By Mike Cohen
Published in the South Marion Citizen, April 21, 2000
On April 7, John L. Pennewell, distinguished advocate of the tax cuts for the rich, advanced into a form of character assassination when he called Al Gore a hypocrite and accused him of having been a farmer.
Next November we will choose between George W. Bush's "When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible" and Al Gore's "When I was young and a farmer, I was young and a farmer."
Under our great democratic system, one of these two aspirants (better Al Gore than the other guy) will win the privilege of absorbing for the next four (eight?) years the name calling and low blows of the letters-to-the-editor set, the columnists and pundits.
If we Democrats are going to properly defend our side, will need to outsmart our Republican opponents (a not so difficult chore). We will need to study Republican writings such as Pennewell's and plan our counter attack. Like this:
Pennewell starts with the old Joe McCarthy ploy, guilt by association. In this piece on Al Gore, he manages by some weird stretch to bring up the name of Monica Lewinsky, a woman of tarnished reputation who had absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Gore.
He brings up Bill Clinton, who has led this nation in the greatest run of prosperity in history. He brings up the name of Maria Hsia - whoever she is. He compares Gore to a "two-day reformed drunk."
How do we Democrats respond to all this malice? Do we remind the reader that it was George W. Bush who could not avoid admitting that he had abused liquor (but refused to deny that he had abused hard drugs when he was "young and irresponsible")?
If we reply in kind to Pennewell's guilt-by-association accusations, we can bring up again the sainted Republican adulterer Henry Hyde. We can bring up again Bob Livingston, who was denied the House speaker job because of - I forget what kind of scandal.
We can bring up again adulterer (please don't) Newt Gingrich. We can bring up again that mighty warrior who lost the war with Iraq, George H. W. Bush (Sr.), who won election to the presidency by promising no new taxes and once elected, broke that promise.
Al Gore has been criticized for fund raising in a Buddhist temple. His severest critic is contrite Al Gore himself. Gore has made campaign calls from his office in the White House. Republican zealots have distributed millions of biased "voter guides" in churches throughout America in violation of their fax-free status.
They have brought lobbyists (read "campaign contributors") into congressional committee hearings and allowed these money changers to write self-serving legislation.
Do you own stocks? Has your permission ever been asked to allow the managers of your company to contribute your money to subsidize the political candidacy of a person whose policies you do not approve?
Republicans hate it when unions donate members money to Democratic causes but they love it when corporations give Republicans your money and mine. Mr. Pennewell tells us "Gore's family owns $500,000 worth of stock in the Occidental Petroleum Company." Is Pennewell sure he wants to bring families into this debate?
Does he want to discuss George W.'s brother Neil, whose illegal involvement in the Silverado banking scandal resulted in his being barred from future activities?
Does Pennewell want to discuss the Bush relative (no name please) who was nailed and fined for trying to smuggle home $19,000 worth of foreign purchases?
What is Pennewell's point anyway in bringing families into the discussion? Doesn't he realize that in opposing offshore drilling, Al Gore would block action that would have enriched his family? Whose side is Mr. Pennewell on?
Let's now consider affirmative action, which both governors Bush oppose. More than a century after slavery was legally abolished, the imprint of its heavy hand remained. Black people, no matter how well educated, found it virtually impossible to get any but the most menial employment. So the Democrats created affirmative action to give this abused minority a little fairer break.
Let's now segue to Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, whose academic grades were so poor he refuses to let us see them. This lousy student was admitted to Andover Prep, Yale University and Harvard Business School, three schools which year after year deny admittance to thousands of the nation's most brilliant scholars.
So how, dunce cap and all, did George W. get in? Grandson of U.S. senator, son of George Herbert Walker Bush, engulfed in great wealth, the answer is another kind of affirmative action. This kind is known as privilege - affirmative action for the rich and pampered.
When you chose to write about hypocrisy, Mr. Pennewell, is the what you had in mind? A
favored beneficiary of affirmative action trying to shut down affirmative action for the
unlucky? Is this candidate for the presidency of the United States of America the best your
party can do? Have a nice day.
Mike Cohen
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