Al Gore: Eight years later

[0:34] ..." I feel so strongly that we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama president of the United States. Eight years ago. Some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties."...

[1:51] ..." face in 2000 though it may be even more obvious now. Because John McCain. A man who has earned our respect on many levels. Is now openly endorsing the policies of the bush Cheney White House"...

[2:24] ..." With -- John McCain's support. President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Have let our nation into one calamity after another. Because of their indifference to facts. Their readiness to sacrifice the long term for the short term subordinate the general good to the benefit of the view and short circuit the rule of law. If you like the bush Cheney approach John McCain's your man if you believe it's time for a change in vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. What a great -- Joe Biden gave me -- last night. Barack Obama. He is telling us exactly what he will do. Launch a bold new economic plan to restore America's greatest fight. For smarter"...

[3:44] ..." of forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represent."...

[4:57] ..." thing we've ever experienced in the history of humankind. In spite of John McCain's. Past record of open mindedness and leadership on the climate crisis. He has now apparently allowed his party to browbeat him into"...

[7:29] ..." now irreconcilable. Choices. So what can we do about. We can carry Barack Obama's message of hope and change to every family in America and pledged that we'll be there for him. Not only on the"...

[8:30] ..." to be appointed in the first term of the next president and John McCain promises to appoint. More scalia's and Thomas's and in a woman's right to choose. It is time for a chance. Many people."...

[9:12] ..." at all among younger voters. You are responding an unprecedented numbers of Barack Obama's message of change and hope. You recognize that you represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship. And bitter -- you"...

[11:27] ..." have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition. Barack Obama had the experience. And wisdom to oppose a popular war based on faulty premises his leadership experience. Has given him. A unique"...

[12:33] ..." strength of character. Is grounded in the strengths of the American community. Barack Obama's vision and his voice. Represent the best of America. His life experience. Embodies the essence of our motto -- pluralism. Out of -- one. That is the linking -- identity. At the other end of all I think that pervade our modern. Political culture it is that I'm an American. Identity which Barack Obama exemplifies. Heart and soul that enables us as Americans to speak with moral authority to all of the peoples of the world"...

[13:43] ..." our nation our world and our children and their future by electing Barack Obama president. Of the United States. America."...

[0:05]" Thank you for this warm welcome. Thank you so much. One of the greatest gifts of our democracy. Is the opportunity it offers thus every four years to change course. It's not a guaranteed. It's only an opportunity. The question facing us simply but. Is will we seize. This opportunity for change. That's why I came here tonight to tell you. Why I feel so strongly that we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama president of the United States. Eight years ago. Some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties. And it didn't really matter who became president. Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity and some assumed we would continue with both no matter the outcome. But here we all are in 2008. And I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn't matter. Take it from being if it had ended differently we would not be bogged down in Iraq we would have. Pursued bin Laden until we capture him. We wouldn't be facing a self inflicted economic prizes we'd be fighting for middle income families. We would not be showing contempt for the constitution. We'd be protecting the rights of every American. Regardless of race religion disability gender or sexual orientation. The climate crisis. We'd be solving the climate crisis. Today. We face essentially the same choice we face in 2000 though it may be even more obvious now. Because John McCain. A man who has earned our respect on many levels. Is now openly endorsing the policies of the bush Cheney White House and promising to actually continued now. The same policies. Those policies. All over again hey I believe in recycling but that's ridiculous."

[2:24]" With -- John McCain's support. President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Have let our nation into one calamity after another. Because of their indifference to facts. Their readiness to sacrifice the long term for the short term subordinate the general good to the benefit of the view and short circuit the rule of law. If you like the bush Cheney approach John McCain's your man if you believe it's time for a change in vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. What a great -- Joe Biden gave me -- last night. Barack Obama. He is telling us exactly what he will do. Launch a bold new economic plan to restore America's greatest fight. For smarter government that trusts the market what protects us against its excesses enact policies that are pro choice. Pro education and pro family established a foreign policy that is smart. As well as strong provide healthcare for all and solutions for the climate crisis. So. Why is this election. So close. Well I know something about close elections so let me offer you my opinion. I believe this election is close today mainly because of forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represent."

[3:52]" There is no better example. On the climate crisis. As I have said throughout this land for many years. We're borrowing money from China to Iowa all from the Persian gulf to -- in ways that destroy the future human civilization every bit of that past to change. Oil company probably says as you know soared to record levels in gasoline prices have gone. Through the roof and we are more dependent than ever on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels. Many scientists predict shockingly that the entire north polarized yet. May be completely gone during summer months during the first term of the next president. Sea levels are rising fires are raging storms are stronger. Military experts warn us our national security is threatened by massive waves of climate refugees. Destabilizing countries around the world and scientists tell us the very web of life is in danger by unprecedented. Extinctions. We are facing a planetary emergency which if not solved would exceed any thing we've ever experienced in the history of humankind. In spite of John McCain's. Past record of open mindedness and leadership on the climate crisis. He has now apparently allowed his party to browbeat him into abandoning his support of mandatory caps on global warming pollution. And it just so happens. That the climate crisis is intertwined. With the other two great challenges facing our nation. Reviving our economy and strengthening our national security the solutions to all three. Require us to end our dependence on carbon based fuels."

[5:38]" Instead of letting lobbyists and polluters control our destiny we need to invest in American innovation. Almost a hundred years ago. Thomas Edison and most famous inventors said. Quote I would put my money on the sun and solar energy water source of power he continued I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out. Before we tackle that. Well now in 2008. We have everything we need. To start using the sun the wind geothermal power conservation. And efficiency to solve the climate crisis. Everything that is. Except -- president in the White House who inspires us to believe yes we can't. We know how to fix that. So how did this no brainer but accommodate -- west. Because the carbon fuels industry big oil and old. Have a fifty year lease on the Republican Party and their drilling up for everything it's worth. And this same industry has spent a half a billion dollars this year alone. Trying to convince the public that they're actually solving the problem when there in fact making it worse every single day. This administration. And the special interests who control it lock stock and barrel after terror -- performed the same sleight of -- on issue after issue. Some of the best marketers have the worst products and this is certainly true of today's Republican Party. The party itself. Has on its roles of men and women of great quality. But the last eight years demonstrate. That the special interest who have come to control the Republican Party. Are so powerful that serving them and serving the national well being are now irreconcilable. Choices. So what can we do about. We can carry Barack Obama's message of hope and change to every family in America and pledged that we'll be there for him. Not only on the -- of this election but in the aftermath as we've put his agenda to work for our country. We can tell Republicans and independents. As well as Democrats exactly why. Our nation's so badly needs a change from the approach of bush Cheney and McCain after they -- our economy it's time for a change. After they abandoned the search for the terrorists who attacked us and redeploy the troops to invade a nation that did not attack us it's time for a change. After they have found. With a principle first laid down by general George Washington. Would be prohibited the torture captives because that would bring in his words shame disgrace and ruined our nation it's time for a change. -- has been made. As the -- Supreme Court justices to be appointed in the first term of the next president and John McCain promises to appoint. More scalia's and Thomas's and in a woman's right to choose. It is time for a chance. Many people. Have been waiting for some sign that our country is ready foresight to change. How will we know when it's beginning to take home. I think we might recognize that as a sign of such change if we saw millions of young people getting involved for the first time in the political process. This election. Is actually not close at all among younger voters. You are responding an unprecedented numbers of Barack Obama's message of change and hope. You recognize that you represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship. And bitter -- you understand that the politics of the past are exhausted and you're tired we're all tired of appeals based on fear. You know that America is capable of better than what we have seen in recent years and you're hungry for a new politics based on bipartisan respect. For the -- principles embodied in the United States constitution."

[9:54]" There are times. In the history of our nation. When our very way of life depends upon awakening to the challenge of -- present danger. Shaking off complacency. And rising they're -- an alert to the necessity of embracing change. A century and a half ago. When America -- our greatest trial. The end of one era gateway to the birth of an up. The candidate who emerged victorious in that election. Is now regarded by most historians as our greatest prosper. Before he entered the White House. Abraham Lincoln's experience in elective office. Consisted of eight years in his state legislature in Springfield Illinois and one term in congress. During -- He showed courage and wisdom to oppose the invasion of another country in a war that was popular when it was started but later condemned by history. The experience that Lincoln supporters valued most and that race. Was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of -- he was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator. With a passion for justice and a determination. To heal the deep divisions of our land. He insisted on reaching past partisan and regional divides to exalt our common humanity. In 2000 name once again we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning. And once again we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition. Barack Obama had the experience. And wisdom to oppose a popular war based on faulty premises his leadership experience. Has given him. A unique capacity to inspire hope in the promise of the American dream of a boundless future. His experience. Has also given him genuine respect. -- different views and humility in the face of complex realities that cannot be squeezed into the narrow compartments of ideology. His experience. Has taught him something that career politicians. Often overlook. That inconvenient truths must be acknowledged if we -- to have wise government. It. And they extraordinary strength. Of his personal character. And that of his wonderful wife Michelle. Who gave such a magnificent. Aggressive will be such a wonderful first -- of our country. Their strength of character. Is grounded in the strengths of the American community. Barack Obama's vision and his voice. Represent the best of America. His life experience. Embodies the essence of our motto -- pluralism. Out of -- one. That is the linking -- identity. At the other end of all I think that pervade our modern. Political culture it is that I'm an American. Identity which Barack Obama exemplifies. Heart and soul that enables us as Americans to speak with moral authority to all of the peoples of the world to inspire hope that we as human beings can transcend our limitations to redeem the promise. Of human freedom."

[13:24]" Our convention. We'll end where they benediction. As we bowed in reverence remember the words of the old proverb. When you pray move your feet. And then let us leave here tonight and take that message of hope from Denver with every corner of our land and do everything we can't. To serve our nation our world and our children and their future by electing Barack Obama president. Of the United States. America."