Al Keeps Quiet

So, our favorite little tree hugger won’t be hitting the campaign trail for anyone in this election season. According to CNN.com, “Two sources close to Al Gore tell us not to expect the former vice president to endorse either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama any time during the primary season.” Everyone is getting their proverbial panties in quite a little bunch over Gore’s refusal to endorse anyone.

This makes me wonder: when did this endorsing craze get so out of hand? There is no doubt that Gore’s endorsement would make some difference, although I think it would fail to create the earth shattering effect that many seem to associate with the endorsement of a candidate. Obama’s got Oprah, Hillary’s got the New York Times. First of all, I can’t even trust Oprah to pick a decent novel for her book club, so I’m a little wary of her political endorsements. And does it bother any one else that the most prestigious, well-respected newspaper in the country is endorsing a candidate? I’m so paranoid about this, I’ve started counting the amount of Clinton articles the New York Times online runs as opposed to the coverage Obama is getting, although this might just mean I have far too much spare time.

CNN.com reports, “The sources say Gore talks with both Clinton and Obama, and is on good terms with both. But with Sen. John Kerry and Bill Clinton both aligned to a candidate, Gore has a role to serve as the neutral elder statesman in the party.” Wait, Bill Clinton is endorsing someone? Seriously? But really, I don’t blame Big Al for keeping quiet. He’s too busy trying to save us from ourselves. That PowerPoint presentation isn’t going to show itself you know. I’m not sure what variance an endorsement from a particularly powerful person, company, or organization makes. Maybe an endorsement can change an entire election and if it can, it would certainly be in this ever tightening democratic race.