New Ad Puts Gore In <I>Jeopardy!</I>
The CBS News Political Unit is tracking the latest presidential campaign commercials. Sean Richardson analyzes a new ad from a California group that attacks Democrat Al Gore.
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The Ad: A California group called Shape the Debate began running a 30-second issue ad this week, entitled Hypocrisy. The new spot attacks Vice President Al Gore and calls him a hypocrite for his positions on campaign finance reform, Medicare and tobacco.
Audio: Game Show Host: "Welcome to Hypocrisy. Contestants, are you ready?"
Female Contestant: "Political hypocrites for $200."
Game Show Host: "He says he supports campaign finance reform, but held an illegal fund-raiser at a Buddhist temple."
Female Contestant: "Who is Al Gore."
Game Show Host: "Correct!"
Female Contestant: "Political hypocrites for $400."
Game Show Host: "He promised never to cut Medicare expenses, but cast the deciding vote to cut Medicare by $55 billion."
Male Contestant: "Who is Al Gore."
Game Show Host: "Correct!"
Male Contestant: "Political Hypocrites for $600."
Game Show Host: "He crusades against tobacco, but grew and sold it from his very own farm."
Male Contestant: "Who is Al Gore."
Game Show Host: "Mr. Gore has a lot to explain. That's Hypocrisy. Bye Bye."
Video: The spot is patterned off the game show Jeopardy! The set is very similar and the format is exactly the same. A male host reads the answers and two contestants, one male and one female, respond with, "Who is Al Gore."
Fact Check: On April 29, 1996 Vice President Gore attended a fund-raiser at the Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California. Although Gore claimed he did not know the event was a fund-raiser, he later stated he knew the event was "finance related." Last Monday, he outlined a new plan for campaign finance reform, although he continues to raise huge amounts of soft money.
On June 25, 1993, the vice president cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to pass the budget reconciliation used to abide by the 1994 budget resolution, which required Congress to cut at least $496 billion from the deficit in fiscal 1994-1998. The budget reconciliation included cuts in Medicare, but they were smaller than those offered by Republican leaders.
Gore has been an outspoken critic of cigarette companies since his sister's death from lung cancer in 1984. He stopped growing tobacco on his farm in 1984, however, his father continued to grow it , on land leased from his son, until 1991. Gore received an annual lease payment of $4,800 from his father for the land.
In addition, Gore accepted contributions from the tobcco industry until 1991. In 1984, he was a leader in helping pass the Cigarette Labeling Act, which strengthened warnings on cigarette packages with information on the risks of cancer, heart disease and emphysema and the dangers of fetal injury.
In 1995, the Clinton administration called upon the tobacco industry to help fund an anti-teen smoking ad campaign and called for tougher rules on selling cigarettes to minors. More recently, Gore has called on Congress to give the FDA the power to regulate nicotine as an addictive drug.
Strategy: Just as Gore is making a move to claim the reform mantle and get beyond his own campaign finance troubles, Shape the Debate launches a new ad that portrays him as someone who stretches and twists the truth. This ad is an attempt to deflect some of the positive media attention that Gore has received for his campaign finance proposal and keep the heat on his troubled fund-raising past and his occasional "exaggerations."
George Gorton, the strategist responsible for directing the ad campaign, claims that "more ads are in development." Hypocrisy is "expected to run for three weeks to a month." Gorton also says contributions to the organization "will not be made public." Former California Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican, has helped the organization raise $1.5 million thus far. Gorton further stated that they plan on raising $2 million to $3 million for their next round of ads.