Question from Republicans: What television game show did Al Gore inspire?
Jim Nicholson, Republican chairman: Al Gore has made many strange claims over the years. For example, he has claimed he inspired the novel and movie ''Love Story.'' He claimed he inspired Hubert Humphrey's 1968 acceptance speech. And he has claimed he created the Internet. But as I was relaxing at home the other night, it occurred to me that maybe Al Gore really has inspired ... a TV game show.
For example, could Al Gore have been the inspiration for ''To Tell the Truth?'' That 1960s classic featured guests trying to fool panelists into thinking they were someone they were not.
Let's see, Al Gore has been on both sides of the abortion issue, both sides of the tobacco issue and both sides of the Social Security issue. And - with the help of a $15,000-a-month consultant - he's changed his wardrobe to upgrade his image from ''beta male'' to ''alpha male.'' As the host of ''To Tell the Truth'' used to say: ''Will the real Al Gore please stand up?''
Or maybe it was ''The Price Is Right,'' still on television in its third decade. After all, in one of the most important congressional votes of the last twenty years - the resolution of support for the Gulf War in 1991 - Al Gore ''shopped'' his vote, agreeing to favor the resolution (rather than oppose it) only after receiving assurances from Senate leaders that voting that way would land him a prime speaking slot.
But then, he also could have been the creative force behind ''Let's Make a Deal,'' another 1970s-era show that featured wildly-dressed contestants vying for the opportunity to choose between cash in hand or whatever was behind door number one. Buddhist monks in saffron robes, offering $5,000 each in laundered and illegal contributions, in exchange for ... what, precisely? That door never has been opened due to Gore's stonewalling. Hmmm. A definite possibility.
Finally, perhaps Gore inspired ''Jeopardy.'' After all, if Gore were ever elected president, ''jeopardy'' is certainly the proper word to use to describe America's future.
Joe Andrew, national Democratic chairman: The Republicans' question this week is clever, even funny. In fact, I laugh at a lot of the things Jim says. But, it raises two key issues in this campaign: 1) How will Republicans conduct their campaign; and 2) Who do Americans trust to lead us into the next millennium?
George W. Bush and Republicans have decided to fight this campaign on a very personal level. Their attacks have been aimed not at the vice president's policies, not at the issues he supports, but at him personally. With the country currently enjoying the longest continuous economic expansion in our history, Republicans don't have a lot to talk about. However, this will not stop Democrats from talking about two things Bush doesn't want to talk about: his record as governor, and his ideas for the future of this nation.
Which brings me to the second point, and the central question of this campaign: Who can Americans trust to lead us in the next millennium? A lot is at stake in this election. The next president of the United States will have the power to either build on our prosperity or squander it.
Bush's top priority is a $2.1 trillion tax scheme that would jeopardize our economic security. The plan could undermine Social Security and Medicare and imperil the very programs working families need most. This isn't the first time Bush has made tax cuts his priority over other needs. In Texas, Bush worked to keep 200,000 uninsured children from receiving health insurance while pushing an ''emergency'' tax cut for big oil companies (who, coincidentally, are his big campaign contributors).
Al Gore, on the other hand, shares the priorities of American families. He will plan for the future by expanding opportunity responsibly while fulfilling our outstanding commitments, like Social Security and Medicare.
There are serious issues at stake, and the next election isn't some game show. Come November, the American people will choose a leader they can believe in; Republicans won't be laughing then.
(Jim Nicholson is chairman of the Republican National Committee. Joe Andrew is national chairman of the Democratic National Committee.)