At convention's close, Gore vows to fight for all Americans
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LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Amid a sea of balloons and confetti, the Democratic National Convention drew to a close Thursday night after newly minted presidential nominee Al Gore promised to fight for working Americans in an acceptance speech long on policy specifics.
"I stand here tonight as my own man, and I want you to know me for who I truly am," Gore said to cheers and applause, shortly after making his way through the crowd and bounding on stage.
"I know one thing about the job of the president. It is the only job in the Constitution that is charged with the responsibility of fighting for all the people -- not just the people of one state or one district; not just the wealthy or powerful -- all the people," he said.
"So I say to you tonight, if you entrust me with the presidency, I will fight for you," Gore vowed.
"Tonight I thank those who helped me get here, starting with the people of Tennessee," Gore said, moving on to pay tribute to his family; his former primary rival Bill Bradley; and his vice presidential running mate, Joe Lieberman.
Saying he believed voters were owed explanations as to where candidates stood, Gore put forth policy specifics. "To me this election is not just a contest between my opponent and me, it's about millions of Americans whose names we may never know."
He quickly touched upon the issues long dear to him and set forth his agenda if elected president -- such as passing a "targeted tax cut," a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, rebuilding and modernizing schools, expanding access to health care, increasing teacher pay, shoring up Social Security, prohibiting school vouchers, supporting abortion rights, passing hate crimes legislation, enforcing civil rights laws, increasing law enforcement and -- as his first act as president -- signing a campaign finance reform law.
"All of this is the change we wish to see in America," he said to a standing ovation. "But let me tell you this: I will not go along with a huge tax cut at the expense of everyone else and wreck our good economy in the process."
"Under the tax plan the other side has proposed, "middle-income families would get one dime," he explained to boos and hisses from the crowd. "It would be about 62 cents in change, but let me tell you that's not the kind of change I'm working for."
"Let's lift our eyes and see how wide the American horizon has become."
Gore was introduced by his wife, Tipper, who said: "After almost 25 years in public service fighting for America's working families, Al accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States."
Gore was formally nominated for president Wednesday night. He delivered his highly anticipated acceptance speech at a key moment in the presidential campaign: He trails Republican nominee Texas Gov. George W. Bush by double digits in some polls, and he faces the added distraction of news out of Washington that the Office of the Independent Counsel has convened a grand jury in its ongoing investigation of the Monica Lewinsky saga.
It's official: Lieberman is VP nominee
Earlier in the evening, a beaming Joe Lieberman officially became the Democratic vice presidential nominee. "I am humbled and I am grateful for the confidence you have expressed in me, and I am proud to accept your nomination to be the next vice president of the United States," Lieberman said after being nominated by acclamation.
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Vice President Al Gore makes his presidential nomination acceptance speech
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Vice Presidential candidate Senator Joe Lieberman speaks to the Democratic National Convention
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Lieberman, who headlined the convention Wednesday night, was placed in nomination by Sen. Chris Dodd, Connecticut's senior senator; Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana and Rep. Ellen Tauscher, who represents California's Silicon Valley.
"I am proud to nominate the first Jewish candidate for vice president, my colleague and my friend Joseph Lieberman," said Dodd. "Al Gore, you could not have made a better choice for the vice presidential candidate of the United States."
Warming up the crowd was a series of speakers ranging from Kweisi Mfume, chairman of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People and Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa.
"Compassionate conservatism is like trying to heat up an old house with warm thoughts. It might make you feel good but it doesn't stop you from freezing," Harkin said, poking fun at the campaign theme of Gore's GOP rival, Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
"All you ever needed to know about this election, you learned from driving. If you want to go backward you put it in 'R'. If you want to go forward you put it in 'D'. Let's move this country forward, let's elect Al Gore and Joe Lieberman."
More Monica -- at the worst time
As the convention was gaveled to order on Thursday, news swept the delegate floor in front of the event's main podium that the office administered by Independent Counsel Robert Ray in Washington had, some time within the last month, convened a new grand jury to further investigate President Clinton's actions involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, with whom he had a well-documented relationship.
Former Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr raised questions of whether Clinton had obstructed justice by attempting to cover up his relationship with Lewinsky as the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit ran its course. A report issued by Starr to the House Judiciary Committee led to an impeachment vote in the House, and Clinton's eventual acquittal during a subsequent Senate trial.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the lengthy hearings on the Starr report, and voted against impeachment in committee and on the House floor. He was visibly agitated on the convention floor Thursday, saying the day's revelations were "disgusting."
"The timing is highly suspect," Nadler said. "Starr investigated this. There is no evidence of anything new, and Starr decided that there is nothing to indict."
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Lieberman officially becomes the Democratic vice presidential nominee Thursday
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Former Deputy White House Counsel and longtime Gore Chief of Staff Jack Quinn said delegates "don't want to hear about Monica Lewinsky. They don't want to hear about President Clinton and what he and she may or may not have done outside his public life," said. "It is just irrelevant to what's going on here and that's how it should be treated."
And while many delegates regarded the news as indication that Republicans would continue to campaign against Gore based on Clinton's moral missteps, some of those closest to the vice president voiced defiance, and expressed hope that the GOP would battle Gore into November using such a strategy.
"Bill Clinton's not running," said delegate Betty Fraley, from Gore's home state of Tennessee. "Do they not realize that? He's already beat them three times," she said, referring to 1992, 1996, and the 1998 midterm elections, "And he'd probably beat them again if he ran."
"So let them keep running against Bill Clinton," she said.
CNN's John King and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Thursday, August 17, 2000
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