Early reaction to Al Gore's Obama endorsement: Yawn

Some early overnight reaction to the belated endorsement of Barack Obama by Al Gore. And it might disappoint the former vice president and loser in the 2000 White House race.

Exactly what Gore was waiting for in the past two weeks since Obama sewed up his party's nomination is unclear. Maybe he just wanted to go to Michigan where his prize-winning environmental pitch is so very less welcome than other places that don't make so many large cars.

Or maybe he was waiting until his endorsement meant absolutely nothing.

Anyway, as The Ticket reported, Gore said all the right things in his endorsement speech, except he noticeably left out the last Democratic president, the one who chose to elevate Gore from has-been senator to his running mate and has been the only Democrat elected president twice since World War II, which is like the Middle Ages for today's voters.

But within minutes online reaction was underwhelming. Joe Gandelman, editor in chief over at the Moderate Voice, who is usually, well, very moderate, posted an item titled "Obama Gets 'the' Endorsement: The Lousy Timing of Al Gore."

He had this to say:

"Perhaps one day someone will write a chapter in a new book about Al Gore titled 'Profiles in Uncourage.' ... But it came so late in the game that the person who'll be most impressed with it will be Tipper Gore."

After that the item went downhill. Gandelman said the endorsement so long sought by Obama and Hillary Clinton was by now such an anti-climax that it resembled the ponderings about whether Ralph Nader would run yet again.

Ouch, how'd you like to be compared to the 21st century's Harold Stassen?

Or as Jay Leno described the Gore endorsement: “You could feel the excitement in the room. It was unbelievable. And then Al Gore walked in.”

"Not exactly 'Man bites dog' news. Who is Gore going to endorse? John McCain?" asked John Mariner in The Ticket's comments section.

Sam Patel added: "It's a sad day to see one of the Clinton's most loyal supporters essentially dis-own them! Like Bill Richardson, Al Gore was a complete nobody had it not been for Bill Clinton's risky generosity. I bet he now regrets some of those appointments."

Up at the San Francisco Chronicle's politics blog, Joe Garofoli wrote: "We know this will never happen, but hopefully Al will tell us tonight why he didn't endorse somebody when it WOULD HAVE MEANT SOMETHING. Like in February.

"Then again, think of it from his perspective. In his foreseeable role as Captain Planet, he's going to need to work with whoever would be president, so why burn a bridge with a nomination. But isn't Al big enough now (is that a Nobel in your pocket?) that he doesn't have to worry about such petty political matters."

Guess not.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: AP

Comments

[Glennis]

Al Gore is, and has always been a big bore. But he's so impressed with himself he wouldn't notice that no one else is. What a pompous blowhard.

[Andre Jackson]

The thing I think is most striking about your piece is the implication that it might do something else. I for one never thought the endorsement of one of the non-primary participants to be anything earthshaking. And the fact that it isn't is no insult to either party; endorser or endorsee. My question to you would be... what exactly did you expect? The significance of Gore's endorsement is not in any perceived bump it might produce, but in the further unification it signifies for the Democratic Party. It took Carter a while too and understandably so-- and he actually occupied the office. But it was good to see him come along. More than anything, its probably a good sign that the news, the freshness and the excitement still centers around this candidate and not some attending or would-be "king-maker". Its time to let Obama be Obama.

[EarthIsMelting]

AlBot Gore is required to cheer up ObamaBots who keep getting their legs shaken by Obama speeches. Find more of Dems drama of people coming up and endorsing Osama and all these morons getting to hear their messiah again. What a country.....

[Jeff]

The commentary doesn't make sense. I agree that the endorsement is meaningless at this point, but the claim that his endorsement of both too late to matter and that its s slap in the face to the Clintons is nonsense. Quite likely Gore didn't endorse during the primary precisely because he didn't want it to be a slap in the face to the Clintons. And besides, this idea that somehow "loyalty to the boss" is supposed to be a guiding force in politics is nonsense. Why on earth would be want politicians who blindly did favors for those that helped them into power? This is what we call corruption. Basically all of the people complaining about Richardson and Gore, etc., not "being thankful enough" to Bill are advocating for a more corrupt political system. Ehhh....

[BP]

Andrew Malcolm is about 100 years old and that speech was way past his bedtime, no wonder he was yawning!!

Next time Obama speaks at 3pm we'll let you know Gramps!

[rplat]

Of course Gore endorsed Obama . . . who do you think taught Obama to be an empty suit. They make a matched pair.

[thomas]

HILARY HAD THE BALLS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. AND WOULD HAVE WON IF SHE DIVORCED BILL!!! AL GORE IS JUST A COWARD. AFRAID TO COME OUT AND MAKE A COMMITMENT. THERE'S ALOT MORE ISSUES THAN JUST HIS GLOBAL WARMING THEORY..

[Me]

I have never seen anyone bashed so much as Gore.
I atribute it to his pasive nature. He is getting run over ant takes the high road and gets bashed for that even. And by such ignorant people. Read the pro/con comments here and you should be able to tell the diference between IQs of the author. This just proves Al Franken's books. Look 'em up they are very entertaining and insightfull. I would like Gore to be the VP with Obama. Al Franken Secretery of "calling people on their BULL SH*T".

[Diggs]

Obama should be pretty pumped that he got the endorsement of the first Democratic Party presidential candidate to lose to Chimpy McHitlerburton. He's now been endorsed by the two biggest losers of the 21st century.
Hooray.

[Mark]

For all those that key praising Gore. There is a reason that he didn't win his home state in the election. The people of Tennessee remember the positions he took as a senator for the state, which for the most part went against what the citizens of the state wanted.

The man is a crusader that will use any means to get what he wants. He does not listen to facts, nor is there any logic in his thinking. For the most part, he has alienated the people he was suppose to serve, all in the name of whatever crusade he was on at the time.

In simple terms get a grip, the man is not good for the country.

[jill]

In 2000 it seemed like it would be impossible for a guy named Bush and known for being the type of guy that everyone wanted to party with, could beat the brilliant, experienced Al Gore. When Bush won I thought we must be a nation of fools. In 2004 after 4 years of Bush it seemed that almost anyone could beat Bush and once again this nation voted Bush over Kerry.

In this primary season I thought, a vote for Obama over Hillary made about as much sense as a vote for Bush over Gore did.............but this nation continued to be misled by a media that appeared to be as in love with Obama as a school girl with a crush. It now appears as though we will nominate an inexperienced new guy promising change although we know not what type of change other than a raise in taxes. Although Obama promises some type of national health care, we know that he has no experience and very little to no chance of getting this "national health care" running.

Perhaps Al Gore was waiting to see if this nation would be smart enough to nominate the most electable and experienced candidate...............but alas the nation has not learned a thing in the past 8 eight years. Instead this nation allowed a good old boys network to pick for us the weakest democratic candidate for a sure loss while setting womens equal rights back 20 years.

Ignore the false claims of the DNC. The Democrats will now claim that a democrat must be elected to prevent a conservative Supreme court justice from being seated tyo overturn Roe v Wade. This is untrue because we hold the majority in the Senate and no President can put a conservative on the Supreme Court without a majority of the Senate agreeing and passing the nominee. Dems have the majority.

VOTE McCAIN 2008 and Hillary 2012

[Beltway Greg]

Andrew, if I were your editor I would dismiss you immediately. This such a stupid article and it is written in such a sophomoric way that it need not be quoted to even make a critic's point. You make Bill O'Reilly, Cal Thomas, and Geraldo look like Walter Cronkite.

Beltway Greg

(Thanks for the compliments. Appreciate you reading with so many thousands of others. See you soon!)

[Carlos Lugo]

I'm really confused as to why everyone's attempting to peg Gore's support as some sort of political powermove gone bad.
Gore's backing of Obama does nothing more than legitimize his candidacy, and was never intended to do anything more.
Obama is ahead in the poll categories that matter-- he has no need for any poli-trickery (neither does the party). Sorry that this sort of thing bores you, but it's how politics works.

Now if the bloggers of the world would please focus their attention on more substantial news...

[Scott]

Al Gore is all about the money. It doesn't matter to him who the next president is when all three of the potential nominees had the same position on global warming. He will back anyone who will try to change policy to make him fatter and richer. I hope history records him as the lying grafter that he is when they can no longer maintain their man made global warming hoax. If he succeeds he can potentially be the largest con man in history.

[hefi]

Haha you people who are against Obama obviously still have the wool pulled over your eyes by the Bush/McCain Administration. It's people like you who keep this country from growing in a positive way.

[bcamarda]

Is that the same YAWN y'all offered when Al Gore did the math on George W. Bush's tax proposals and demonstrated that they would cause enormous deficits? Or when he talked about creating a "Social Security lock box" that would have left our retirements in far better shape? Or when he warned about global warming several years ago, before the evidence became even more incontrovertible? Or when he focused his vice presidency on improving the performance of government (and actually succeeded to a surprising extent -- in contrast to Bush, who destroyed FEMA and everything else he touched?) Or when he made an exceptionally cogent case (in The Assault on Reason) about what happens to a democracy when it no longer values intelligent, reasoned discourse? Yawn, yawn, yawn, all of it, huh?

IMHO, the yawn's on you guys. The press never liked Gore. Too substantive. Too boring. Too grown-up. His very career stands as a reproach to the way you all have chosen to run your own.

[Scott]

Al Gore is all about the money. It doesn't matter to him who the next president is when all three of the potential nominees had the same position on global warming. He will back anyone who will try to change policy to make him fatter and richer. I hope history records him as the lying grafter that he is when they can no longer maintain their man made global warming hoax. If he succeeds he can potentially be the largest con man in history.

[John Roman]

a total living anus? vp during this generations most signifigant expansion in the american economy, recipient of the nobel prize, activist, veteran, father, husband....if this is anus Dick, then Bush must be excrement.

[steve]

This blog article is ridiculous...his endorsement is too late? How can you endorse one candidate in the primary? As a democrat he was right to hold off on his endorsement rather than alienate half the party. That should be no surprise to a seasoned reporter.
Regarding those who think Al Gore is an "idiot" or "anus", I suppose you think GW is a genius? Al's doing the right thing, which is more than I can say about some of these bloggers and reporters. Most of the idiot responses here are by people who just like to bash Gore because of the "internet invention" comment years ago and they "chimp" the story on...think for yourself based on facts.

This coming from a former Republican who is sick of the last 8 years. Al was right on! This blog an it's author get the big YAWN.

[Richard Gordon]

What an idiotic statement. Must be a Republican or Global Warming Denier. Trust me there are many people who care about Al Gore's endorsement of Obama. Me being one of them. Now you may not care about Gore's opinions, and that, indeed is your right. But let me say this buddy, I couldn't care less about your opinions.

[zig-zag]

The big yawn should be about the catty, drive-by writing style on this blog. I'm guessing it's supposed to pass for hip, insightful commentary from those in the know; unfortunastely for us readers it comes accross as churlishly adololescent, with little in the way of substance and waaaay too much attitude.

[Zebulon]

It is a yawn, because Al Gore's endorsement would be very meaningful if it came early in the primary season, just like his endorsement of Howard Dean put him over the top.

By the way, who did Jimmy Carter and GHWB endorse?

[Carldon]

Can you say snarky? I thought you could.

[Maria Leiter]

Any longer and more people will have realized that Al Gore is a fortune seeking opportunist who is almost single handedly responsible for starving the worlds poorest populations, while almost securing for himself a pot of billions in carbon credit investments. Run with alarmists and you move the world in dangerous ways. I have to say that the prospect of Obama having him in a cabinet position is the one thing that makes me hesitant about voting for him.

[AB]

Hi guys those are so soar about Gore,

why is it so important to be politically correct and rush to endorse Obama ? I suppose these two great individuals understand and respect each other very well, and Al Gore doesn't have any pressing need to rush to endorse Obama , as Obama really doesn't really need to put on his American flag lapel pin (but he had to do it anyway to get the votes of those Joe Sixpacks, Jack WWFs and Bill NASCARS to become president). And Obama is doing very well without it.
Al Gore did the right thing to not show himself of as a opportunistic and traitor to the Clinton camp, that would have displayed disrespect to Clinton (Hillary) and himself.

Try to understand these great people if you can, if you dont, then try to comprehend that you dont understand the finer aspects of relationships. In case you even cant comprehend your limitation, then atleast refrain from bad mouthing these people because it is only showing off your shortage of intelligence.