Al Gore on the Issues
Other Candidates
Al Gore (Democrat) Web Site
Abortion
And compassion means
understanding that whatever your personal view of abortion, women must have the
right to make that personal choice for themselves, in the privacy of their own
consciences. Compassion also means seeing the connections between a happy baby
and a productive worker and between a well-planned, walkable suburb and rising
home values that protect a family's biggest investment. -- Remarks to Democratic
Leadership Conference 12/2/98
Of course, there is no more fundamental challenge than protecting a woman's reproductive health. That means guaranteeing a woman's right to choose and making abortion safe, legal, and rare. -- National Women's Law Center Dinner 11/19/1998
Budget/Economy
And this is what I pledge to you: I will
fight to keep our prosperity going. And as president, I will balance the budget
every year, and we will have surpluses every single year of the GORE presidency.
-- Somersworth, IA 1/3/2000
Al Gore believes we should use the projected surplus to build our economic prosperity, invest in our families, secure Social Security and Medicare for future generations, and pay off the national debt in 15 years.. -- www.algore2000.com
Civil Rights
It’s a mystery how Jefferson
could write the Declaration & own slaves. It’s a mystery how the founders
could write our Constitution & not allow women to vote. But we have taken
the inner meaning and power of our founding documents and the spirit of America
and breathed new life into them in each new generation. The time has come for
gays & lesbians to be recognized within the circle of human dignity. This is
a moral issue. I feel very strongly about it, and I will fight for advances in
this area. -- Debate at Dartmouth College 10/28/99
Crime
One of the most essential weapons
in the war against crime is our nation’s law enforcement - which is why Al
Gore fought hard to enact the Clinton-Gore anti-crime bill that is putting
100,000 new police officers on the streets of America. He is fighting to hire
and redeploy up to 50,000 more community police, and believes that is just the
beginning of what we must do to invest in more police and stronger law
enforcement. -- www.algore2000.com
Defense
In a 1980 meeting in his home
state of Tennessee, then-Congressman Gore asked a gathering of students how many
expected to see nuclear war in their lifetimes. He was stunned to see nearly
every hand in the room rise. Two years later, Congressman Gore advanced a new
idea for bringing new stability to the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race: deterring
a first strike by moving from multi-warhead missiles to single-warhead missiles
on both sides in a phased "build-down." -- www.algore2000.com
Drugs
To truly win the war against crime and
drugs, we must redraw the fundamental line between right and wrong in our own
minds and hearts. And then we must write it in ink in our law books and etch it
in stone in our criminal justice system and in our institutions. -- Boston, MA
7/12/99
The hours between 2 & 6 are
the most perilous hours of the day for our children. A teenager is most likely
to take up smoking between the hours of 2 & 6. A teenager is most likely to
do drugs and alcohol between the hours of 2 & 6. A teenager is most likely
to get caught up in crime between the hours of 2 & 6. That means we must
engage our children in positive, constructive activities between the hours of 2
& 6, [by expanding] access to quality after-school care for all our
children. -- Speech to National PTA 4/23/98
Education
GORE: Yes, I understand that and I
strongly support the separation of church and state. I strongly support the
First Amendment, the establishment clause. I oppose, for example, the teaching
of creationism in the public schools, I think that violates that provision of
our Constitution. -- New Hampshire Primary Debate 1/5/2000
Together with President Clinton,
Gore set a national goal of connecting every classroom and library in the US to
the Internet--and fought for the passage of deep discounts to make Internet
access affordable for the every school and library in the nation. Already, we
are halfway toward achieving that goal. Al Gore is working toward a 21st Century
where a child can reach across a computer keyboard and read any book ever
written, see any painting ever painted, and hear any symphony ever composed. --
www.algore2000.com
Environment
Gore is committed to preserving
open spaces, building and renovating parks, improving water quality, and
enhancing economic competitiveness by redeveloping old factories known as
Brownfields. He has proposed $1 billion in federal funds to promote smart growth
policies - leaving all decisions in local and community hands. Gore encourages
building new schools as centers of communities, in locations that make sense to
the communities, not just to developers. -- www.algore2000.com
Al Gore believes it is essential to protect the environment in ways that also create jobs and protect economic growth -- by working closely with industry in a spirit of collaboration, not conflict; by forging creative new public-private partnerships in areas such as fuel-efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and tourism and recreation; and by emphasizing voluntary measures and flexibility whenever possible to meet crucial public health and natural resource challenges. -- www.algore2000.com
Families/Children
I will make sure that we have
access to high-quality, affordable health care to every single child in the
United States of America, including every child in the State of Mississippi,
within the next four years, -- Jackson, Mississippi 2/17/00
Gore has long been a leader in
the call for greater parental responsibility, especially from fathers. He has
been central to the administration’s crackdown on deadbeat dads, leading to a
dramatic surge in child support payments. And he has called for all fathers to
assume a greater role in their children’s education, health, and upbringing.
Gore supports requiring all federal agencies to strengthen their efforts to
support responsible fatherhood.
-- www.algore2000.com
Foreign Policy
We’re the natural leader of the
world. I don’t think that’s a chauvinist American statement - I think it’s
a statement of fact. People respect us as Americans because we’re a brave
people, we try to uphold high values and standards, and so the rest of the world
does look to us. They want the kind of freedoms and prosperity that we have. We
have to accept that mantle of leadership, and when there is terrible violence in
the rest of the world, we have to pay careful attention to it. -- Debate
at Dartmouth College 10/28/99
Free Trade
Vice President Al Gore told labor
leaders on Thursday he wanted future U.S. trade agreements to better protect
workers and the environment, but denied that he planned to renegotiate a
landmark trade pact with China if elected president in November, a spokesman
said. -- Reuters 2/17/00
America must maintain its role as
the world’s leader. Al Gore has repeatedly called for the passage of Fast
Track trading authority, to allow the President to open more markets.. He has
fought for a trading system that includes strong safeguards for workers, for
health and safety, for children, and for a clean environment. And he has called
on other nations -- such as Japan and the nations of Europe -- to jump-start
their own economies, and live up to their shared responsibilities for global
growth. -- www.algore2000.com
Government Reform
Our campaign finance system is broken
and needs to be fixed. As a Congressman, Al Gore was an early sponsor of
legislation to limit spending for congressional campaigns in return for public
financing, a system similar to that system used for presidential elections.
-- www.algore2000.com
Gun Control
GORE: I think we ought to ban assault
weapons and Saturday night specials, and junk guns. -- New Hampshire Primary
Debate 1/5/2000
And nothing does more to tear families apart than guns,
gangs, drugs, and the fear that walks alongside those terrors. Our children
cannot reach for their dreams if they are ducking for cover. -- Boston, MA
7/12/99
I will change a political culture in
Washington that puts the interests of the gun lobby ahead of the needs of
American families, too many of whom now feel they have to draw the curtains at
midday because they fear their children's becoming living targets. --
Boston, MA 7/12/99
Health Care
I will make sure that we have access
to high-quality, affordable health care to every single child in the United
States of America, including every child in the State of Mississippi, within the
next four years, -- Jackson, Mississippi 2/17/00
I also am committed to the principle
of high quality, affordable health care for all. And I don't really care what
kind of label people apply to those positions and views. -- New Hampshire
Primary Debate 1/5/2000
When some in Congress proposed deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, Al Gore stood strong in opposition. The Clinton-Gore Administration has enacted reforms that have extended the life of the trust fund by 16 years -- and is now committed to using one out of every six dollars of the budget surplus over the next 15 years to strengthen Medicare even more. Al Gore is also working to meet the growing needs of seniors through Medicare -- such as access to life-saving cancer clinical trials and help in buying prescription drugs. -- www.algore2000.com
Vice President Gore believes we must expand access to high quality, affordable health care to all Americans, and he has focused on those who need it the most: our seniors and our children. -- www.algore2000.com
Schools
Al Gore believes if we are going
to truly reform our schools, we need to invest more, not less. Vice President
Gore is proposing to devote $115 billion of the budget surplus to create an
Education Reform Trust Fund which will fund new education investments: including
universal preschool; reforming the American High School and smaller schools and
smaller classes; high quality teachers, and fixing failing schools. -- www.algore2000.com
Parents should have more choice
in their children’s public schools - especially those whose children are stuck
in low-performing schools. We need more public school choice, and more
competition - to apply the pressure that will improve all schools. And of course
we must reject the false promise of siphoning public school funding away to
private schools. That would only make things much worse. -- Commencement Address
at Graceland College, Iowa 5/16/99
Smaller Schools and Smaller Classes: Research shows that small schools can offer a strong core curriculum and a level of academically advanced courses comparable to large schools. Small schools also have better attendance records, lower dropout rates and fewer discipline problems. Al Gore envisions a new American high school with smaller classes, smaller schools, and more individual attention for each student for each student to help our teenagers get on the right track and make our schools better and safer. -- www.algore2000.com
Social Security
Imagine when we save Medicare
secure social security. Imagine what this country will be like when we invest
and bring about revolutionary progress in our schools and raise them to world
class, the best in the entire world. Imagine what it will be like when we bring
our people together and make new strides for opportunity and justice. --
Somersworth, IA 1/3/2000
And, I will never privatize social
security or destroy it by diverting funds intended for social security. I will
strengthen social security, not undermine social security. -- Announcement of
Candidacy
When some in Congress proposed
deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid, Al Gore stood strong in opposition. Gore
supported reforms that have extended the life of the trust fund by 16 years -and
using one out of every six dollars of the budget surplus over the next 15 years
to strengthen Medicare even more. Gore is also working to meet the growing needs
of seniors through Medicare -- such as access to life-saving cancer clinical
trials and help in buying prescription drugs.
-- www.algore2000.com
Tax Reform
In virtually every public
appearance, Gore ominously utters the words risky tax scheme. He has been
chanting that mantra since 1996; in his debate with Jack Kemp, he chanted it
eight times. Then, it was a put-down of Bob Dole’s proposed 15% tax cut; now
it’s a put-down of the tax cuts pending in Congress. -- Boston Globe Editorial
8/30/99
Welfare/Labor
We must raise the minimum wage,
so work always pays more than welfare. -- Somersworth, IA 1/3/2000
Through innovative strategies
such as the Empowerment Zone initiative to attract private investment to
distressed communities, and the agreement he announced this year under which the
nation’s homebuilders will build 1 million new homes in urban America over the
next ten years, Gore has worked to promote investment and redevelopment in
historic and neglected neighborhoods, so that they are not merely abandoned as
people move further and further out. --
www.algore2000.com
- Alan Keyes (Republican)
- Bill Bradley (Democrat)
- Gary Bauer (Republican)
- George W. Bush (Republican)
- Harry Browne (Libertarian)
- Howard Phillips (Constitution)
- John McCain (Republican)
- Pat Buchanan (Reform)
- Steve Forbes (Republican)
Other Candidates
For a list of the above and 17 current and former candidates from 6 political
parties, with links to their web sites, please see...
President 2000: Candidates' Web Sites
Great Sources of Voter Information
Freedom Channel
The first video-on-demand in American politics, click and see the candidates you want, on the issues you want, whenever you want them.GoVote Forum on Al Gore
A popular moderated forum discussing the platform and campaign of this candidate.Issues2000
Al Gore - many more statements on many more issues.League of Women Voters - Voter Information
Provides links to online information about local, state, and national candidates from all over the country.State Voter Registration Requirements
Are you eligible to vote in your state?VirtualJerusalem.com -- The Next President
A careful look at where Bush, McCain, Gore, and Bradley stand on the issues and how the election could affect Israel.VoteMatch Quiz
You enter your opinions on the issues -- VoteMatch selects the candidate that best matches your views.Project Vote Smart
This national non-partisan, non-profit effort researches, tracks and provides to the public independent factual information on over 13,000 candidates and elected officials.VIS - Voter Information Services
Using a simple and fast interface, non-partisan, non-profit VIS lets you research how likely members of Congress are to vote in support of identified advocacy groups.
Other Election 2000 Resources 
Political Parties
Links to the two major and six 3rd party web sites plus committees.Interest Groups and Organizations
Choose your issue and opinion and look here to find a PAC, think tank, or interest group that agrees with you.Candidates' Issues Web Pages
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Incumbents include 223 Republicans, 211 Democrats, and 1 Independent. State-by-State details.Governors Races
Incumbents include 4 Republicans and 7 Democrats. State-by-State details.Election 2000 Index
Links to these and other election resources on US Government Info/Resources and other About.com Guide Sites.
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