The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> WITH EVERY BEAT br> Al Gore , on his latest press tour to tout his re-invention and re-emergence, has been telling reporters how this time he's going to speak from the heart. Judging by his latest policy flip-flop, his heart is a transplant from a pollster. Last week Gore proclaimed that the only way to fix what he perceives as a health insurance crisis was to create a nationalized health insurance program. This is the same plan he attacked Sen. Bill Bradley for supporting in the 2000 presidential primaries. /p>

Long-time Gore supporters were surprised by the policy shift, but not his advisers. "We've been polling and using some focus group data that others have pulled together as he prepares these speeches," says a Gore adviser in Washington.

Of late, Gore has made what his people termed "major policy addressees" on the Iraqi situation, the economy and health care. All of the issues were vetted in some way prior to his making the speeches.

"I don't know that it's shading what he says, but he definitely knows beforehand what might play best with this audience. What he does with that information, I don't know," says the adviser.

p> SHAYS LONG br> Republicans in the House find it laughable that Republican-in-name-only Rep. Christopher Shays

topics:
Health Care, Business, Iraq, NATO