# Al Gore and Embezzlement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559 "2017-04-16T13:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/1 "2017-04-16T13:12:44Z")
I was talking to my right-wing-Fox-watching uncle the other day, and he mentioned in passing (as though it were common knowledge, like Obama being a secret Muslim) that Al Gore had been accused/convicted/\*something \*of large-scale embezzlement. Huh? I just said, “I hadn’t heard that,” and moved on, as I cannot have a rational conversation with him on anything remotely political. I googled this but could only find FAR right-wing news sources (Fox News was left of most of them) and I didn’t find the word “embezzlement.” I got that some are accusing Gore of fraud because he predicted climate doom sooner than it is likely to occur. But _embezzlement_? Can anyone shed light on this story? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/2 "2017-04-16T14:58:25Z")
News to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/3 "2017-04-16T16:15:21Z")
You should just say, “That’s nothing compared to the number of prostitutes that are coming and going from the White House to service Trump each week, which is the reason that Trump won’t release the visitor logs.” One turn of total BS deserves another. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/4 "2017-04-17T00:12:38Z")
Do you think it’s possible that my uncle picked up some Fake News at one of the right-wing sites where he hangs out? Naaaaah. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/5 "2017-04-17T00:19:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I got that some are accusing Gore of fraud because he predicted climate doom sooner than it is likely to occur. But _embezzlement_? I suppose there are some who are so ignorant that they don’t know the difference between fraud and embezzlement… and that scientific predictions can be valid, even when the details are flexible. ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/6 "2017-04-17T00:44:29Z")
I think he’s misremembering and it had to do with carbon offsets, which was believed to be a scam. Not sure how many years back we’re going, I’ll guess eight to ten. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/7 "2017-04-17T01:31:59Z")
Or he’s remembering the “no controlling legal authority” incident that arose when Gore was revealed to have made fund-raising calls from the White House, perhaps? There was certainly no embezzlement, though. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/8 "2017-04-17T02:31:08Z")
Maybe he’s thinking of the minor kerfuffle in 1995 when the Gores threw their yearly Halloween party and there were questions about who was paying for it. The Gores held the party for 500 people, and Al and Tipper sported Beauty and the Beast costumes, custom made by Disney. I guess Disney didn’t initially charge the Gores, and there were arguments that this constituted an improper gift. And I guess there were questions about who was paying for the whole party. I wouldn’t go so far as to call this embezzlement. But it probably was badly handled, and I recall it being a right wing talking point for a bit. Kind of weak, but the best I can think of. > **[Democrats to Get Bill for Gore's Halloween (Published 1995)](https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/16/us/democrats-to-get-bill-for-gore-s-halloween.html)** > **[GORE RECEIVES SPOOKY HALLOWEEN BILL](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/11/29/gore-receives-spooky-halloween-bill/19e2030e-bb0e-4de2-9bd6-468003696b2a/?utm_term=.dbda60cf5d23)** Aside: I generally like Gore’s politics, but anyone who throws epic Halloween parties is automatically A-OK in my book. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/9 "2017-04-17T11:11:37Z")
A bit hard to think of the guy who invented the internet, and was the basis for the Love Story novel could be thought of as an embezzler. I think not, myself. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/10 "2017-04-17T14:44:33Z")
Just show him the ‘compromat’ report about Trump. It’s better sourced than his story. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/11 "2017-04-17T15:01:36Z")
So now the title of this thread is one more indelible piece of “proof” that the dark side has. “I saw it on the internet!” ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/12 "2017-04-17T15:01:58Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I got that some are accusing Gore of fraud because he predicted climate doom sooner than it is likely to occur. But _embezzlement_? Can anyone shed light on this story? Probably an example of playing a wishful word chain game. Al Gore -\> environment -\> [carbon credit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Investment_Management) -\> profiteering -\> scam -\> fraud -\> embezzlement -\> bestiality -\> crimes against nature! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/13 "2017-04-17T23:18:59Z")
I appreciate the replies. I’m not going to bring it up to him. As some of you know, countering this sort of assertion with facts (or lack of facts) is like teaching a pig to sing: it doesn’t work and it just annoys the pig. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/14 "2017-04-18T11:58:22Z")
As I understand it (from climate change deniers), the whole concept of climate change is, in essence, an embezzlement scheme. Scientists are creating a crisis that requires further scientific study and scientific involvement, thereby padding their own pockets with government money. Presumably, Gore would be getting kickbacks from whoever is leading this initiative and, of course, that money would be coming from government funding since that’s where all of the climate change money comes from. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/15 "2017-04-18T14:12:34Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I appreciate the replies. I’m not going to bring it up to him. As some of you know, countering this sort of assertion with facts (or lack of facts) is like teaching a pig to sing: it doesn’t work and it just annoys the pig. I think you could if you did it right. Next time, say something like “you know, you mentioned that Al Gore and embezzlement thing last time, and I didn’t remember anything like that, so I looked, and I still couldn’t find it. Could you find some sources that talk about that?” Seems to me that it is a good thing to force people to deal with mis-statements of facts that they make, even if it’s your crazy uncle. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/16 "2017-04-18T14:28:33Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I think you could if you did it right. Next time, say something like “you know, you mentioned that Al Gore and embezzlement thing last time, and I didn’t remember anything like that, so I looked, and I still couldn’t find it. Could you find some sources that talk about that?” > > Seems to me that it is a good thing to force people to deal with mis-statements of facts that they make, even if it’s your crazy uncle. Really? You’d follow up on something like that? I’d consider myself lucky to get out of that conversation quickly the first time. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/17 "2017-04-18T14:54:20Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I think you could if you did it right. Next time, say something like “you know, you mentioned that Al Gore and embezzlement thing last time, and I didn’t remember anything like that, so I looked, and I still couldn’t find it. Could you find some sources that talk about that?” > > Seems to me that it is a good thing to force people to deal with mis-statements of facts that they make, even if it’s your crazy uncle. And he would find the kooky web sites that the OP says they also found and say “See?”. You can’t disprove something someone wants to be true. You will never, ever, change their mind. They have to change it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-and-embezzlement/784559/18 "2017-04-18T16:14:37Z")
Might be related to his partial sale of Current TV > **[Al Jazeera Says Al Gore’s Claims of Fraud Are ‘Blatantly False’](https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/al-jazeera-says-al-gores-claims-of-fraud-are-blatantly-false-1201286202/)** > > Al Jazeera pushed back on Al Gore and Joel Hyatt’s lawsuit over the sale of Current TV, contending that their claims that Al Jazeera engaged in fraud in withholding tens of millions in paymen… It basically contains a response to Gores lawsuit against Al Jazeera - which bought the network. It claims that Al Gore misrepresented stuff and forced them to access funds in an escrow account. I’m not sure I understand what exactly they are claiming, but I’ve seen comment feeds asking for congressional investigations over the sale, $500 million dollars supposedly, to an Arab company. Of course it’s at least partially owned my a Muslim nation Qatar, involves the media, also I think had Keith Olberman - all things some RWNJ hate. Plus it contains words like “escrow” and “sealed complaint” and I think the went out of business last year - which I can see easily being spun into something like: 'Efforts are underway to investigate the sale of Al Gores global warming propaganda machine to the nation of Qatar after secret court proceedings alleged Al Gore had misrepresented the financial condition of the company and managed to get away with half a billion dollars in an obvious money laundering attempt to shovel even more money into the already scandal laden Clinton/Gore financial schemes. Suspiciously this network that was supposedly worth half a billion dollars folded last year" They’d be much more flowery - I’m an awful writer. Anyway - not embezzlement still, but we are talking about a group of people that consider sending emails that contain classified information “treason” and Clintons supposed failures in Benghazi “murder”