Gore vs Bush: The Intelligence Debate

Great Debates
1

I often see those unfortunately blessed with a low IQ criticizing Bush for his apparent “stupidity.” Once again, I am here to set the record straight between him and his 2000 opponent, Al Gore.

I often see posts about how people believe the only reason Bush got into Yale was because his father was some prominent figure in American society. In actuality, Bush Sr. was a little known congressman at the time who was supposed to lose his first senate race, according to polls at the time.

Gore, on the other hand, was the son of a prominent US Senator when was admitted to Harvard. During high school, Gore recieved mostly Cs and a few Bs in English and History. In fact, the only As he ever got were in his art classes.

While in Harvard, Gore was listed in the bottom five of his class for two years in a row. His second year, probably his worst, he recieved one D, one D+, one C-, two Cs, two C+s, and one B. His grades that year were lower than any semester on Bush’s transcript.

Following college, Bush earned an MBA from Harvard, while Gore was busy failing out of Divinity School as well as Vanderbilt Law School.

Bush may not be the best public speaker at times, but at least he knows what he is talking about, and at least he tells the truth (for the most part) about his life. Here is a list of some of the more prominent statements, or misstatements, made by Gore:

-Claimed the Cane and Abel story in the Bible was God’s way of looking down on pollution.

-Gore claims his father was voted out of office due to his courageous stand supporting Civil Rights, even though his father actually voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

-Claims he was the inspiration for “Love Story.”

-He got the country’s national motto backwards; “E Pluribus Unum”

-Recieved a 545 on his verbal SAT.

-When walking in by the two most recognizable statues in America, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, he asked the press, “Ok, now who are these guys?”

-Claimed he took the initiative in creating the internet.

Now, Im not a strong supporter of Bush, but when you think about what the media has fed you in regards to Bush’s intellect, please remember this.

2

No, he did not. He took credit for political actions that (may have) shaped the way the Internet developed in the late 1990’s as a social and commercial force. He never ever ever ever ever claimed to have been a primary technological innovator.

Was even that relatively modest claim exaggerating Gore’s true role in the Internet? Maybe, I have no opinion on the matter, but such as politics. And taking credit where credit is not due hardly makes a politician foolish.

Anyway, Bush’s reputation for stupidity rises from three sources:[list=1]
[li]Most importantly, the man is a horrible speaker for a politician of his stature. Compare him to Clinton, FDR, JFK, Reagan, or if you really want to scare yourself, Lincoln, Cato, or other great orators of history. His inability to express himself clearly, his “aw, shucks”, down-home demeanor (falsley) imply stupidity, especially when compared to the stiff but intellectual style of Gore. Now, can a bad speaker be very smart? Sure. But how are supposed to know that if he sounds like an idiot?[/li][li]Many people disagre with many of his policies. “I believe that his actions are wrong, therefore he is stupid”. A mostly fallacious position, to be sure, and more or less unavoidable for any public official, but a completely human one.[/li][li]His opponents often portray him as a puppet, to big business and/or the party machinery (such as Karl Rove). Smart people aren’t puppets. Smart people are puppeteers.[/li][/list=1]

Two and three may be unavoidable (at least until he can bring over more people to his side, his speaking ability is the biggest hurdle, I think.

Oh, and he was the inspiration for Love Story, or at least, the hero was a composite of himself and his college roomate, Tommy Lee Jones.

Can I see some cites for the rest? The statue comment sounds tongue-in-cheek to me.

Besides, Gore bashing is so three years ago. What’s the point? I wish he had won, and am surprised by the strength of his recent appearances and comments, but I’m more focused on Bush’s present actions, and who the Democrats send up agaisnt him (hint: it won’t be Gore) in 2004.

3

Bush43 got into Yale because of something called “Legacy”

Look it up.

And while you are looking…see if you can find Bush’s grades…

no luck?

4

HA HA HA HAHAHAHA !!!

I say we ban him for lying outright ! Not a Bush supporter… hehe…

How about showing some sources for the rubbish you presented… and how about the grades Mr. Bush Jr. got as well ? I do remember Bush saying that “a C student can also make it”.

5

So the Republican has put forward the proposition that henceforth, all presidents will be selected entirely on the basis of IQ and academic record; he or she with the highest wins.

All for, say Aye.

All against, say No.

The measure does not pass. Sorry.

Almost took a load off my mind there for a minute; those elections always were a damned nuisance anyway.

6

Well, you obviously must know my opinions better than I do, us being seperated across cyberspace and all.

I dont think Bush is a good president. I dont agree with the majority of his recent decisions. I dont agree with the way he has been handling our “war on terrorism.” I know the real reasons we attacked Iraq, and it is a shame he followed through with it.

So, you are saying that someone with a 2.8 average cant make anything of himself?

7

That wasnt my intention at all, and had you looked into my post you would see that. I said at the very top that people are always ragging on Bush because he is a poor public speaker, and therefore sounds like hes not that bright. Im just trying to level the playing field.

8

IMHO…Bush is a puppet. So no…he didn’t do it himself.

9 
EXACTLY... the Smart ones are the puppeteers... Bush is the puppet. I might hate Rummy and Co. ... but I wont call him stupid.
10

“What do you call someone who graduates at the bottom of his class in Med school?”

“Doctor.”

11

So, Reeder, could you enumerate the facts on which you base your opinion?

12

Actually, I did read your post, but when I saw the straw man that led it off and the pre-emptive insult against anyone who might be inclined to disagree with it, I decided you weren’t much interested in debate.

13

The Republican:

You are going to find that if you simply regurgitate things you have heard elsewhere with no cites (not even to where you get your claims…let alone to the actual original statements in context made by Gore) then we will treat them with the skepticism that they deserve.

Welcome to the Straight Dope.

14

Typing in “Al Gore SAT verbal score” into Google will lead you to a variety of sources that will tell you that he actually got 625, which isn’t too shabby. One source that the Google search turned up is an article by our very own Cecil Adams.

A Google search suggests that Gore indeed mis-spoke when he mistranslated the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” as “Out of one, many.” It is difficult for me to find a reference to this from a site that doesn’t have conservative leanings, though.

Of course, this national motto seems to have been given short shrift in the last few decades in favor of “In God We Trust”, which strikes me as a violation of separation of church and state.

The legacy Reeder was referring to is that Yale, Harvard, and many other universites often give additional weight to an applicant if they are the offspring of parents who attended the same university. George W. Bush’s application likely had that weight added to his application.

George W. Bush got his undergraduate degree from Yale in 1968, and an MBA from Harvard in 1975. His father was elected to the House of Representatives in 1966. He was reelected two years later without opposition. His failed bid for the senate took place in 1970, two years after his son earned his undergraduate degree from Yale. In 1971 he was Ambassador to the UN; in 1973 he became Chairman of the Republican National Committee, three years before his son earned his MBA from Harvard. In 1976, he was named director of the CIA.

It seems Bush was hardly a no-name in the late 60s and early 70s, but rather was a quick riser through the Republican ranks.

source for George Bush’s bio

As for Gore’s grades…googling on Gore’s grades also seems to indicate that he was far from a straight A student. So what? Neither was Bush.

The least slanted source I could find for this assertion wasthis one. Apparently, the source is from Gore’s book Earth in the Balance. I don’t have a copy handy, since I’m not interested in buying the book, but the website linked above apparently reproduced the quote from it that got a number of individuals’ knickers in a twist: “Indeed, the first instance of ‘pollution’ in the Bible occurs when Cain slays Abel and his blood falls on the ground, rendering it fallow.”

The quote, to me, does not indicate God’s feelings towards pollution. In fact, Gore got the story wrong, since I don’t see anywhere in the Cain and Abel story where the blood renders the ground fallow.

This little chestnut got snoped a long time ago.

Incidentally, my googling for most of my responses led me frequently to Ann Coulter’s columns. It seems fairly obvious to me that much of your information about Gore came from her columns…you could do better than get your information about politicians you dislike from people other than the shrieking harpy that I find an embarrassment to the Republican party.

15

Im interested in debate. I am not interested in those who would attack me personally instead of debating me. This is what I am used to unfortunately, so I apologize for putting up that front before I knew what the people here were all about.

16

I did not know that Coulter had online columns, but now that I do I will check them out.:wink:

Let me get my papers in order to respond thouroughly to your post. As I said above, I am used to being attacked personally rather than attacking my info. This place seems top notch.

17

In fact, if the members would prefer, this topic can be deleted and I can re-post it with the citations in place. Just a suggestion.

18

Don’t bother. They’ll just nit pick something else.

Logic is the last thing they want to face.

It is proven over and over again.

19

I like you. We see eye to eye.:smiley:

20

Still making assertions without cites?