“Second Chances”
(speech given March 5th, 2007)
I have a question for you:
“Does anyone ever wish they could have a second chance at something?
To be able to go back in time and relive a part of your life?
Perhaps a relationship that didn’t work out as you had hoped?
Visiting a relative that is no longer here?
That house you wished you had purchased a few years ago before it got so expensive?
Well next year our country will get a second chance. A chance to make things right. To make things better.
Yes, next year our country will have an opportunity to elect the person who should have been President.
In November 2000 Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote in the Presidential election.
And in that election everything came down to a difference of 537 votes in Florida. 537 Votes. And there was a major controversy even in that.
There is documented evidence of thousands of democratic voters who intended to vote for Al Gore but because of a confusing ballot, their votes got counted for George Bush.
There is documented evidence of thousands of minority voters who were intimidated so they would not come to the polls and vote.
And there is documented evidence of tens of thousands of voters who showed up to vote in democratic precincts and the lines were hours long or there were no ballots available. In this country!!
And then the Republican leaning Supreme Court would not address the legality of the vote count giving the Presidency to George W. Bush.
Outraged? You should be.
But the point of this speech is not to dwell on past injustice; rather I am here to tell you why I believe Al Gore will be elected President on November 4, 2008.
Al Gore has grown a lot since the 2000 election.
At the time the perception was that he came across dull, wooden and uninspiring. And I must say, I can see how people may have thought that. He often did come across dull, wooden and uninspiring.
Now I don’t know “How” he changed, but changed he has.
In the past few months I have seen him on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show. He has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes and Good Morning America. He comes across engaging, funny and inspiring. He really connects with the audience.
How did he change so dramatically? Perhaps he stopped listening to his advisors and decided to let more of himself show. Maybe he learned a lot from the last election about how to come across in public.
Or maybe, just maybe he has been secretly attending Toastmasters the past 6 years.
I don’t know what it is, but he clearly has evolved.
And then there is his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”.
Al Gore is now a movie star!! His documentary won an Academy award last week!!!
His movie is not just another documentary. The film details the very real concern of global warming and what we can do about it. And it is the 3rd most successful documentary ever!!
While President Bush has spent the last 6 years bringing us into a war with false information, spending 400 billion dollars which could have been better used for education and health care, and causing the loss of over 3000 Americans, Al Gore has been on a mission to save our planet!! You be the judge!!
Three weeks ago he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his life long work helping the environment!!
Two weeks ago he announced that he is organizing the biggest worldwide concert in history to raise awareness and funds to help battle global warming.
In the past month he has won an Academy Award, been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and announced the biggest concert in history.
What is he going to do for an encore next month? Cure cancer, turn all Hummers into Prius’s, and invent chili cheese fries that make you lose weight?
He is truly amazing and smart. He fully cares and is engaged with the World!
Now I know many of you may be supporting a different candidate at this time. The two biggest challengers Al Gore has are Senator Barrack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. Both are worthy candidates and have a lot to offer our country.
The idea of having our first African American or Female President is exciting and long overdue. I truly hope this happens soon. Although I believe both Senator Obama or Clinton would make good choices as President, I believe at this point Al Gore is a better choice and much more electable.
Senator Obama is truly a gifted and inspirational speaker and his time will come. But in 2008 his only national experience will be 1 term as Senator. Perhaps he would make a good choice as Vice President for now and President in 8 years.
And Hillary Clinton has polarized many people. And she voted to support the war in Iraq in 2002.
In 2002 Al Gore was one of the few with the courage to stand up against the war in Iraq. He said that he strongly opposed the War and that although we may be able to get Saddam Hussein out of office, it would cause much instability in the middle east, cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and the loss of thousands of American lives. He was exactly right.
Al Gore stands for universal Health Care, A woman’s right to choose, a livable wage for all, true foreign diplomacy, and saving the planet.
Although all this may sound good, there is just one small problem. Vice President Gore has not announced that he is running for President. In fact he says that he is “not planning” on running. He may not plan to run, but he will. The sun is not planning to rise tomorrow, but it will. I am not planning to eat a quart of mint ice cream when I get home tonight, but I will. And Vice President Gore may not be planning on running, but he will!!!
Having a Second Chance at anything is a Gift.
When you vote in 2008 I strongly urge you to consider how different our country would be if Al Gore had been made President in 2000. Would we be have peace right now? Yes! Would 3000 lives have been saved? Would our country be safer? Would we be in much stronger financial shape?? Yes, Yes, and Yes!!
And consider what great changes he would make if he wins in 2008.
Having a Second Chance at anything is a Gift.
Let’s give Al Gore his second chance.
Thank you,