Democratic Convention: Gore's Leap Of Faith

As Al Gore winnowed his list of prospective running mates last month, at least one prominent Democrat was less than thrilled with the idea that Joe Lieberman might get the nod. Bill Clinton praised the choice after it was made, but before the fact, he railed privately about how much Lieberman's latest book, In Praise of Public Life, ticked him off. ("The Clinton-Lewinsky saga," Lieberman writes, "is the most vivid example we have of the virus of lost standards.") Clinton told friends he was sick and tired of Lieberman's sanctimony. The Senator's famous 1998 speech condemning Clinton's behavior was one thing, the President suggested, but wasn't it about time the guy gave it a rest?

Clinton can't seem to give it a rest either. Last Thursday he saw to it that a week of glowing press reports about the Gore-Lieberman road show would end with a return to Monicaville--thanks to Clinton's 75-minute rumination on his "terrible mistake" at an evangelical ministers' conference in Illinois. Blindsided just four days before the start of the Democratic Convention, the Gore campaign managed to stay on course, emphasizing Clinton's remark that "no fair-minded person would blame [Gore] for the mistakes I've made." But to Gore and his advisers, the incident only highlighted the wisdom of choosing Lieberman. Before long, they'll probably be mailing free copies of his book to swing voters.

The Connecticut Senator's reputation for thoughtfulness and rectitude bolsters Gore in much the same way Gore bolstered Clinton eight years ago, before two terms alongside the President tarnished his shield. Lieberman's past and present denunciations of Clinton's "immoral" behavior help insulate Gore from the country's disgust with Clinton ethics. (The implicit argument: Lieberman said what Gore felt but as Vice President could not permit himself to say.) The fact that Lieberman is the first Jew on a major party ticket makes Gore's choice historic, courageous and potentially transformative, although it was hard not to feel that Gore congratulated himself a bit too much for helping to "tear down an old wall of division." Above all, Lieberman's faith tells people that there's something in life more important to him than politics--a message Gore needs badly to convey.