Gore Surprises Netroots Nation, Says Not Eager To Serve In Obama Cabinet (VIDEO)

A surprise guest at Netroots Nation in Austin, Texas, former vice president Al Gore diplomatically skirted around a question of whether he would take a position in a hypothetical Obama administration.

Without offering much in the way of a definitive answer, his response was, in essence, that he felt he could do more to advance climate policy outside of government than in it.

"I am really honored by the suggestion that some have made that I would consider taking a position of some kind in the next administration, and I want to convey my respect for the idea even as I explain why I don't think it's the best idea," said Gore. "The best use of talents and experience I have gained in my life is to expand the political space in which these members and politicians address the climate crisis."

"I am devoting my life to bring about a sea change in public opinion, across party lines, that supports the truly massive policy change that we have to have," he said.

Gore's response to the Obama question was one of the few times he weighed into the presidential race. He did, however, offer sharp opinions on some of the policy debates currently being waged between Obama and John McCain on energy issues; mainly ripping the presumptive Republican nominee's proposal to lift the federal moratorium on off-shore drilling and offer consumers a gas tax holiday.

"The idea that we can drill our way out of this is just so absurd not to warrant any serious consideration," Gore told a clearly excited crowd. "They used to say that a cure for a hangover was the hair of the dog that bit you. If you had a hangover you went and got another drink and it would help it go away. It's the sort of the same thing with these proponents of drilling. 'Oh, we're in a fossil fuel crisis? Well let's just dig for more.' I mean, when you are in a hole, stop digging."

Last week, there were grumblings from progressives after the former vice president praised John McCain - in addition to Barack Obama - for being "way ahead" of the curve on global climate change. After all, who better than Gore would understand that every piece of political real estate matters?

So it was with some applause and relief that the netroots audience listened to him riff on McCain's energy proposals (even if he didn't mention the candidate by name).

"Pretending that we can solve that problem just by opening a few more areas for off shore drilling...to produce oil ten to fifteen years from now that will be used by China anyways," he said. "Proposing to get a slight increase in oil drilling for fuel to be sold to China ten to fifteen years from now...makes about as much sense as responding to an attack from Afghanistan by invading some other country that had nothing to do with 9/11 or the Taliban."

Video of Al Gore's surprise introduction -- just before the beginning of the video, Speaker Pelosi was asked about Gore's climate activism:

Comments

[SisterAnn]

This is the most confusing bunch of comments I have ever tried to read. The republican trolls are trying to ruin the comments by all their ignorance.

How about us just saying 'So and So is a troll and not replying to the trolls?

Al Gore is a fine person and had he been president the last eight years, we would not have attacked a country that had not hurt us, and killed people who were innocent. We would be well on our way or maybe even be energy independent.

We would not be hated around the world. Social Security would not be weakened time after time.

Then these trolls get on here and slur him. Pitiful.

[Mort]

I don't hate Al Gore. I think he's a basically good, principled man. But I have to be a bit skeptical of anyone who claims we can help save the world by putting our money in his pockets. Carbon credits are like indulgences. They placate people into thinking they're doing good without having to make any changes. Al's house uses more energy in a month than any two whole familes in an entire year. But it doesn't matter because he buys carbon credits. He jets around the world giving speeches, but that's ok because he drives a hybrid once in awhile at home.

If he wants to be credible with more people, he should go green himself, and he should renounce any profits from the projects he promotes. The altruism of his message is tainted by the hand in the cookie jar.

[sleeperd]

The bloated buffoon strikes again - and here come all his mind-numbed, robotic, GW Evangelicals.

[ErnestineBass]

Try Beano, buffoon.

You'll feel better for it...

[MadFae]

Who's surprised? I'm not. Why would he want to be in a cabinet when he's doing just fine as he is? He can have the best of both worlds without the hassle of having to be uber-political.

[OhComeOnNow]

And the pay is better, not to mention the unshackled freedom to say whatever he wants.

[NotMcCain]

He did NOT say he "is not eager to serve in an Obama cabinet". That headline implies he feels negatively about it.

What he ACTUALLY said was that he feels he can be more effective doing what he's doing now, working outside of government.

Accuracy? Important?

[orangepetal]

It is not about 'Drilling our way out of this' it is a serious ecconomic and security issue. How do these people get to be respected for their intellect is beyond comprehension. Oh, stupid me, of course, he is pandering to the radical left enviromentalists.
PUMA

[cdnnewsjunky]

So your answer is drilling? Where?

[ErnestineBass]

Hmmm...how WOULD our dainty orangepetal answer that?

'Ooooo...d­rill, baby, oooooyes..­.HERE...OO­ooooooOOOY­ES!!!

yesyesyesy­es....oh, Oh, DRILLDRILL­DRILLFASTE­RFASTERFAS­TERrrrrrrr­oooo

(need I say more?)

[ErnestineBass]

I agree with you, orangepetal, that we CANNOT drill our way out of this, and that energy independence is the most important issue our country faces right now.

That being said, attacking Al Gore is as pointless as is supporting everything he espouses.

We're just spinning our wheels, man, when we argue semantics.

The fact remains that we STILL consume a buttload of the world's resources, but we are NO LONGER the great industrial nation that once could justify that kind of consumption.

So......wh­at do we do now to keep our country in one piece? Perhaps we need to look to capitalists of vision like T. Boone Pickens who IS putting his $$$ where his mouth is...and strangely enough, stands to make a lot of $$$ off one of the technologies Al Gore is pushing.

It's time to embrace the kind of technology that will restore this country to greatness. Arguing about who said what, and why, is bloody childish.

Global warming is beside the point. I'm talking about preserving America. Hey, I kinda like it here...my family's been around these parts for 10,000 years. >8-]

[axt113]

No respectable economist supports either idea

[research]

How is obsessing on the last drop of Oil going to solve the energy problems?

Wind, solar and plug in hybrids can replace oil, coal and nukes in ten years for less then the cost of oil subsides. See my profile.

[ErnestineBass]

Hallelujah, brother research. Your be kickin', babee. 8-]

[oscartucker]

PUMAs--over the edge, into the chasm!

[pupbayer]

For as wonderful as O is, isn't it odd how so few actually want to serve with him? Hmmmm.....­..

[ErnestineBass]

And WHO, or more importantly, WHAT do you SERVE...pu­pbayer?

[pupbayer]

A higher power than your candidate.

[abby4ever]

The Devil?

[danoj]

ErnestineBass, every time I see a post of yours you are bashing or repeating what the person above you said. Just wondering if you have anything to add to the arguement at hand, or are you just here to add to the discourse?

[research]

Have another beer, Gore got reamed. Why on earth would he want to go through that again?

[rosal]

Nothing like tr0lling on a lovely Saturday evening

[ErnestineBass]

Only if it's a cooler full of crappie and I get to eat 'em with hushpuppies later...he­h heh

[abby4ever]

Oh, be quiet. What are people supposed to say when asked a question like that---when, perhaps, O hasn't even approached them yet about any position in his Cabinet?
"Oh, yes, actually I am after the job of Attorney General, I sit by the phone waiting for the call from O."

It puts people on the spot.

[pupbayer]

You say you would be honored or pleased and leave it at that. No one has to go on and say they weren't interested like so many have with the VP spot.

[SadButWiser]

For some men, there is nothing more fulfilling than pretending to be a good man, getting credit for it, and make lots of money along the way. Gore has found an opportunity not to be missed and he is milking it.

[mistlesuede]

You obviously don't know what you are talking about.

[ErnestineBass]

How sad...you just described BOOOsh and Chinny to a "T", and you're too fooking stoopid to realize it.

Until we purge your kind, America can never reclaim her greatness as a nation.

[SadButWiser]

America has lost its greatness a long time ago, and it will never regain it back. It is time you come out from your cave and see the sun.

[rosal]

You are right, oil men tend to do just that. Who are the greatest Big Oil Men? They take you to the cleaners and you still vote for them

[orangepetal]

Oil men get the gas you put in you tank, ten years ago they were loosing money.
BTW these companies are public and sold to anybody who wants to buy. Guess who owns the stock, all the rich green heros leading the pack against them.

[the964kid]

The Netroots Nation better check Gore's bank balance - there's no way he's going back to government work/pay - all I have to say is: Google.

[who38]

Maybe Hillary is not the only one looking at 2012.

[ErnestineBass]

Oooooooooo­oooooh...s­o now only Republican capitalists are GOOD capitalists?

You, sir, are a fooking hypocrite.

Not to mention a GD maroon.

[rosal]

Is it more than McConfused's chick millions? At leat Gore advocates for the environment, he does not sell beer

[pupbayer]

Oh, I see. You are one of those who believes someone will go to hell if they drive a beer truck for a living. LOL!

[nogimmicks]

This is hardly newsworthy. No one wants to sound desperate before an actual invitation. Plus Gore vs the climate change, is about the same as Gore vs the internet. He just has a skill to align himself with things that go on anyway, and sound very important along the way. The positive aspect of this: this is relatively harmless and does not explicitly hurt anyone. The negative aspect of this: it distracts from addressing real threats from real evil interests leading the country to war and misery.

[Scryinglass]

"This is hardly newsworthy. No one wants to sound desperate before an actual invitation. "

The Obama campaign has been feeling him out for months.

"Plus Gore vs the climate change, is about the same as Gore vs the internet. He just has a skill to align himself with things that go on anyway, and sound very important along the way."

How can you even say that? We have less than 10 years before the effects of global climate change become irreversible. I have no doubt that Al Gore has made more of a difference and changed more minds than you ever will in your whole life.

"The positive aspect of this: this is relatively harmless and does not explicitly hurt anyone. The negative aspect of this: it distracts from addressing real threats from real evil interests leading the country to war and misery."

Global climate change will lead many countries to war and misery. As sea levels rise and alternating floods and droughts destroy crops worldwide, you're going to see a lot more misery and war.

[research]

Gore NEVER said he invented the internet. But HE DID CONTRIBUTE TO IT"S FUNDING!

[gotalife]

What?

You thought this o blog had credibility?

Geez.



"Whiners".

[ErnestineBass]

PUMA.

'Nuff said.

[HumeSkeptic]

In so far as all morality is fundamentally based on preservation, betterment and continuation of life, there is no higher morality than environmentalism. All religions pale by comparison. Morality, when associated with religion, is limited and parochial. It is primarily focused on preservation, betterment and continuation of humans, but not all humans, only those following a particular belief system. Even when it pretends to extend beyond that parochial realm – for example, “Love thy neighbor” and “Thou shalt not kill”, religious morality is limited to human life. Environmentalism, on the other hand, encompasses preservation, betterment and continuation of all life, and, therefore, is the highest level of morality.

I agree with Al Go_re. This cause transcends not just national but international politics.

.

[CornellRedneck]

Well, every spider, worm and bacterium just gave a big sigh of relief upon hearing your explanation of "morality"­...

[RoseMerry]

Yes, we have a man with a mission. To save humanity. And I think he has the sense and maturity and statesmanship to follow Jimmy Carter's example and has found that he can do more good outside the Federal Government than being put on the lease of a President.

I was not a fan of Al Gore, back in the days when he was first running for President. But with the passage of years, both me and him have grown and he has earned my respect and admiration.

[Mort]

" he has earned my respect and admiration­."

And a boatload of money in his carbon credits trading and speculating corporation.

[OhComeOnNow]

Once again, the headline is misleading - way to go!

[kellygrrrl]

you've heard of "interpretive dance" right?

[Michale32086]

Al Gore won't take any kind of public office that will allow scrutiny into his con game.

Anything that opens up the floor to rational debate on the issue or opens up his financial dealings, Al Gore will avoid like the plague...

Michale...­...

[SaulGoode]

Exactly. He will not debate anyone. He will not take questions from the press. He is allowed to propagate this nonsense with impunity.

He turned into a lunatic after he lost in 2000. This is his revenge, not to mention his cash cow.

$100 million and counting

[kellygrrrl]

yes, saving the planet is obviously very vengeful and diabolical

maybe you should get your own "name"

[danoj]

Not only will he not ansewr questions about his position, but if there is a climatologist with any kind of credibility, where he scheduled to appear, that disagrees with Al he cancells the speaking engagement.

Furthermore, anyone who uses 250 times the energy to run there house that the average house uses in one year, all the while flying in a private jet all over the world. Then buys a grove of trees and claims to be carbon neutral; has no business lecturing anyone on there carbon footprint.

[Rosanneofpgh]

mikey, you really should stop dissing your betters. you just make yourself look foolish and petty.

People like you who think they know everything seriously annoy those of us who do.

Dont bother replying to this; I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

[Michale32086]

When I see any "betters" I'll let you know...

Thank you for your concession that you have no logical and rational argument and must therefore resort to childish and immature personal attacks, thereby conceding the validity of my argument.

Your concession that my argument is valid is appreciate, albeit irrelevant­..

Michale...­..

[research]

Mic, do you EVER research you BS before you spout it?

[salidon]

I don't understand why they would be surprised that he is not willing to accept a cabinet position in Obama's presumed administration (ain't happened yet anyway).

Al Gore is focused on something specific, saving the planet. You can't do that in as a cabinet member of the president of the us of a.