Al Gore revisited

Having retired from active politics, it is safe to assume that the visit of former Vice President Al Gore to the Philippines has no reflection on the fact that the country has yet to determine who will really be its next Vice President.

Nonetheless, Al Gore’s visit is uncanny in timing since Gore’s career and conduct in politics has left us with so many lessons that would especially be useful for the winners and losers in the last elections.

Throughout his career, Al Gore was known as the “nice and decent guy”. If “Superman” were stripped of his powers, Al Gore would be the perfect image of “Clark Kent in mid-life” or Senior Citizen Extraordinaire. He was always polite in conduct and civil in his speech. Even in issues he felt strongly about, Gore never made a mark as a “jerk” or political trash talker. To a fault, he was seen as much too mild mannered for “Gung-ho” America.

This I think is the first lesson that Al Gore brings to Filipino politicians.

Our elected officials, particularly in Congress who have become an exaggeration of their American counterparts, should start reviewing their foul language, abusive conduct and excessive dramatics.

For all the flair and fervor that US politicians express in Congress and in public, we rarely hear them cussing and cursing each other the way Congressmen and Senators of the Philippines do. In the US they press resource people for answers and if need be, remind them of the law and consequences. They don’t “Grill”, intimidate or challenge people or publicly accuse them.

Because of his mild manners, Al Gore has successfully continued from a national position to an international platform. His conduct has won him global acceptance, respect and admiration.

The second lesson I glean from Al Gore’s career is about loyalty and respect for “the office” or “the title”.

When then US President Bill Clinton got his shirt all wrinkled from the Monica Lewinsky case, many conservatives had hoped that Vice President Al Gore would take a public position against Clinton’s indiscretion. It seemed like the right thing to do, but Gore did not take advantage.

He did not allow himself to be used to bring down the presidency. The Presidency was not just a job to be grabbed at the first opportunity. Gore clearly understood that Clinton may have sinned but it was not Gore’s job to be judge, jury and executioner.

Becoming President was less important than preserving the public trust, as well as leadership over the nation. Gore clearly took some hits for his loyalty, but it is the same loyalty that has also won him support from various leaders and organizations worldwide.

Gore’s third life lesson reminds me of the Hertz versus Avis car rental wars. One company kept badgering the other about the fact that they were number one. The other retaliated by saying we may be number 2, but we have cleaner ashtrays.

In terms of elected position, Al Gore never made it to number 1. But from being number 2 or the Vice President of the United States, Al Gore has not done too badly. Not many US Presidents get invited to talk all over the world and get paid several hundred thousand dollars per stop.

Not many US Presidents get to be the host of an international documentary about global warming, which turns out to be one of the top ten documentaries of the decade. Most Presidents get to write their memoirs, but not Al Gore. He writes an off the shelf idea and it sells millions.

I wonder what would happen, if Gore decided to write one whole chapter for the dialogue and detail on the Monica Lewinsky affair, three whole chapters on how to keep a 40-year marriage and then end it with a “press release”. To be honest just a book on the marriage and the break up is something me, and my wife would grab off the shelf. Few people have lasted that long and broke up with such civility.

For a guy who only made it to number two, you have to wonder what a US President has to do in order to win an Oscar award as well as a “Nobel” award.

Gore also teaches us how to quit when you’re ahead or keep your feet planted on the ground and your money in your bank account.

When Gore won an “Oscar” for “An Inconvenient Truth”, quite a number of people immediately declared that Gore would be a hands down favorite for the Presidential elections. Gore clearly knew how to prioritize things.

He was already standing on the International platform. He had gone from success to significance. Gore effortlessly went from successful politician to a significant international player by focusing on a global threat and global concern.

If Gore allowed himself to be deluded or lured by political ambition, chances are he would have shelled out millions of dollars the same way Hillary Clinton spent in pursuit of a party nomination that got her nowhere. Yes she became Secretary of State but every time she travels abroad she often gets harassed. Gore on the other hand gets to warn the World of its sins and gets paid for it.

At the moment, I am very curious what Vice President Al Gore will be bringing to Manila. It would certainly be interesting if he dropped an ounce of wisdom for the next Vice President of the Philippines.

Fortunately, I was blessed with an invitation from Nikki Abella the PR and Events Manager of Unilever, so I could get to see Al Gore in Person. After all the missed chances to join Unilever events, I have to say, this makes up for the three Christmas parties I missed out on!