Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls have an uphill battle
in overcoming $6 billion worth of influence Vice President Al Gore has
quietly bought with taxpayer dollars.
For nearly two years, Gore has traveled on public money in Air Force
II to campaign for the presidential nomination. Gore has been personally
handing out government pork to important electoral states and to
Democratic constituent groups, according to a researcher.
“We were shocked at how much the vice president had been handing out
of our taxpayer dollars at various places around the country,” said
Merrill Matthews, vice president of the National Center for Policy
Analysis. “Interestingly, in very important primary and electoral
states, and Democratic constituencies.”
For the past 21 months, Gore has made regular trips to important
electoral states like California, Texas, Florida, New York and others
where he has handed out government grants for the pet projects of key
Democratic support groups and causes, according to a
study completed by Matthews. He pointed out that the Clinton-Gore
campaign spent about $116 million in 1996 to win the election.
Disbursing over $6 billion in government pork projects goes a long way
to help win the next election for Gore, Matthews said.
Gore is an “expensive delivery boy,” says Matthews. The pork
delivered by Gore has all been approved by Congress through the normal
appropriations process. What is not normal is the method of providing
the check.
The study examined Gore’s generosity with public dollars from May
1997 through mid July 1998. During that time he personally delivered
$6.13 billion in grants to states essential to his successful
presidential bid in two years. The grants have continued at a
growing pace since the completion of the study, according to Matthews.
If the present rate of disbursement is maintained, Gore will hand out
another $7 billion before the next presidential election.
Gore was not available for comment, however a staff member was quick
to deny any
wrong-doing by Gore.
“I’m not a spokesman,” said the young staffer taking calls in Gore’s
office on Friday, “but there’s no way. It just doesn’t work that way.”
All members of the Gore press office were also unavailable for an
official statement. Numerous messages were not returned.
There’s nothing illegal about handing out government pork, but some
would argue that Gore has taken advantage of his position and has abused
public funds to pay for unnecessary travel. The money and projects Gore
is taking credit for have previously been delegated to local officials,
because they are usually the ones who initiated the
efforts to get a project funded.
“What we’re speculating in this is that the vice president is simply
covering his bases and making sure he’s got all his ducks in a row for
the nomination,” explained Matthews.
“By handing out the money, the local grass-roots people, the
Democratic constituencies, will know this and he goes back to those
states later and says, ‘remember when I was in your state and handed out
that $35 million, or $40 million, or $50 million for this group
or that group? You were there on the dais with me. I need your support
now,” he said.
Gore is also taking advantage of localized publicity. Every trip he
makes is a local media event that insures he will be the center of
attention. Matthews accuses Gore of being on a non-stop campaign, funded
by American taxpayers.
Trips by the vice president do not attract attention from the
national press, however the local press have a field day wherever he
goes. A visit by the vice president is a major event that local media
rarely get to cover, so they go all out. There are stories
about the preparation, the event itself, and the wonderful announcement
of funds for some special project. One trip means a week’s worth of
coverage, all focusing on Gore.
Gore has had the advantage of taxpayer funded travel and outstanding
media coverage everywhere he goes, with an almost endless supply of
government pork to hand out to eager recipients. What chance does a
Democratic or Republican challenger have to overcome an incumbent vice
president who has spent four years personally taking credit
for federal pork projects all over the country?
“None,” says Matthews.
“The week after the study was completed, Gore made four appearances.
Kelly Air Force Base to hand out money to displaced workers; he then
went to Atlanta to the NAACP meeting and announced $1.4 billion in loans
to small black businesses; then went to Kentucky and announced some
money for abused and battered wives; then announced over $800,000 to
create six new sites for women who are moving from welfare to work. That
was in one week,” said Matthews, who plans to continue the study for as
long as Gore maintains the practice.
If Matthews is right, Gore has become the biggest campaign spender of
all time without using a dime of his own money, and without getting
donations from flights on Air Force One or nights in the Lincoln
bedroom. Although Gore appears generous with public dollars, Matthews
pointed out that Gore’s tax return revealed he is less generous with his
own funds, donating a total of only $353 to charity last year.
Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-MO, considered the most likely opponent for
Gore within the Democratic party, could not be reached for comment.
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