Copyright 2000 / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles
Times
View Related Topics
July 8, 2000, Saturday, Home Edition
SECTION: Part A; Part 1; Page 13; National Desk
LENGTH: 815 words
HEADLINE:
GORE HITS AT BIG DRUG COMPANIES;
CAMPAIGN: VICE
PRESIDENT MAKES APPEAL TO FEMALE VOTERS ON HEALTH CARE ISSUES. HE LINKS GOP
RIVAL BUSH TO 'POWERFUL,' PROFIT-DRIVEN FIRMS.
BYLINE:
MEGAN GARVEY, TIMES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:
BRIDGEVILLE, Pa.
BODY:
Vice President Al Gore
reached out to female voters on Friday, continuing his attacks on big
drug companies and charging that "price-gouging" and industry
efforts to extend patents on expensive medications
disproportionately hurt women.
In a speech at a Pittsburgh-area senior
center, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee stuck with the theme of the
week, casting himself once again as a "champion" of the people.
Gore has
contrasted his positions with those of his Republican rival, saying Texas Gov.
George W. Bush is "for the powerful" and tied directly to big industries the
vice president says put their own interests before those of the American people.
But Gore, at a news conference after the campaign stop, deferred
questions about a top advisor's ties to the same organization he called a "phony
coalition" earlier in the week. The group, Citizens for Better Medicare, has
spent millions of dollars on advertisements trying to scuttle the addition of a
prescription drug benefit to Medicare.
Gore dismissed
questions about a published report that Carter Eskew, then in private public
relations, had earlier solicited the tax-exempt committee's business. "What he
did before he worked for me, that's something you'll have to ask him," Gore
said. The "important fact" about his own record, the vice president said, was
that he has been unwavering in his criticism of drug company
profits.
Gore focused on women's health in a talk to seniors, saying
basic health coverage for women needs to be more affordable. He said he was
against efforts by drug companies to get Congress to extend
patents on expensive medications. Such an
extension would prevent generic--and cheaper--versions of
drugs from reaching the market.
At the news conference,
he was asked about his stance on a federal moratorium on the death penalty, in
light of the Clinton administration's decision this week to delay the first
scheduled federal execution in nearly 40 years. The White House cited the
absence of clemency procedures and the questions about racial disparities in
putting off the planned Aug. 5 execution of convicted triple murderer Juan Raul
Garza.
The vice president said he shares President Clinton's concerns
and supports the delay. Still, he said he sees no evidence a federal moratorium,
similar to the state one in place in Illinois, is warranted.
However,
Gore said that if prosecutorial misconduct could be shown, as was the case in
Illinois, he "would not hesitate" to support a moratorium.
The reception
Gore received Friday was similar to warm, and often enthusiastic, welcomes he
won all week as he campaigned from coast to coast. And Gore appeared invigorated
as a result.
The vice president, a man often criticized for being
awkward in public, seemed at ease. Stumping for votes in front of core
supporters, the speeches flowed well, prompting laughter, cheers, ovations and
loud shouts of approval.
At the annual convention of the National
Council of La Raza in San Diego, council leaders reminded the crowd that Gore
was "no stranger" to their community. Bush, on the other hand, was dismissed as
a "Georgie come lately" by California's Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.
In Cincinnati at the quadrennial meeting of African Methodist Episcopal
congregations, church leaders reminded the thousands gathered of the
Clinton-Gore record of economic prosperity. They also reminded the crowd of how
African Americans had fared under the Republicans.
"I don't know about
you, but I'm not a victim of amnesia," preached Bishop H.H. Brookins. "How in
the world could you be thinking about someone else? There is no choice."
With charts and graphs as accessories, Gore on Thursday was in his
element talking to seniors in Chicago. He flipped over the poster board himself
in order to emphasize the differences between his positions and those of his
Republican opponent.
Gore seized the occasion to swing hard at Bush
after weeks of backing away from negative comments. To ensure his point wasn't
lost, Gore spelled it out for those listening time and again: He is for the
people. Bush is for the powerful.
And the populist rhetoric was embraced
by enthusiastic crowds at national conventions for the nation's two largest
teachers unions: the National Education Assn. in Chicago and the American
Federation of Teachers in Philadelphia. Gore told both groups about his deep
family roots in education, noting that his father was a school superintendent.
He shook hands and danced to the music as a crush of union delegates
pushed forward to meet him at both events.
In an interview with a
Philadelphia television station, Gore even exhibited the wry humor his friends
and family are always touting.
The one thing about his public persona he
would change?
After a long pause, the answer: "I think I would like to
be a better dancer."
GRAPHIC: PHOTO: At a senior center
in Bridgeville, Pa., Vice President Al Gore listens as Odessa Jackson tells of
her problems with health care. PHOTOGRAPHER: Agence France-Presse
LOAD-DATE: July 8, 2000 
