# Will Gore concede with class? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 13, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404 "2000-12-13T20:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/1 "2000-12-13T20:43:49Z")
So now it’s over. What will Gore say tonight? Will it be a classy “let’s go forward as one country” speech? Or will it contain subtle or even gross insinuations that the whole thing was a sham, that he should have won? I like to think (and predict) that he’ll go out with class, figuring this is the first speech in his 2004 campaign. But the NYTimes is saying he’ll make claims that every vote wasn’t counted. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/2 "2000-12-13T21:13:27Z")
I’m not sure it even matters. Gore being gracious and stating that he feels that the outcome was fair won’t make it fair in many partisans’ minds (Stoidela has already riffed on Al Gore’s “he’ll be my President” in her sig), or even necessarily in many non-partisans’ minds; and no amount of graciousness on Gore’s part tonight will necessarily undo the extreme fighting he’s been willing to do for the last month. Conversely, Al Gore being bitter and acrimonious won’t hurt his chances in '04- there’s precedent (think Nixon in '62 and how bitter he was at losing the California Senate race; didn’t stop him from being a major power broker in '64 and the nominee in '68), and the more extreme Democrat partisans would love to see him try and bloody Bush’s nose one last time. Besides, if the Democrat’s strategy comes down to “let’s make Bush look as bad as possible so we rebound in '02”, why should they bother trying to seem conciliatory? So either way, I don’t think it matters a bit how Gore acts tonight; how _Bush_ acts is much more important- it’s a major chance to look good, look presidential, and to get people turned off by the whole election business to actually look forward to a Bush Presidency. Doubt it’ll happen, but he has the _chance_… ---
**Author:** ![Trixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@Trixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trixie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/3 "2000-12-13T21:15:19Z")
The best thing Gore can do is to simply withdraw from the presidential race. By doing so, he won’t have to concede defeat to the Repugnicans, which will no doubt infuriate them, because it will make a Bush presidency look more illegitimate than it already is. In this way, Gore and the rest of the Bushwacked nation will have the last laugh in this joke of an election. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/4 "2000-12-13T21:18:14Z")
Gore will concede with more class and respect than Bush deserves. But heck, Gore could just flip the bird to the camera and he’d still be overshooting Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/5 "2000-12-13T21:24:42Z")
CNN is saying he might not actually concede to Bush, but basically say, “Well, fight’s over, and Florida’s official count stands, per the USSC. Thanks a lot, and goodnight.” A technicality, and I don’t think the right thing to do, but I don’t blame him. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/6 "2000-12-13T21:27:16Z")
I’m not sure what my opinion would be worth (I’m from the every vote counts school of democracy), but ere’s an interesting article about whether [Gore should be gracious or honest.](http://slate.msn.com/code/BallotBox/BallotBox.asp?Show=12/13/2000&idMessage=6676) Wouldn’t it be the ultimate irony that the very people who tarnished him as the habitual liar, would whish him to be gracious in his concession, by saying things he doesn’t believe to be true? ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/7 "2000-12-13T21:45:27Z")
On Wisconsin Public Radio this morning, a commentator said that Gore’s fight has brought the Democratic Party together like nothing else since the campaign began, so Gore will probably withdraw. Remember, within the Democratic Party, he has a moral cause, and preserving that sense of a moral cause is important to being re-elected in the '04 primaries. He’ll withdraw without conceding, but my guess is that he’ll try to be somewhat graceful (if a little squishy) about it to appear like he’s keeping the moral high ground while giving up the battlefield. Keep in mind that Gore shut down the recount campaign today, even though some Democrats are still pushing for another go at having the Florida Supreme Court extend the counting deadline. Gore has also rejected any and all calls to subvert Republican electors into voting for him, which suggests he’s basically given up this one in favour of the next. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/8 "2000-12-13T21:47:10Z")
What I would prefer is for Al to reel up to the microphone, drunk on his butt, and offer to kick the living crap out of the next guy who says “whiner”. “Who’s whining **now** , mammy-jammer! Huh? I said, who’s whining **now**?” Sterlings point is very well taken. Why bullshit **now**? Tell it like it is, like a natural born ridgerunning Tennessee peckerwood. ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/9 "2000-12-13T21:53:47Z")
Gore has no class. I expect him to leave the door open for an elector to change their vote, or a challenge in the House and Senate. I do not expect to hear him use the word concede. I expect him to remind us about the popular vote. I expect him to talk about “technicalities” and “delays.” A better thread would be an over/under htread of how many times he says popular vote. I peg it at 5, and I pick over. The tie-breaker would be an over under on the phrase, “full and accurate count” (3, and I pick under). This thing is not over until Jan. 21st. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/10 "2000-12-13T22:03:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Freedom2 \* > \*\*Gore has no class. > > I expect him to leave the door open for an elector to change their vote…\*\* Gore has unambiguously said that he will neither seek nor tolerate an elector changing their vote in his favour. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/11 "2000-12-13T22:32:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hansel \* > Gore has unambiguously said that he will neither seek nor tolerate an elector changing their vote in his favour. \*\* Al can’t punish electors for doing this, except by denying them the majesty of his ascendancy to the Presidency, were he to win by this tactic. His speech tonight will probably include something like this: "It has been a long and ar-du-ous road toward the Pres-i-dency (I won the popular vote! I did!). For the last few weeks we have strug-gled to a-chieve a full and ac-cur-ate count (which I really won) in Flor-i-da, because it is es-sen-tial for our dem-oc-racy that ev-er-y vote be count-ed\* (mine! Mine!) But now the courts have ruled that the fight is o-ver (Scalia is a dirtbag!) and we must come to-geth-er as a peo-ple (I was robbed!). I pledge my full sup-port to my (lying, drunk-driving) op-po-nent and trust that you all will too (until the next election, you swine!). Thank you and good night (Look out Hillary, this one’s mine, and I’ll be baa-aack!). \*by conservative estimate, some variation on “counting every vote” should appear in the speech at least 4 times. ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/12 "2000-12-13T22:33:33Z")
If he had class his speech would end like Budd Dwyer’s last press conference. ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/13 "2000-12-13T22:35:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Gore has unambiguously said that he will neither seek nor tolerate an elector changing their vote in his favour. I’m always amazed at the super-king powers some people project onto these guys. If an elector switches his vote, then he switches his vote. I don’t want Gore to be President, but only the actual members of the Electoral College get to determine how their votes are cast. If Gore gets 271 votes because someone switched, then the man is president-elect. I have this same opinion about Gore’s propsal to Bush to handcount the whole state. Since when did Gore and Bush get the power to legislate in Florida? And about Gore conceding with class…here is an article that sums up what he would do **IF** he did have class. Who knows, this election has seen so many crazy things, maybe we will get to see Gore showing some class. [About That Concession](http://opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/) > [@](#): > > You’re in a great position. Focus on it. Just about exactly half the country voted for you and not Bush. You won a plurality of the popular vote; you may have won the whole election, no one will ever know. Probably a quarter of the electorate will always think Bush won on a technicality. So you’re not History’s Big Loser, you’re The Guy Who Came Within an Inch and Bowed Out With Class. > [@](#): > > The way to hurt George W. Bush is to save yourself, to be so graceful he looks puny. Then you can come roaring back in time. It’s a great article, but I don’t want to get the SD in trouble by posting to much. ---
**Author:** ![dixiechiq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@dixiechiq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dixiechiq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/14 "2000-12-13T22:51:57Z")
i think you are dead wrong freedom2. i think gore will be classy, and put his support behind “our” new president. i don’t think he should, but i think he will. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/15 "2000-12-13T22:52:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Freedom2 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Gore has unambiguously said that he will neither seek nor tolerate an elector changing their vote in his favour. > > I’m always amazed at the super-king powers some people project onto these guys. If an elector switches his vote, then he switches his vote. > > I don’t want Gore to be President, but only the actual members of the Electoral College get to determine how their votes are cast. If Gore gets 271 votes because someone switched, then the man is president-elect\*\* This attributes no god-like powers to Gore - presumably, if electors switched their votes causing Gore to win, he would step down and not accept the presidency, which makes switching one’s vote (and betraying the party that rewarded you with an elector’s position) pointless. I’m beginning to think that it makes no difference what Gore says tonight. He could make the angels weep with his graciousness, and your opinion of him wouldn’t change. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/16 "2000-12-13T22:53:17Z")
Way to stick by your bet, **Freedom**. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/17 "2000-12-13T23:05:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TampaFlyer \* > \*\*If he had class his speech would end like Budd Dwyer’s last press conference. \*\* Take two running jumps and go to hell, **Tampa**. I _saw_ Budd’s last minutes, and it was not pretty nor particularly funny. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/18 "2000-12-13T23:30:48Z")
I’ve got $10 that says he’ll wave his penis at the camera. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/19 "2000-12-13T23:38:16Z")
Forgot to add: One (1) flag. One (1) Tipper hug/smooch. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404/20 "2000-12-13T23:43:23Z")
**Freedom2:** \*I’m always amazed at the super-king powers some people project onto these guys. If an elector switches his vote, then he switches his vote. \* Well **F2** , you were the one who predicted that Gore would “leave the door open for an elector to change their vote.” If Gore’s views on “turncoat electors” (which, as **hansel** noted, he has explicitly denounced) are in fact irrelevant and devoid of practical effect, then your original remark is meaningless and I don’t see why you brought it up. (And **Torgo,** I’ll take that bet. :)) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gore-concede-with-class/45404.md?page=2)