Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) is an American beauty.
Gephardt, captivated with the rise of Clinton-Gore and hungry to become the next House speaker, apparently has decided that nice, button-down politicians come in last. As such, Gephardt has embraced the Third Way. He has shed his old-line, pro-labor Democratic persona for a centrist image. Gephardt’s got religion, not to mention friends in Hollywood. Why, he’s chummy with Oscar winner Kevin Spacey.
Once cool to the veep, Gephardt has become a Gore man. To do this, Gephardt had to reinvent himself-a Gore art form. Take China trade, arguably the top trade issue for the wireless industry. Gephardt won’t say where he stands on extending normal trade relations status to China on a permanent basis.
You see, Gephardt wants to help Clinton-Gore get China trade legislation passed by Congress this year even though Gephardt himself may not vote for it.
In other words, if Gephardt can outmaneuver House Minority Whip David Bonior (D-Mich.) for China trade votes, the House minority leader can vote against it-and save face. And if labor retaliates against Gephardt, so what? Telecom PACs, drooling for a China trade deal, will keep Gephardt’s campaign coffers full.
All this from Gephardt, a Democrat from America’s heartland who railed endlessly against the North American Free Trade Agreement and fast-track trade legislation.
But aligning with Gore has its risks.
Somehow, a bunch of Al’s e-mails (some possibly relevant to past campaign finance probes) are missing and not readily retrievable. Gore, for his part, admits he’s an “imperfect messenger” for campaign finance reform. That’s mighty big of Al to say so.
As far as testimonials, forget it. The first Iridium call was made with much fanfare to … you guessed it … Al Gore.
Then there’s the State Department criminal probe of Gore campaign chairman Tony Coelho over financial dealings at the 1998 World’s Fair in Portugal. Representing Coelho in the matter is none other than Stanley Brand, Dem scandal lawyer extraordinaire.
Brand defended Gore pal Franklin Haney during the congressional probe into whether the Tennessee real estate developer made illegal $1 million payments to Peter Knight, a big Gore fund-raiser, and Jim Sasser (former Dem Tennessee senator and U.S. ambassador to China), in order to secure a long-term lease to relocate the FCC to the Portals.
… Now for FCC news NOT involving allegations of fraud, abuse or corruption. The chairman and his wife have adopted a baby, Robert James Kennedy Kennard. FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth, in a shift, did not issue a dissenting statement on the Kennard action.
