Al Gore makes his case
That was how Al Gore began Monday night, making his five-minute case to the nation of the virtues fighting — and litigating — on in a presidential election that his opponent says is over. With the American flags behind him packed in close enough together to be included in a head shot, he kept it simple and high-minded.
"Every four years there is one day when the people have their say," Gore said. "On that one day every four years, the poor as well as the rich, the weak as well as the strong, women and men alike, citizens of every race, creed and color, of whatever infirmity or political temper, all are equal. They're equal — that is so long as all of their votes are counted."
The implication was familiar from Gore's born-again populist campaign: Those lost votes in Florida are the votes of the tired, poor, huddled-masses types, yearning to vote free. And to vote for Al Gore, if only we'd give them a chance.
Gore also set out his own recipe for the much-plugged national healing that George W. Bush has been invoking in his own cause. "In many ways the act of voting and having that vote counted is more important than who wins the majority of the votes that are cast, because whoever wins the victor will know that the American people have spoken with a voice made mighty by the whole of its integrity."
"This is America," he said, grinning weirdly for emphasis. "When votes are cast, we count them. We don't arbitrarily set them aside because it's too difficult to count them."
Gore stuffed his five minutes with words like he'd stuffed his hour at the convention closer in L.A.; the tradeoff was a nice lack of condescension. This might have been the new most important speech of his political career, and since the whole point was the attention span of the American people, he wasn't about to tax it much now.
How much time does he have? A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll making the rounds before the speech reported that 56 percent of Americans — including 36 percent of Gore supporters — say concede. Rest assured Gore is watching growing numbers like that, but he wasn't about to resist a quick scold of the Bush camp's impatience.
"There are some who would have us bring this election to the fastest conclusion possible. I have a different view. I believe our Constitution matters more than convenience. So, as provided under Florida law, I have decided to contest this inaccurate and incomplete count, in order to ensure the greatest possible credibility for the outcome."
That's a scold that many in Gore's audience, 20 days after the election, are apt to take personally. Monday night, Gore got in at 8:55 and out in time for Americans' precious 9 o'clock shows. But the import of his address — an address suspiciously bereft of comforting spin nuggets like "days not weeks" — was one that he'll have to fight this week and longer to support.
He's going to be at this a lot longer than five minutes.