton Lost the Election;
Clinton: Gore Lost the Election
Wednesday, February 7, 2001

It could take quite a while for historians to reach a consensus on why Al Gore lost the 2000 election — but Gore apparently wasted no time in pinning responsibility for his narrow defeat on President Clinton.

AP

Though Al Gore said he was his 'own man,' Bill Clinton felt he should have been more like ... Bill Clinton.

The two men had a contentious meeting in their final days in the White House, two Democrats close to the former president and vice president told Fox News.

Accounts of the meeting first appeared in The Washington Post.

Gore essentially told Clinton he believes he lost the contested election because of the former president's sex scandal with a White House intern, the sources told Fox News. Gore told Clinton the scandal was harmful to the country and disastrous for his campaign, the Democrats said.

Clinton told the two sources he was taken aback by Gore's comments and responded by telling the vice president that he failed to promote the administration's achievements on education and the economy.

The meeting between the two lasted more than an hour and was described as being heated at times with very direct language exchanged between both men.

Gore, now a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York, reportedly sought the unscheduled one-on-one meeting with Clinton, which lasted over an hour and was described by a Gore aide as "cathartic." A Clinton adviser's characterization was "tense."

The pair's election post-mortem centered around the question that hung over the vice president's campaign from its inception: When it came to associating himself with Clinton, how close was too close?

Democrats are still squabbling over how much Clinton had to do with Gore's loss. Gore consultant Carter Eskew claimed the Monica Lewinsky scandal was "the elephant in the living room" that hindered Gore's efforts. But a White House official retorted in the Post report, "I don't think the fact that they lost four out of four debates had anything to do with Bill Clinton."

In the days following their post-election face-off, Clinton and Gore had a number of polite encounters both in person and on the phone. Though some interpreted the meeting as unpleasant, others reportedly saw it as a necessary air-clearing.

— Fox News' Rita Cosby contributed to this report

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mailto: [email protected]

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- gabe

Jeff Thomas · February 7, 2001, 04:48 PM

I love it. With those two in the room, I don't think there is a prayer of 'clearing the air'.

Regards from AZ

Jay Baker · February 7, 2001, 07:14 PM

Ahh, the old case of the pot calling the kettle, black.

Just bickering between two sets of commonn white trash.

J.B.

JHS · February 7, 2001, 07:36 PM

I think it was Monica.

Jeff Thomas · February 8, 2001, 01:59 AM

Nice catch, JHS.

Regards from AZ

Sub MOA · February 8, 2001, 03:11 AM

Things must be pretty tense in the Democrat party if they're allowing this type of dirty laundry to escape. Even saw this story on the NBC world news tonight! Trouble in Liberalville. My heart bleeds.

Funny thing is they're both to blame...Clinton for being a moral degenerate and Gore for getting his butt kicked in three debates (among other reasons).

Can't you just see them as tag team professional wrestlers? Al would be suffering face down in some sort of death grip pleading to be tagged out while Bubba was off in the front row hitting on some hot young coed.

Sub

February 7, 2001, 12:05 PM	#1
OF Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2000 Posts: 2,239	Gore: Clinton Lost the Election; Clinton: Gore Lost the Election Wednesday, February 7, 2001 It could take quite a while for historians to reach a consensus on why Al Gore lost the 2000 election — but Gore apparently wasted no time in pinning responsibility for his narrow defeat on President Clinton. AP Though Al Gore said he was his 'own man,' Bill Clinton felt he should have been more like ... Bill Clinton. The two men had a contentious meeting in their final days in the White House, two Democrats close to the former president and vice president told Fox News. Accounts of the meeting first appeared in The Washington Post. Gore essentially told Clinton he believes he lost the contested election because of the former president's sex scandal with a White House intern, the sources told Fox News. Gore told Clinton the scandal was harmful to the country and disastrous for his campaign, the Democrats said. Clinton told the two sources he was taken aback by Gore's comments and responded by telling the vice president that he failed to promote the administration's achievements on education and the economy. The meeting between the two lasted more than an hour and was described as being heated at times with very direct language exchanged between both men. Gore, now a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York, reportedly sought the unscheduled one-on-one meeting with Clinton, which lasted over an hour and was described by a Gore aide as "cathartic." A Clinton adviser's characterization was "tense." The pair's election post-mortem centered around the question that hung over the vice president's campaign from its inception: When it came to associating himself with Clinton, how close was too close? Democrats are still squabbling over how much Clinton had to do with Gore's loss. Gore consultant Carter Eskew claimed the Monica Lewinsky scandal was "the elephant in the living room" that hindered Gore's efforts. But a White House official retorted in the Post report, "I don't think the fact that they lost four out of four debates had anything to do with Bill Clinton." In the days following their post-election face-off, Clinton and Gore had a number of polite encounters both in person and on the phone. Though some interpreted the meeting as unpleasant, others reportedly saw it as a necessary air-clearing. — Fox News' Rita Cosby contributed to this report ========== mailto: [email protected] ========== - gabe

February 7, 2001, 04:48 PM	#2
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	I love it. With those two in the room, I don't think there is a prayer of 'clearing the air'. Regards from AZ

February 7, 2001, 07:14 PM	#3
Jay Baker Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2000 Location: S.W. Idaho Posts: 1,294	Ahh, the old case of the pot calling the kettle, black. Just bickering between two sets of commonn white trash. J.B.

February 7, 2001, 07:36 PM	#4
JHS Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 1998 Location: Goodwell,Ok. Posts: 505	I think it was Monica.

February 8, 2001, 01:59 AM	#5
Jeff Thomas Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1998 Location: Texas Posts: 4,753	Nice catch, JHS. Regards from AZ

February 8, 2001, 03:11 AM	#6
Sub MOA Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2000 Location: WA Posts: 292	Things must be pretty tense in the Democrat party if they're allowing this type of dirty laundry to escape. Even saw this story on the NBC world news tonight! Trouble in Liberalville. My heart bleeds. Funny thing is they're both to blame...Clinton for being a moral degenerate and Gore for getting his butt kicked in three debates (among other reasons). Can't you just see them as tag team professional wrestlers? Al would be suffering face down in some sort of death grip pleading to be tagged out while Bubba was off in the front row hitting on some hot young coed. Sub