Al Gore and His Three-Decade Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

So, basically, Congressional Republicans are idiots. I know you already know this to be true, but this has been a banner week in what's been a banner decade in Congressional Republican idiocy. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was orchestrated penance for the Clinton impeachment by way of giving every other prominent politico from the Clinton White House the opportunity to shine like the shimmering beacons of intellectual fortitude they are, as they have never quite shone before.

To wit: Pence v. Clinton. Smith v. Clinton. And now Blackburn v. Gore.

(As per usual, I transcribed the video, and the transcript is below. Enjoy! And thanks to Shaker Constant Comment for passing it along.)

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): And given the magnitude of those changes, I think it's really important that no suspicion or shadow fall on the foremost advocates of climate change legislation, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to kind of clear the air [Gore snort-laughs off-camera] about your motives, and maybe set the record straight [Gore snort-laughs off-camera] for some of your former constituents—and I've got an article from October 8th, New York Times Magainze, about a firm called Kleiner-Perkins, a capital firm called Kleiner-Perkins…? Are you aware of that company?

Al Gore: [laughs] Well, yes! I'm a partner at Kleiner-Perkins.

Blackburn: So you're a partner in Kleiner-Perkins…? Okay. [Gore laughs off-camera] Now, they have invested about a billion dollars in forty companies that are going to benefit from cap-and-trade legislation, so, is the legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?

Gore: [sighs] I believe that the transition to a green economy is good for our economy and good for all of us—and I have invested in it. But every penny that I have made, I have put right into a non-profit, the Alliance for Climate Protection, to spread awareness of why we have to take on this challenge.

And, Congresswoman, if your—if you believe that the reason I have been working on this issue for thirty years is because of greed, you don't know me.

Blackburn: No, sir—I'm not making accusations. I'm asking questions [laughter from within the room] that have been asked of me.

Gore: Well—

Blackburn: And individual constituents that were seeking a point of clarity, so I am asking you for that kind of point of clarity.

Gore: I understand exactly what you're doing, Congresswoman. Everybody here does.

Blackburn: And, well, ah, you know, are you willing to divest yourself of any profit? Does all of it go to a not-for-profit that is an educational not-for-profit?

Gore: Every penny that I have made has gone to it.

Blackburn: Every penny has?

Gore: Every, every penny—from the movie, from the book, from any investments in renewable energy. I've been willing to put my money where my mouth is! Do you think there's something wrong with being active in business in this country?

Blackburn: I am simply asking for clarification of the relationship.

Gore: I'm proud of it! I'm proud of it!