The Democrats are descending upon Los Angeles, a town known for its plastic surgery, movie facades, faux sincerity and phony personalities. Here actors shed wives faster than actresses shed wardrobes. Film studios turn empty lots into Martian landscapes one day, tropical rainforests the next.
Nothing is as it seems, and tomorrow, it promises to be something different yet again.
It s the perfect place for Al Gore s much-needed celebrity makeover. Stung by winking references to honor and dignity at the Republicans Philadelphia convention, Gore now seeks to purge the taint of scandal from his public persona. Over the next four days, Democrats will face the delicate task of accepting credit for Clinton s policy accomplishments while disavowing his failures-embracing Clintonism with one arm, pushing Clinton away with the other. They will put the President on stage Monday night to speak on the scheduled theme of Prosperity and Progress. By Thursday, Al Gore s Vision for the Future promises to be one that s largely Clinton-free.