Political Quotes

“The title of the article is, ``Occidental Deal Benefits Gores.'' I don't begrudge the Gores or any families having any investment. What I do begrudge is the realization that the Vice President has lashed out and attacked big oil. I am not here to defend big oil. As chairman of the Energy Committee, we are having a hearing. We are going to invite the various oil companies and refiners to come in and explain to us why prices have gone up and what the future is likely to hold. It is fair to point out Vice President Al Gore has been linking George W. Bush to big oil. I am not here to separate that, but as this article points out, the Vice President's efforts to push to privatize Elk Hills, which was a Federal oilfield in California, added a good deal--as a matter of fact, hundreds of thousands of dollars--to the Gore family estate fund. This was the Occidental Petroleum that bought Elk Hills. Occidental's profits soared, and, of course, the Gore family stock in the company went from a listing of roughly $250,000 to $500,000, up to $1 million, as a consequence of the privatization of Elk Hills. Again, I do not begrudge the Vice President and his family making a fair return on an appropriate investment. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. But those who live in glass houses should not take baths. In this case, that fits the position of the Vice President.”