GOP Calls Gore ‘Vice President Scrooge’

The Republican Party branded Al Gore “Vice President Scrooge” for giving only $353 to charity last year. A news release from the Republican National Committee said: “Vice President Scrooge--Al Gore raked in $197,729 in income last year (most of it his taxpayer-funded salary). But according to tax returns released to the media this week, Gore gave just $353 to charity.” Gore’s office told reporters that the vice president and his wife, Tipper, should be judged by their giving over several years. They donated $35,530 in 1996 and $52,558 in 1992. Still, the RNC noted that the average American family gave $696 to charity in 1996 and that people in Gore’s pay range gave more than $3,379 on average.