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A presidential rematch? Gore criticizes Bush, war plans
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Al Gore twice last week took aim at the man who beat him for the presidency .The former Democratic vice president criticized President Bush's urgent call for war with Iraq and accused his administration of an "attack on civil liberties." Is Gore testing the waters for another presidential bid? Former Gore campaign chairman Tony Coelho and Republican strategist Alex Castellanos stepped into the "Crossfire" with hosts Paul Begala and Robert Novak to discuss Gore's chances in 2004. BEGALA: I thought the speech was bold and brilliant. That's why my friend (Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen.) Zell Miller says, "A hit dog barks." The Republicans are squealing like a pig stuck under a hedge because they know he spoke the truth. Look at what Al Gore said. Video clip of Gore: Now, the timing of this sudden burst of urgency to immediately take up this new cause as America's new top priority, displacing our former top priority the war against Osama bin Laden, was explained by -- innocently I believe, by the White House chief of staff in his now well-known statement. And I quote, "From an advertising point of view, you don't launch a new product line until after Labor Day." BEGALA: Yes, Harry Truman said, "I don't give them hell, I just give them the truth and they think it's hell." That's what Gore just did, right? CASTELLANOS: I have no idea what Gore just did. I think he's most unintelligible. But... BEGALA: They say you can't deal with the substance. This is a man... CASTELLANOS: No, look... BEGALA: This is a man who got more votes. More of us -- your fellow countrymen and women -- wanted him to be our commander-in-chief, more than George W. Bush. That's an historical fact. BEGALA: So, I do ask you to deal with the substance of what he said. NOVAK: Go ahead, Alex. Let's hear from you. CASTELLANOS: I'm sorry to hear you have so little faith in American democracy, Paul. But actually... BEGALA: I have great faith. I voted for Gore. NOVAK: I'd like to hear Alex, instead of you for a minute! CASTELLANOS: Actually, if you will recall what happened, there was a thing called September 11, and that did change America a little bit. And after that, since January of last year, the president's been talking about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, a man who with biological weapons could do what Hitler did in the concentration camps. This man could do (it) in American cities. Now, perhaps you are comfortable with letting that happen. And you want to take responsibility if it does? I don't think Democrats in the Senate, or the (full) Congress do. I don't think Republicans do. I think that's why they're going to support the president. BEGALA: You still didn't answer the (former) vice president's charge, which was he quoted the White House chief of staff and said this was timed for marketing purposes. Isn't that an outrage? CASTELLANOS: I think it is very important that we talk to the American people about the choice they have this election. The hypocrisy of an Al Gore, who sat on his butt for eight years and did absolutely nothing while terrorists bombed Americans all around the world. (They) bombed the (USS) Cole, bombed the World Trade Center, bombed our embassies -- and he did nothing except cut intelligence, cut out national defense. And now he gets up there and lectures this president who is trying to do something about the problem he let grow on his watch? COELHO: Alex, that's an outrage. I think that's an absolute outrage. But I'll let you get away with it at that point. Go ahead, Bob. That is an outrage. CASTELLANOS: An outrage is what he did. COELHO: An outrage (is) what you just said, what you just said! Sat on his butt for eight years? How can you dare say that? CASTELLANOS: Because he did... COELHO: That is ridiculous that you would say that! CASTELLANOS: What did he do in response to the bombing? COELHO: Go ahead, Bob. NOVAK: Tony, I have been... COELHO: That was outrageous. NOVAK: I have been on the phone since Monday with many Democrats -- congressmen and party leaders. Some of them liked Al Gore, what he said. Some of them liked what he said; some of them didn't like what he said. But all of them hate the way he said it, preachy and tendentious. They say, "My God, we're not going to be stuck with Al Gore in 2004 again, please." Don't you hear that? COELHO: You know what, Bob; I'm fascinated by the people you talk to. Every poll says that Al Gore is favored by the Democrats by overwhelming numbers. But the consultants here -- your buddies here -- all are against him.
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