Gore’s shameless campaign

This week, I came home from my office to find my wife standing in the
kitchen with a letter in her hand and a fierce look in her eye. It was
obvious she was angry, but why? I was about to ask when she practically
threw the letter in my face, shouting, “They never stop!”

When I read the envelope, I was shocked — it was a fund-raising
solicitation from the Gore 2000 campaign.

Fundraising letter from Gore 2000 campaign manager Donna Brazile to Johnny Chung. Click to view full size.

Apparently, my public declaration that I am no longer a Democrat and
my role as a poster boy of the 1996 campaign finance scandal, known as
Chinagate, was not enough to remind the Democratic National Committee
and the Gore 2000 campaign to remove my name from their donor list.

“You are one of the Democratic Party’s most dedicated supporters,”
the letter said. “So, I’m sure that you know how critical these next
few months will be. … Time is short — and money is too. That’s why I
am taking this opportunity to write to you personally and ask for your
financial support.”

In addition, there is a hand-written note on the letter which states:
“Mr. Chung, your contribution of $250, $500 or more will help ensure
victory in November.”

The note is signed by Donna Brazile, Gore 2000 campaign manager.

The only thing I can possibly say to these people is, “You have no
shame.”

Johnny Chung with the Clintons at a White House Christmas party.

In May of 1999, I was subpoenaed to testify in front of the U.S.
Congress and

Judicial Watch, a non-profit legal organization that roots out government corruption. During that period of time, I received a fund-raising letter from the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, inviting me to a $10,000 per head luncheon. I also received a fund-raising letter from Gore 2000 at that time.

This was my public statement to both of them: “My answer for those fund-raising letters is, ‘Been there, done that. No thanks.'”

The Gore 2000 campaign staff responded in the media, saying the letter to me was a mistake, and that I would never again receive that kind of fund-raising solicitation.

Well, boys, believe it or not, I got another one. And this time, it’s more personal. This is not just computer generated — the envelope is written by hand, and the enclosed letter has a personal, hand-written note addressed to me. It included a stamped return envelope for me to use when sending my contribution.

So, I think I should send something back to them. I’ve decided to give them this article at their cost. I believe they are going to enjoy my contribution. After all, the Fourth of July is just around the corner, and I feel it is my patriotic duty to do my part for the cause of freedom.

Let’s review the facts.

When Chuck LaBella, the former chief prosecutor for the campaign finance task force in the Justice Department, submitted his report to Attorney General Janet Reno, he recommended the appointment of an independent counsel. FBI Director Louis Freeh came to the same conclusion.

Now, we also know that LaBella’s replacement, Robert J. Conrad Jr., also recommended an independent counsel.

And if that were not enough, when Judge Real handed down my sentence, he said, “It’s very strange that Attorney General Janet Reno did not appoint an independent counsel.”

They are the people who know the law well, and they all came to the same conclusion: We need a special prosecutor to investigate this White House, including Vice President Gore.

Johnny Chung and Vice President Gore compare neckties.

It took us two-and-a-half years to have a chance to read the LaBella and Freeh memos, but it only took us two-and-a-half weeks to read Conrad’s memo. Conrad’s memo was written at a different time as a result of the continuing investigation. But still, his conclusion was the same.

LaBella told the Los Angeles Times, “I don’t think (Reno) has any choice now that another … prosecutor has come to the same conclusion we did.” However, he doesn’t believe she will follow the recommendations of her advisors to recommend a special counsel.

“This is the worst possible time to be conducting an investigation — smack in the heat of a political campaign,” he said.

Yes, it is the worst time, but should that matter? We have waited long enough for Gore’s — at best — highly suspicious activity to be investigated.

The vice president of the United States said he went to the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple with his fund-raiser Maria Hsia on April 29, 1996, to meet with more than 100 community leaders. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Janet Reno about Al Gore’s involvement at the Buddhist temple event. Documentation subpoenaed by the Judiciary Committee shows that 100 people paid $5,000 each to attend. And yet Gore said he was not sure if it was a fund-raising party or not.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve said it before, but let me again explain how it works. After all, I used to be a die-hard Democrat, and I broke the law while raising money for the Clinton-Gore 1996 campaign. I know how this system operates.

When I was in Washington, D.C., during the Christmas season of 1994, I was with a major Chinese beer company that was trying to promote its product in the U.S. The Chinese executives asked me to introduce them to high-ranking U.S. government officials like the president, vice president and first lady. They wanted to have a picture taken with Gore and the Clintons with their beer.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Johnny Chung host Chinese visitors at the White House

I went to my point person at the DNC, Mr. Richard Sullivan. He asked me for $40,000 in advance in order to have the picture and allow me the opportunity to attend the 1994 White House Christmas party. I paid the money, and I got the access.

If you don’t pay in advance, you just simply cannot get into the party. Everybody knows that you need to pay them first. That’s what happened at the Hsi Lai Buddhist temple. Remember, I told you in another column that I spoke to some people who attended that event, and

everyone said they knew it was a fund-raiser.

When Maria Hsia was convicted, we all know she was a fund-raiser and a good friend to the vice president for more than a decade. Mr. Vice President, you don’t walk into an event with your long-time fund-raiser and then say you didn’t know what was going on. We’ve seen the tape from the news media over and over again — you definitely know who Hsia is, despite your statements to the contrary.

Mr. Gore, don’t just let your good friend take the fall for you.

Can you imagine what would have happened to George W. Bush if he had attended an event at a church with his fund-raiser, collected tens of thousands of dollars and then said he didn’t know it was a fund-raiser? Chaos, friends.

When I became an American citizen, I accepted the idea that no one is above the law. Unfortunately, I have learned that the rule of law does not apply to everyone in this country. If you are powerful enough in Washington, D.C., or if you hold a high-ranking position in our government or a political party, you can violate the law and get away with it.

President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Johnny Chung at a White House Christmas party.

That is not what America is about. America is about equality under the law. The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence put their lives on the line to protect that equality.

Twenty-four of the signers were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well-educated men of means, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

They had escaped the tyranny of a government that put itself above the rights of the people. As a first-generation immigrant who left a country with similar oppression at the time of my departure, I think I can relate to those brave men.

I came to the U.S. like an abandoned child. I came here to pursue the American dream and to be accepted. The moment I became an American citizen, I took an oath to give my loyalty to the United States, and I intend to keep that promise until I take my last breath. It was the proudest moment of my life. I remember saying to my wife, “I am American citizen now.” I was so proud to say it.

Throughout the entire Chinagate scandal, that memory gave me the energy to push forward in my cooperation with the DOJ and FBI during the investigation. That’s why the agents said my loyalty toward the U.S. is much stronger than many natural-born citizens who tend to take their freedom for granted.

The Chinese word for the United States of America is “Mei Guo,” which means, “the beautiful country.”

Vice President Gore, you disgrace this beautiful country. You don’t have integrity and honesty. You, the president and the first lady continue to get away with reprehensible, un-American actions that would cause our founders to hang their heads in shame for what their nation has become.

I encourage you to re-examine yourself as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day — a celebration of the tremendous sacrifice our forefathers made to preserve liberty, not ration it; to promote truth, not twist it; and to let freedom ring.