The most devastatingly probing question of the presidential campaign thus far was asked not by a reporter but by New Hampshire voter Katherine Prudhomme (formerly a Democrat, now a McCain supporter), at A1 Gore's Dec. 14 town meeting in Derry, N.H.
Here's the transcript (minus Gore's plentiful ums and ahs, for readability):
Q: When Juanita Broaddrick made the claim, which I found to be quite credible, that she was raped by Bill Clinton, did that change your opinion about him being one of the best presidents in history? And do you believe Juanita Broaddrick's claim? And what did you tell your son about this?
GORE: (nervous chuckle) Well, I don't know what to make of her claim, because I don't know how to evaluate that story, I really don't.
Q: Did you see the interview?
GORE: No, I didn't see the interview. No. Uh-Uh.
Q: I'm very surprised that you didn't watch the interview.
GORE: Well, which show was it on?
Q: ABC, I believe [actually NBC].
GORE: I didn't see it. There have been so many personal allegations and such a non-stop series of attacks, I guess I'm like a lot of people in that I think that enough is enough. I do not know how to evaluate each one of these individual stories. I just don't know. I would never violate the privacy of my communication with one of my children, a member of my family, as for that part of your question. But,
Q: So you didn't believe Juanita Broaddrick's claim?
GORE: No, I didn't say that. I said I don't know how to evaluate that, and I didn't see the interview. But I must say something else to you about this. Why don't you just stand back up; I'd like to look you in the eye. I think that whatever mistakes [Bill Clinton] made in his personal life are in the minds of most Americans balanced against what he has done in his public life as president. My philosophy, since you asked about my religious faith, I'm taught in my religious tradition to hate the sin and love the sinner. I'm taught that all of us are heir to the mistakes that -- are prone to the mistakes that flesh is heir to. And I think that, in judging his performance as a president, I think that most people are anxious to stop talking about all the personal attacks against him. And trying to sort out all of the allegations, and want to, instead, move on and focus on the future. Now, I'll say this to you, he is my friend, and that friendship is important, and if you've ever had a friend who made a serious mistake and then you repaired the friendship and moved on, then you know what that relationship has been like for me.
Secondly, I felt the same disappointment and anger at him during the period when all this was going on that most people did. You may have felt a different kind of emotion, I don't know. I sense that maybe you did. I certainly felt what most Americans did.
Third, I have been involved in a lot of battles where he and I have fought together on behalf of the American people, and I think we've made a good, positive difference for this country.
Number four, I'm running for president on my own. I want to take my own values of faith and family to the presidency, and I want you to evaluate me on the basis of who I am and what you believe I can do for this country as president. Thank you.
Three observations: 1) Despite this exchange's being televised locally, with lots of national reporters present; and despite the mesmerizing watchability of the video, the network news shows have never mentioned this exchange. (The Media Research Center has made the clip available on its website, media-research.org) 2) Gore has now very usefully pledged not to violate his family's privacy: Does this mean no more lachrymose tales about his dying relatives? 3) What's Katherine Prudhomme doing enjoying life in Derry? Quick: Someone give this woman a microphone and a job in the White House press corps.