SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Part 1

GORE RHETORIC: I supported removing Saddam Hussein from power from when
I first became Vice President.

FACTS:
With hindsight, Gore now says that Saddam Hussein should have been
removed from power during the Persian Gulf War. At the time force in the
Gulf was being contemplated, however, Gore said the opposite.

* He took to the floor of the Senate to warn against
efforts to remove Saddam Hussein by force: "Doubtless, among the exiled
Iraqis, one can find survivors who are people of virtue and wisdom, but
it is hard to see how these individuals might come to power unless we
were to install them, and that would require the conquest and occupation
of Iraq, which is not in prospect and should not be in prospect." (Al
Gore, Congressional Record, January 30, 1991) [Emphasis added]

GORE RHETORIC: I want to lead by example to stop corruption in the use
of foreign aid, especially in Russia.

FACTS:
* Gore "Definitely Didn't Want to Know About Corruption
Around Yeltsin" Because It Was "Politically Uncomfortable" (Christopher
Marquis, "Clinton Administration Unveils Plan to Combat Money
Laundering," Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, September 23, 1999)

* Gore Tried to Weaken Conditions on International Loans
to Russia (Laurence McQuillan, "Heat is on Gore as probes into Russian
scandal begin," USA TODAY, September 20, 1999, p. A11.) Democrat Bill
Bradley summed up Gore's failure this way: "The Administration sat idly
by while billions of dollars were being laundered in our own banks under
our own regulator's noses." (Bill Bradley, Speech on Presidential
Leadership in Foreign Affairs, Brown University, Providence, Rhode
Island, March 3, 2000)

* Gore Allowed a Climate of Political Pressure at the
American Embassy in Moscow that Led U.S. Officials to Ignore Corruption
in Russia: "The Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission became "a Soviet-style
bureaucracy in which success was mandatory, and any information that
would contradict success simply was filed forever," said E. Wayne Merry,
the head of our political section in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow from
1991 to '94. (David Ignatius, "Who Robbed Russia? Did Al Gore Know About
the Massive Lootings?" Washington Post, August 25, 1999, p. A17.)

GORE RHETORIC: Hate crimes legislation in Texas died in committee
because of lack of support.

FACTS:

* In 1993, Texas passed a hate crimes statute that
enhances punishment in cases in which the offender intentionally
selected the victim primarily because of the offender's bias or
prejudice against a group.

* In 1997, Governor Bush and the Texas Legislature passed
legislation strengthening the hate crimes law by increasing the minimum
jail sentence for misdemeanor hate crimes. (House Bill 1333)

GORE RHETORIC: I strongly support creating new laws to protect
homosexual rights.

FACTS:
Gore flip-flopped on gay rights issue. In a 1976 endorsement Gore
received from The Nashville Banner, it was reported: "He [Gore]
recognizes that some reductions in welfare programs are necessary,
generally favors construction of nuclear plants, opposes legalization of
marijuana, stands against the legalization of homosexuality and opposes
gun control legalization." (The Nashville Banner, July 6, 1976)

Gore referred to homosexuality as "abnormal." In another article from
1976 Gore refers to homosexuality as an "abnormal" practice: "He [Gore]
says he is opposed to removing legislation regarding the 'abnormal'
practice of homosexuality, but says it is 'senseless' to try and enforce
such laws." (The Tennessean, July 25, 1976)

Gore referred to homosexuality as not "acceptable." During his 1984
U.S. Senate campaign, Gore said: '"I don't pretend to have an
understanding of homosexuality that sustains a discussion of its roots.
. . but I do not believe it is simply an acceptable alternative that
society should affirm,' the congressman [Gore] said." (The Tennessean,
October 17, 1984)

During his 1988 presidential campaign, Gore opposed protecting sexual
preference. As a 1988 presidential candidate Gore said: "I also do not
think we need a bill to protect the specific category - that is, sexual
preference." (Al Gore, United Press International, October 13, 1987)

GORE RHETORIC: I think we need tough new gun laws to keep guns out of
the hands of criminals.

FACTS:
* Under Al Gore's watch, federal gun prosecutions have
gone down. A Senate report found that - according to the Executive
Office of the U.S. Attorneys -- federal gun prosecutions have actually
dropped by 46% percent between 1992 and 1998. (Crimes Committed With
Firearms: A Report for Parents, Prosecutors, and Policy Makers, Staff
Report, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, September, 1999)

GORE RHETORIC: Because of concealed weapons laws, guns got into the
hands of criminals in Texas.

FACTS:
Permit holders in Texas are six times less likely to commit a violent
crime than are non-permit holders. Under Governor Bush, violent crime
is down 20 percent, violent juvenile crime is down 38 percent, and the
murder rate is at a 30-year low.

31 States Have "Right-To-Carry" Or "Concealed-Carry" Laws, Allowing
Law-Abiding Individuals To Carry Firearms For Self-Defense And
Protection Against Criminals: Key States Include Tennessee,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Kentucky.

Texas' Concealed-Carry Law Is Responsible: Texas eligibility
requirements are tougher than many of the other 30 states, and the
percentage of Texans carrying concealed weapons is less than most
states, including Texas and Connecticut -- 1.72% of Tennessee's citizens
carry concealed weapons, compared to only 1.09% of Texans; Tennessee's
one-page application makes it much simpler to get a permit than with
Texas' twenty-page packet with multiple affidavits and forms.

Gore Was Silent When Tennessee Passed A Concealed-Carry Law A Year
Before Texas. In 1994, Tennessee passed a concealed-carry law called
"Citizens Self-Protection Act of '94," which allowed citizens passing a
background check and a safety course to carry concealed weapons. In
addition, Tennessee law currently allows citizens to carry weapons into
places of worship. (Tenn. Code Ann § 39-17-1351; "Pleas for Gun Sanity
Students Urge Veto of Permit Bill," Knoxville News-Sentinel, May 8,
1994) This law was passed a year before Governor George W. Bush signed
the Texas law in 1995. Gore has not subjected Tennessee to the
out-spoken criticism that he has leveled against Texas and Governor
Bush.

GORE RHETORIC: Texas ranks 49th out of the 50 states in health care.

FACTS:
* Under Governor Bush, the percentage of Texans without
health insurance has gone down while the percentage of Americans without
insurance has gone up under Clinton-Gore. (U.S. Census Bureau, 9/29/00)

* On a yearly basis, Texas provides more than $4.7 billion
in health care to the uninsured. [Texas Comptroller, Letter Dated
3/14/00]

* In 1999, Governor Bush supported and signed legislation
creating the Texas' Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program
to provide insurance for more than 423,000 children in Texas. [Senate
Bill 445, 76th Legislature]

* Governor Bush made historic investments in health care
initiatives. In 1999, Governor Bush signed legislation directing $1.8
billion to Health Care initiatives in Texas above and beyond current
spending levels, to address the long-term helath-care issue of needy
Texans.

GORE RHETORIC: A judge found that Texas wasn't doing enough to
help children get access to health insurance.

FACTS:
The State of Texas disagrees with the liberal, activist judge's
ruling and is appealing based on the following evidence:

* Texas dramatically increases participation in the Early Periodic
Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) participation rates every
year, moving from a 29% rate in 1993 to a 61% rate in 98 (latest
figure). Texas has moved from the bottom third of the states
nationally to among the highest in the country (national participation
54% and Texas is 61%).

* Texas nearly doubled the nation's rate of dental care use. The
Texas utilization rate for dental care is almost double the national
average (20% nationally and 38% in Texas).[Texas Health and Human
Services Commission]

* Managed care program approved by Clinton-Gore. The Medicaid
Managed Care program began in 1993, based upon Clinton-Administration
(HCFA) approval. Governor Bush signed legislation in 1999 placing a
voluntary moratorium on further Medicaid managed care rollouts so the
state could assess the effectiveness of managed care in Medicaid. Many
of the criticisms outlined in the report were based on technical
reporting requirements that changed when Texas moved from an outdated
fee-for-service program (outlines each specific treatment to be
individually charged) to a managed care program (based on flat treatment
rates).
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