AP: Group: Gore a hypocrite over power bill

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070228/ap_on_re_us/gore_electric_bill;_ylt=AlXCCdkbEE6pY3Z7018lKGjMWM0F

Group: Gore a hypocrite over power bill

By KRISTIN M. HALL, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 17 minutes ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Al Gore, a leading voice against global warming, is being criticized by a conservative group that claims his Nashville mansion uses too much electricity. A Gore spokeswoman said the former vice president invests in enough renewable energy to make up for the home's power consumption.


On Sunday, Gore's documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth," which chronicled his campaign against global warming, won an Academy Award.

The next day, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research issued a statement saying Gore was not doing enough to reduce his own electricity consumption. The group disputes that global warming is a serious problem.

"We wanted to see if he was living by his own recommendations and walking the walk," said think tank president Drew Johnson.

Utility records show the Gore family paid an average monthly electric bill of about $1,200 last year for its 10,000-square-foot home.

[rodeodance]

1. they have a pic of his home at the Link:

...... The Nashville, Tenn. home of Al Gore is shown on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Gore, a leading voice in the fight against global warming, is being called a hypocrite by a conservative group that claims his Nashville mansion uses too much electricity. Utility records show the Gore family paid an average monthly electric bill of about $1,200 last year for the 10,000-square-foot home. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
AP Photo: The Nashville, Tenn. home of Al Gore is shown on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Gore,...

* Slideshow: Al Gore

[Erika]

3. Can just imagine the Kennebuncport mansion of the Bush's

Must cost a lot to heat in the winter.

[jpak]

38. The Chimp Farm in Kennebunkport has solar hot water panels

But yeah, I'd like to compare 41's and Bab's heat and electric bills to Gore's *actual* electricity consumption...

[LibDemAlways]

27. If you Google the chimp's house in Crawford under

"images" you get either generic pics of sagebrush or a couple of pictures of an old ranch hand house on the property, one that the chimp handlers successfully fed to the media early on as the ranch "house." Photos of the actual mansion have never been published because the corporate whores willingly play along with the completely bogus notion that chimp and pickles live in some rustic hovel when nothing could be further from the truth. The place is big, sleek, modern, and has a lavish pool which the twins requested.

It pisses me off that a Dem who has worked tirelessly to promote environmental causes is publically criticized for his manufactured "excess" while repuke bastards like chimp and Cheney, who are living breathing toxic waste, get off scott free.

[cali]

95. God, I HATE to have to contradict you

It is not a mansion. It's a good size house of 4,000 sq feet. And it actually is environmentally friendly.

[intheflow]

2. I call bullshit.

The utility company says this group never contacted them about Gore's usage.

The group said that Gore used nearly 221,000 kilowatt hours last year and that his average monthly electric bill was $1,359. Johnson said his group got its figures from Nashville Electric Service.

But company spokeswoman Laurie Parker said the utility never got a request from the policy center and never gave it any information.

Thanks to ourbluenation: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x304455

[Erika]

4. The Republicans are scared to death of Al, the president

It's showing.

[JaneQPublic]

39. Thanks. That definitively debunks it. (nt)

[Nederland]

97. Rumor is

...they got his electric bills from the trash--no need to contact the utility company.

[Lurking Dem]

98. I REALLY don't see how that could happen.

Trash pickup there is on the street in front of the house. I cannot believe someone wouldn't notice that (the street is not very wide).

The Belle Meade police are.......how do I put this politely........vigilant.

Do not go 2 miles an hour over the speed limit if you are black or Jewish. Do not drive in the left lane of Belle Meade Blvd. unless you are passing lest you smack into one of the social xrays jogging. Do not play the radio too loud in your car (ticket).

I'm thinking rifling through the trash (which is very likely shredded) would be noticed pretty quickly.

[Dr Ron]

5. Responded last night

My response to these smears was posted last night both here and at Liberal Values:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=1144

[rodeodance]

9. On the net-www for this "Thinktank"

On the Net:

Tennessee Center for Policy Research http://www.tennesseepolicy.org

"An Inconvenient Truth": http://www.climatecrisis.net/

[MnFats]

6. this bullshit comes from a supposed think tank funded by RWing...

...
The Tennessee Center for Policy Reasearch is a blatant outfit with the same ethics the swift boaters had.

Colbert nailed them Tuesday night..

go to their site for further evidence.... a google will get you there..



another article on their front page: Minimum Wage Hike Means Maximum Harm for Working Poor

of course the timing...day after the Oscars...was just coincidence....


newspaper editors and TV & radio assignment desk editors all over the country fell for it and they should be ashamed.

[melody]

7. Golly, just how many of these Gore-bashing posts are going to appear today

I've lost count.

[rodeodance]

8. It took the press Years to use the word LIE with Bush, yet AP uses hypocrit

in the headline REAL Quick!

[rodeodance]

10. Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said:

Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said: "Sometimes when people don't like the message, in this case that global warming is real, it's convenient to attack the messenger."

Kreider said Gore purchases enough energy from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and methane gas to balance 100 percent of his electricity costs.

Gore, who owns homes in Carthage, Tenn., and in the Washington area, has said he leads a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." To balance out other carbon emissions, the Gores invest money in projects to reduce energy consumption, Kreider said.

[confludemocrat]

36. Kinda lame that response, isn't it really?

His message: "We rich people can continue to live in high style, but we take some of our money (probably made in non-green ways) and spend or invest it on green stuff." How is that net carbon neutral? He should be net carbon negative, and have been invested in mostly non-carbon based energy, not merely neutral.

He's the fattest green leader I have ever seen, looking like he's not giving up much consumption of any kind.

[Cha]

48. Gore has been fighting this

for 30 years and it's his battle that has gotten all this attention. So I see no reason for your nit picking.

[kestrel91316]

49. Guess you'd prefer the Wastrel Son, eh?

Why did you say you were here??????

[CreekDog]

54. Conflu: so you're making fun of Gore's weight...charming

Let us know whose side you are on, might help us understand the point you are making better.

[confludemocrat]

59. It was a serious question

Isn't it all-of-a-piece with his initiative on global warming and by implication our over-consumption of just about everything, that he not look like a fat cat?

[Alexander]

69. Gore never attacked consumerism. Just global warming.

You are making a huge logical fallacy by assuming he means we need to consume less.

In fact, since the man repeatedly says we can be greener without changing our lifestyle, I would consider that a lie.

So when are you going to stop lying about Gore to get your point across (whatever that ill-informed, biased point is)?

[Alexander]

I see you are believing the RW lies about him.

This isn't even his actual energy consumption.

Why don't you check your facts before you go bashing leaders on the environment? Odds are Gore has done way more about this issue than you could ever dream - do you expect a man of his stature to wear rags and live in a cave?]

Next time, try reading before you talk. You'll sound smarter.

If you're not interested in facts and research, then this site might be more to your liking:

http://www.freerepublic.com

[confludemocrat]

61. Wow, the long knives are out. Mod, leave the above post up please

to show how a valid question about his overall commitment to greenness can elicit the usual tiresome pitiful smear from one who wants their seeming idol treated like an idol

[raebrek]

62. I would agree with you but

if I did, I have soooo few posts I would probably be skinned alive and tombstoned.

Raebrek.

[Alexander]

68. Defending Gore = "smear". Fat jokes from you = "valid question".

It boggles the mind, it really does. I would expect such behavior at FOX News. Do you work for them?

Riddle me this, genius:

-What do you think is the appropriate amount of energy output for someone who lives in a mansion? Do you have any clue, at all?

-Who in the US government has been openly discussing and doing something about the issue of global warming, including taking soil samples in Antarctica, of all places? Any guesses?

-Is it impossible for someone with Gore's money to spend an equal amount every month supporting environmentally friendly causes and sources of power?

Whine all you want to the mods - they are more likely to ban your disgusting ass for presenting fat jokes as "valid questions". This is Rush Limbaugh type behavior and it's not welcome here.

Perhaps you'd care to tell all of DU about your physical flaws, so we can all make fun of you for having them. No? Then STFU about Gore's weight, it means nothing.

[confludemocrat]

70. Yes, I have physical flaws aplenty

but this is not about his physical flaws. The man (and a handsome one at that) lives high on the hog (it shows) in a huge house and whether precisely accurate on the exact amount or not spends what must be close to $1000 or more per month on his energy.

He is only carbon neutral at best.

Anyone, including those who like me, perhaps not having quite your credentials which thereby allow you to deem others as Limbaughites or Freepers for pointing out the obvious, would find something wrong with this picture

[Alexander]

72. "Only" carbon neutral at best? ROFL

If the whole planet were "only" carbon neutral like Gore, we wouldn't have this problem, would we?

Are YOU carbon neutral? Then where do you get off saying that what Gore's doing isn't good enough? This is utter hypocrisy coming from you and the right wing.

And again, you refuse to answer my valid questions - what do you think is an appropriate amount of energy output for someone who lives in a mansion?

My educated guess is, you have no idea, because you've never lived in a mansion and certainly don't know anything about energy output.

I guess you expect the man to live in a cave and wear rags. Maybe you should do the same, before you talk shit about him.

BTW - you made this thread about his physical flaws, when you made tasteless, disgusting fat jokes about him. Since you can't defend your terribly rude behavior, you're trying to pretend you never said it.

Maybe you aren't a freeper or a Rush Limbaugh type, but you're certainly using their strategies for debating. Do you ever get tired of lying?

[marshall]

81. Is that the point?

To me it is not relevant whether this is or isn't Gore's actual energy bill. So what? His family worked for that money and he has a right to own and live in as many mansions as he likes. Why shouldn't he enjoy the fruits of his labor? The real issue is the message that he is trying to get across and it goes far beyond how he lives his personal life.

[johnaries]

92. Your response is the lame one. Gore is using 100% Green Power

So his electic bill is already carbon neutral. All generated by renewable sources, which is why he pays more per kwh. The carbon offsets are for other things, such as flying, etc. where there is no other Green option available.

[w13rd0]

11. Apparently...

...those who criticize Gore's approach are fucking communists or something. They don't believe in the mechanics of a free and open market, because that's the approach Gore is using to come up with solutions. Those attacking him apparently believe that a subsidized petro industry, a state-funded and protected business, is the way to go. I'd say that makes them fucking communists.

[rodeodance]

12. Gore Responds To Drudge’s Latest Hysterics:

http://thinkprogress.org/?tag=Global+Warming


Gore Responds To Drudge’s Latest Hysterics

The right-wing is angry that Al Gore has won so much public attention and goodwill for his work on global warming. Determined to smear his efforts, Drudge writes in a screaming headline:

headline

Responding to Drudge’s attack, Vice President Gore’s office told ThinkProgress:

1) Gore’s family has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their private residence, including signing up for 100 percent green power through Green Power Switch, installing solar panels, and using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology.

2) Gore has had a consistent position of purchasing carbon offsets to offset the family’s carbon footprint — a concept the right-wing fails to understand. Gore’s office explains: ........

[xchrom]

13. republick party strategy # 1: character assassinate.

[leftchick]

14. so what this article reveals is that the AEI funded think tank LIED

and Gore walks the walk. It would have been nice if the AP had used a headline reflecting that...


<snip>

But company spokeswoman Laurie Parker said the utility never got a request from the policy center and never gave it any information.

Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said: "Sometimes when people don't like the message, in this case that global warming is real, it's convenient to attack the messenger."

Kreider said Gore purchases enough energy from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and methane gas to balance 100 percent of his electricity costs.

Gore, who owns homes in Carthage, Tenn., and in the Washington area, has said he leads a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." To balance out other carbon emissions, the Gores invest money in projects to reduce energy consumption, Kreider said.

[Jeanette in FL]

16. Company spokeswoman Laurie Parker said the utility never got a request from the policy center

and never gave it any information".

That needs to be committed to memory and repeated each and every time this subject comes up

[leftchick]

23. Carol Costello just did a hit piece on CNNI

she interviewed the AEI funded shill and never mentioned his conservative funding, then went on to totally trash Gore and never interviewed anyone from the utilities. Another swiftboat event. Way to go CNN. :puke:

[ShortnFiery]

42. We have NO Free Press! CNN - Corporate News Network. n/t

[ryanmuegge]

46. I'm sure he does a lot to reduce his "carbon footprint"

That said, carbon emitted is still carbon emitted, regardless if you give money to some organization to buy "carbon credits" or not. Gore's doing a great thing by devoting his time and money to this issue.

I'm sure Cheney's homes are much bigger and palatial; and I'm sure he doesn't even try to do anything to reduce his consumption. Bush Jr.'s homes are supposedly "environmentalist dream homes" (I find it hard to believe, but that's what I've read). However, I find that hard to believe given that the idiot drives around an F-350 on his toy ranch to pretend to be a "cowboy" for the PR campaign that is his career as a public servant.

It's not nearly as bad as John Kerry, though, who talked about conservation of energy in 2004, driving a huge SUV and flying around on his wife's monster jet.

[kestrel91316]

50. I heard Bush's ranch house is actually off-grid. Not sure if it's true.

IF IT IS, trust me, it's not because of ANY environmental concerns on the part of Bush or his buddies. It would be a security measure. Period.

[NashVegas]

89. Kennebunkport Has Solar Panels

FWIW, my 700 sq foot apartment, approx 3 miles from the Gore home, had an electricty bill of $99 in January. Gore's place is 10k sq feet. Do the math.

[kestrel91316]

51. Wow. You managed to diss Gore AND Kerry in one post. Good for you!

[ryanmuegge]

64. I wasn't "dissing" Gore.

What he's doing for public awareness is great, and I DON'T think he's a hypocrite.

The Kerry thing is pretty hypocritical, though.

[depakid]

15. "The group disputes that global warming is a serious problem.."

Well, their credibility just went out the window....

Even so, it does make one wonder why people can't live more modestly. Perhaps they need more room to entertain and put up guests?

[MADem]

17. Olbermann slapped these lies down yesterday, yet AP covers it without regard for facts NT

[Forkboy]

18. Maybe we should compare Gore's bill with those on the Energy Task Force

Oh that's right,we don't know WHO THE FUCK THEY ARE!

[Porcupine]

19. So why should we reduce OUR consumption?

I'm not as rich as Al Gore and I can't afford fake carbon credits and my utility doesn't have a green power option. Why should I sacrifice anything to reduce my consumption?

rhetorical question.

Al Gore left his dirty undies hanging on the line on this one. Like John Edwards house the rich just don't get that they have to make changes in consumption to retain credibility.

[Javaman]

30. Are you being snarky or have consumed the kool-ade? nt

[confludemocrat]

35. A 10,000 sq ft house? So how is the electric bill cited not credible?

right wing source or not. Who in god's name really needs a house that size? Sorry, but Gore has left himself open to this charge, wherever they came up with the light bill amount.

[TommyO]

41. You know what - I'm a single guy (with three cats)

living in approximately 2000 sq ft of space. Is it more than I need? The only person who can determine that is *ME*. I previously had a 1008 sq ft condo (which cost more to heat and cool because of crappy insulation), would that square footage have been more to your liking?

[ShortnFiery]

44. But you are NOT running for office as a populist and/or green type Democrat.

Walk the walk ... otherwise people will consider you a typical example of SMARMY Politicians, i.e., do as they say NOT as they do. :grr:

[kestrel91316]

56. Have you offset ALL YOUR CARBON like the Gore's have????

I thought not.

Time to STFU.

[CreekDog]

60. shortnfiery: Gore is not running and he is not running as Green/Populist Democrat

Try the facts next time.

Also, houses are also offices and places of employment or would you rather his employees work out of a 3rd bedroom in a 1200 square foot house while sharing the guest bathroom with his grandkids?

Where is the thinking here. Geez.

[kestrel91316]

55. I'm a single woman who has lived for 7 years in a 1200-1500 sf house

with two bedrooms and an office. Rent was real cheap, so I took the opportunity (and grew a hell of a veggie crop to put up while here).

That said, it's really a much bigger carbon footprint than I am comfortable with, so my only viable option is an apartment. I would still prefer two-BR because there is no way to shoehorn my furniture (family heirloom antiques mostly) into a 1-BR.

I make up for my excessive square footage in other ways, so my footprint is probably still way less than the average Californian's.

[NYCGirl]

82. You do know that both Al and Tipper have their offices in the house?

The "average" home electricity use quoted by TCPR is a national average that includes apartments and mobile homes. In Gore's climatic zone, the East South Central (Dept. of Energy PDF), the average is much higher, thanks to hot, humid summers and cold winters. Within that zone, Gore's usage is three (not 20) times average, and his per-square-foot usage is squarely average.

The Gores are not an average family. He's an ex-VP with special security arrangements, and has live-in security staff. He and his wife both work on their many business and charitable undertakings out of their house, so they have space for offices and office staff. All that would be tough to cram in an average size house.

Gore buys the maximum allowable green electricity from the program offered by his utility.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-roberts/talking-points-on-the-gor_b_42335.html

[jahyarain]

40. good grief. do some research

as i live in Nashville, i don't have to go far. it's all i've heard for the past three days.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702270382


"Gore purchased 108 blocks of "green power" for each of the past three months, according to a summary of the bills.

That's a total of $432 a month Gore paid extra for solar or other renewable energy sources.

The green power Gore purchased in those three months is equivalent to recycling 2.48 million aluminum cans or 286,092 pounds of newspaper, according to comparison figures on NES' Web site."

THAT would be the rich actually doing something POSITIVE with their money.

learn it. know it. live it.

that tied in with the FACT that NES didn't give the pigs a copy of the president's light bill (i'm fairly sure that would be illegal), proves it's just more lies. President Gore is about to take back what is rightfully his. and all the oil and coal companies that sponsor the pigs know it. so, please, show your president some respect. he's actually trying to do something.

[ShortnFiery]

43. I agree. Part of the reason that our Democratic Representatives don't give their

heart and soul into "us little people's struggles" is that they are RICH and divorced from how hard it is to make ends meet. Walk the Walk, EVERYONE!

I love Al Gore. However, if you believe in your heart and soul that we need to have a lighter Carbon Footprint, SET THE EXAMPLE.

It's beyond time that we ALLOW and even, at times PROMOTE our Democratic Politicians to live in excess pleasures and wealth while they claim to "feel our pain." They should NOT get a free pass because THEY put a D after their name. :grr:

Populist Democrat? ... IMO you have to LIVE IT to BE IT! ... walk the walk too. :thumbsup:

[kestrel91316]

57. If you "love Al Gore", why are you dissing him?

Enquiring minds SOOOOOO want to know.

[Porcupine]

83. That's what I mean.

When we are all doing as we say we can't be attacked for hypocrisy can we?

[Quantess]

105. "...walk the walk..."

No shit, bro! He should walk! And I mean, he should literally WALK his walk, wherever he needs to go. Fuck driving. Driving a motorized vehicle of any kind wastes too many resources. Even the hybrid vehicles. It's either a bike, or feet, or nothing. Besides, walking is good for you.

I love being a smartass.

[kestrel91316]

52. Al doesn't have the dirty undies here.

The RW global warming deniers do.

But you knew that, right?

[CreekDog]

58. Porcupine: are you suggesting that Al turn off the heat for his employees?

His house uses a lot of energy because people work there and stay there for one thing. He has security and employees.

Would you prefer, for the sake of energy savings, that he leave the heat off and let them work through the winter without heat?

Or are you saying that Gore should not have employees or have security?

Yes, tell us. I don't recall enviornmentalists requiring that folks not have home offices, or employees, why are you saying it?

[Clark2008]

75. And if he did that, then they'd call him Scrooge.

"Liberal" media, my ass.

[Quantess]

94. Excuses, excuses.

You could live in a treehouse and ride a bike if you can't afford those expensive eco-friendly options. You and Gore both have a lot of nerve for enjoying wasteful, bourgeois, comforts, such as a heated home with plumbing!

[City Lights]

20. I'm so sick of biased "conservative groups" being taken seriously, and

hearing their drivel repeated in the corporate media. :argh:

I know Keith set the record straight last night, but did any other media outlets debunk this crap? :shrug:

[riverdale]

31. I am sick of Dems who get attacked not responding.

That is why Al Gore should not run for President again. Because this is the Repulic modus operandi: take the candidate's biggest strength, make up a fake group to attack it with some fake claims, Dem doesn't respond. Voila- doubt has been created. That, and calling them a liberal. Any Dem candidate should see this swiftboating job coming 10 miles away and IMMEDIATELY call them on it. Smack it down right away. It's already too late.

[City Lights]

32. Welcome to DU, riverdale.

:hi:

[CreekDog]

53. But Gore did respond ASAP, why are you saying he didn't?

And if the Republicans can do it to Gore on his strongest issue, then they can do it to any Democrat on any of their issues.

In other words, your hope that he doesn't run just doesn't make sense.

[riverdale]

79. What was Al Gore's response?

I never heard about that.

[NYCGirl]

87. Right here:

1) Gore’s family has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their private residence, including signing up for 100 percent green power through Green Power Switch, installing solar panels, and using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology.

2) Gore has had a consistent position of purchasing carbon offsets to offset the family’s carbon footprint — a concept the right-wing fails to understand. Gore’s office explains:

What Mr. Gore has asked is that every family calculate their carbon footprint and try to reduce it as much as possible. Once they have done so, he then advocates that they purchase offsets, as the Gore’s do, to bring their footprint down to zero.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/26/gore-responds-to-drudge/

[brentspeak]

21. Is the mass media OBLIGATED to cover every two-bit hit piece issued by conservative think tanks?

Did the AP writer and editor have a pleasant conversation with the some corporate lobbyist at the D.C. cocktail party the night before?

[adigal]

65. Many,many reputable people have said Bush should have known

about 9/11 before it happened - and I don't ever see this on the news, day and night. Having said that, Gore left himself open to criticism with such a huge house, and if he is really using private jets to fly around, as Hannity was saying the other day, then he should change some of these habits.

And I say this with Gore as my #1 choice for president - I just don't like to see people preach to us, and not realize that we cannot afford to buy back whatever it is they buy back.

[HuffleClaw]

22. so... ...lets see a comparison with bush, cheney, rudy, newt...

that'll shut 'em up real fast.

[Doctor_J]

24. Better headline: Right Wing Think Tank Attacks Popular Dem

:eyes:

AP = GOP attack organ

[Oreegone]

25. The bill is high for a very good reason

Of course his bill is high. He buys all renewable source electricity which costs him twice as much. Second his office is on the same property as his house. Pretty reasonable if you cut that in half and add in he has 20 rooms to run.(including all the security he has to have) I love how they are comparing his home to a "typical" house. A typical house it is not. The republican spin, they are scared shitless of Mr. Gor.

Olbermann spelled it out nicely last night.

[LibDemAlways]

26. Notice how the AP makes sure to mention the

square footage of the home, as though Gore's "mansion" is something a repuke would never own. Can you imagine how palatial Cheney's multiple homes are? Or the never-photographed ranch "house" in Crawford? No, only Gore lives in a "mansion." These assholes must be very scared of him to be smearing him already when his official stance is that he has no plans to run.

[kskiska]

45. Bush Ranch Photos

Anyone ever see a photo of the Cheney residence in Jackson Hole?

[rodeodance]

28. KOlbermann on this, link (DU)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x307850

[Roland99]

33. I'm sure the "liberal media" will be blasting that all over the place!!

:sarcasm:

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. Let me get this straight.

A Tennessee group who feel that global warming is a non-problem, call Gore a "hypocrite" for not doing enough personally to cure it?

Does that accurately reflect this article? Pot, meet kettle.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

34. According to Nashville Electric Service they're lying

Johnson said his group got its figures from Nashville Electric Service.

But company spokeswoman Laurie Parker said the utility never got a request from the policy center and never gave it any information.

I guess a headline stating that is too much to hope for.

[Norquist Nemesis]

37. Has anyone asked the question: Why is the media giving credibility

to a 'statement' (translation: faxed press release) by a group that is obviously on a partisan mission to attack? Their little press release goes against their stated mission:

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to providing concerned citizens, the media and public leaders with expert research and timely free market policy solutions to public policy issues in Tennessee.

"The Tennessee Center for Policy Research promotes personal freedom and limited government through policy solutions that:

Generate economic growth through reduced tax and regulatory burdens on individuals and businesses
Create unmatched educational opportunity by empowering parents, students and teachers with choices and opportunities
Advance healthcare solutions that restore dignity and encourage personal responsibility
Identify opportunities to reduce cost and increase efficiency in all levels of government
Reflect the Founding Fathers’ vision of a free society grounded in property rights and individual liberty based in personal responsibility

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research generates and encourages public policy remedies grounded in the ideas of liberty to achieve a freer, more prosperous Tennessee."

Now forgive me if I missed it, but sending out an attack on Al Gore is providing "expert research and...policy solutions to policy issues in Tennessee"? What am I missing?

[kestrel91316]

47. So is this the same group that claimed his bills were $30,000/yr?

'Cause on the planet I live on, $1200 x 12 = $14,400.

Yeah, that's about $30,000.

[CreekDog]

63. I'm tired of nasty smears about Gore happening at DU --not just the media

We've seen him called fat, a fat-cat, and a hypocrite by DU'ers in this thread (not to mention all those other threads).

I have been warned to expect this behavior to get worse and I see it is already.

[confludemocrat]

71. It was I who referred to his fat-cat look

but nothing about being a hypocrite.
We all have failings and as I was accused above by you or someone else above, imperfections physical and otherwise
This started with the dismissal by his press spokesperson of the charges by the RWers by saying he used his (considerable fortune's) money in other ways to be at least carbon neutral. And the response by this spokesperson seemed lame. I thought about these charges, and ALL the manifestations of his affluent lifestyle and thought wow, he's leaving himself open to charges of not evidently living up in the requisite way to what he (rightly) advocates.

I have stated here many times I wanted him to run again, but have given up on that based on what he has said about not running. I think he is sincere in his statements that he is not running, and is justified in not running, given that he would be left to clean up the mess of a man he justly and legally defeated after serving under a man whose antics ruined his chances of defeating an idiot by a landslide.

I think he's devoting himself to all things green, and maybe over time that change in his life will become more manifest, but it hasn't yet.

[CreekDog]

73. Conflu: c'mon be honest about what you said

Conflu: Gore was called a hypocrite by a DU'er, but you didn't refer to him with that word, but that is the simple meaning of what you have posted --that his actions contradict his words. Congratulations, you said that he was a hypocrite, even if you didn't use the word.

Also, you said in one post: "He's the fattest green leader I have ever seen, looking like he's not giving up much consumption of any kind." Nice, make fun of fat people. I'm fat, I guess I'll have to turn in my enviro creds, maybe my employer (an enviro) should fire me too unless I lose weight --hard to do with a disability. I wish I was like you.

You said in another post: "Isn't it all-of-a-piece with his initiative on global warming and by implication our over-consumption of just about everything, that he not look like a fat cat?"

So you are saying that the first comment was not about his weight? Perhaps your second comment was about his energy consumption, but the first one? I'm not buying it.

Third, why don't you answer whether it is legitimate for him to use power at his home for employees, security staff and business related tasks. Al Gore does not work in an office downtown and have staff at company headquarters in a skyscraper somewhere. If they are working from his "home", do you expect them to use no more energy than a house such as yours and mine which is simply a residence and not a working office/compound?

You are simply being unfair and unreasonable to Gore. By your standards, he cannot own a large home, he cannot use energy there for people that work for him or live there or are guests...someone of his stature is going to be continually hosting people from all over, including stayovers, meetings and so forth.

Why don't you just admit that your complaints are bogus, one size for energy consumption does not fit all. The bachelor who works 80 hours/week outside of home is not going to use the energy of a family of 5 with a lawn and is not going to use the energy of a home office with 10 staff people. Further, each of those people is going to have different space needs.

Bogus, bogus, bogus.

[July]

100. What are "ALL the manifestations of his affluent lifestyle"?

And I missed his saying that people of any level of income should pretend they didn't have what they have. Sounded to me as if he's been saying, "However you live, do it responsibly."

Let's talk about the irresponsibility of flying Air Force One from Crawdad to Washington to posture about Terry Schiavo. Or to do a flyover after Katrina.

[theaudacity]

66. DU: AP: Group: Gore a hypocrite over power bill

Colon overload!!!1

[w4rma]

67. Kristin M. Hall's Smear job. Gore pays an extra ~$6000/year to get his energy from renewables. (nt)

[Geek_Girl]

74. Green Power Switch is the Reason for his high bills

I live in TN and use to work for TVA.

The reason his bill is so high is he uses the Green Power Switch Program put out by TVA. It cost a good bit more to use.

http://www.tva.com/greenpowerswitch/index.htm

[maxsolomon]

77. good point! thanks for making it.

$1200 is my YEARLY bill. the reason i don't but green power is i can't afford it.

[maxsolomon]

76. this is from the article:

<Utility records show the Gore family paid an average monthly electric bill of about $1,200 last year for its 10,000-square-foot home.

The Gores used about 191,000 kilowatt hours in 2006, according to bills reviewed by The Associated Press. The typical Nashville household uses about 15,600 kilowatt-hours per year.>

despite the thinktank's exaggerations, that's a lot of juice, carbon offsets or not. if Gore wasn't vulnerable on this, this story wouldn't have legs like it does. today, it was brought up by a conservative client of mine out of the blue - we never talk politics because he knows i'm a anarcho-syndicalist who'd like to bomb the suburbs.

but my client won't vote for a hypocrite. i pointed out that every politician is a hypocrite & if he wouldn't vote for one, he won't vote. he said he doesn't.

everyone's got to be freaking ghandhi before they can be believed these days. lord knows i'm not - my monthly electric bill is almost a $100! thank christ i live in a climate where AC is pointless.

[w13rd0]

78. typical Nashville household...

...the Gore household is not typical. And as we know from the disparities between the annual salary of an "average american" and the CEOs of the companies they work for, the gulf that exists between "average" and "other" is VAST. I know some fairly wealthy individuals with large homes/estates, and their utility bills dwarf those of the Gore's. I see nothing unusual about this, especially considering the Gore's use of green tech and it's higher cost.

Much ado about nothing at all. A smear by a group with an agenda, aided by a complicit media addicted to corporate cash and artificial controversy.

[July]

101. One of the articles debunking this crap points out that Gore's

per square foot expense is comparable to that of other residents of his area. I'm not sure which one it was, possibly one at Huffington Post, but I'm sure it's been posted here.

[July]

106. Yep, it's David Roberts at HuffPo, linked below in this thread.

That article has a link to another with details of Gore's usage and costs.

[helderheid]

80. I want to know how much he would have paid had he not gone through Green Switch

[Initech]

84. $1200? That's nothing.

Someone should dig up how much power this conservative group's building uses. And then we should compare that to how much electricity the White House uses.

[NYCGirl]

86. The conservative group in question's address is a POST OFFICE BOX!

PRO: Little energy use.

CON: They're BOGUS!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-roberts/talking-points-on-the-gor_b_42335.html

[Initech]

90. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

:rofl:

So they're completely full of shit, then, right?

[NYCGirl]

91. Seems so.

:evilgrin:

[Quantess]

99. Watch Colbert's take:

I laughed out loud! Hilarious.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x18158

This is in the Political Videos forum.

[July]

103. Wow, maybe I can get on the teevee if I rent one! nt

[spanone]

85. Such a BULLSHIT story.

[LSK]

88. debunked every which way from Sunday

Drew Johnson formerly worked at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) which was caught bribing Scientist on behalf of Exxon a few months ago.

The Power company denies being contacted by this group.

Al Gore is in a program where he pays more so he can use Green Power (http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch).

There are numerous threads yesterday regarding this.

[BlooInBloo]

93. Woohoo!! Swiftboat 2007!!! ROFLMAO! And the American public will be just as stupid!

[spanone]

96. The frightening thing about this story is how the media has bought into it lock, stock & barrel.

WE have been able to debunk this story, but the media DOESN'T CARE ON IOTA ABOUT THE TRUTH ANYMORE. AND THEY ARE STILL OWNED BY

THE CONSERVATIVES. Very Disturbing.

The swiftness of how they got this story out there...very disturbing.

[July]

104. It's discouraging, isn't it, spanone?

I don't get news from television anymore, and everything I read about it here convinces me that I won't be going back any time soon.

[ComerPerro]

102. I really hate how news outlets report RW claims as they are given to them, without any fact checking

They just print RW talking points, uncensored and uninterrupted by reality

[dogday]

107. Another "Wag The Dog" Production brought

to you by the republiKKan slime machine...