July 5th, 2007
09:49 AM ET
10 years ago
Gore: Son's arrest a 'private family matter'
Albert Gore III, right, is undergoing treatment after his arrest on drug charges Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES (CNN) - Al Gore III, the son of the former vice president, is undergoing treatment after his arrest on drug charges in Los Angeles, a spokesman for his father told CNN Thursday.
Gore, 24, was arrested in Los Angeles early Wednesday after he was stopped for speeding and police found a small amount of marijuana, as well as several prescription drugs, in his Toyota Prius.
In an appearance on NBC's "Today Show" Thursday, former Vice President Al Gore said the family is dealing with the incident "as a private family matter."
"We love him very much," the elder Gore said.
- From CNN's Karan Olson and Traci Tamura
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I am a die-hard Republican, and I want to be the first one to say, this is not a reflection on GORE. Children disobey and every family has members that are less than presentable. When you are under the microscope as much as politicians in our present system, it would be next to impossible for anyone, unless they were an orphan, to not have some kind skeleton in their closet due to blood relation. I know I would. Before anyone starts taking aim at Gore, lets all remember that. There are plenty of topical issues that can be raised about Gore's views and his political career; lets focus on that.
I would like to know why Gore 111 has not gotton a stronger sentence or fine? It seems that he has had several offences. Does he have to kill someone innocent before he is stopped. People spoke out about the special treatment given to Paris Hilton, I think Gore 111 is getting special treatment as well!
The question now is how will the press spin this? Is Al Gore III a pitiable victim with no accompanying accountability or is he simply another spoiled child of the entitled with neither the ability or the desire to live by the rules that are expected of the rest of us? Let's see how long the press cycle lasts on this or if he does any jail time.
This is not news just as the Bush twins troubles were not news. Thought I was reading CNN not the Enquirer.
Strange how when it was the Bush girls having a few beers many were quick to hammer them in the media and the blogosphere ("the apple doesn't fall far from the tree etc, etc").
Even with my disliking Gore, that tact would be wrong, I hope his son get's the help that he needs.
Maybe a private matter, but the collection of uppers and downers indicates a fairly sophisticated recreational drug hobby, even for a rich Harvard kid. Can OxyContin be far behind?
I am not a Gore fan, far from it. But that was a classy approach and answer. Kids do stray far from the path they've been shown.
I only have one question...How did little Gore get a Toyota Prius to go that fast? (100mpg) Was it falling off a cliff when it was clocked?
WOW! Who knew a Prius could go that fast?? Economy and speed – good recommendations for driving a Prius! You can kill yourself at high speeds while saving the environment!
Private matter or not, little Al is clearly in need of some jail time and rehab. And in that order...
...falling off a cliff
Now THAT was funny!
OMG!!!! Al Gore's son smokes pot!!!! This is obviously an instance where his father's association with green, tree-hugging hippies as rubbed off on his son and now he is battling a tragic marijuana addiction!!!!
Blame Gore for being a horrible parent along with green loving liberals for lack of morals when it comes to smoking marijuana......
or get over it....its just pot....an illegal mind-altering substance that causes 10 times less arrests and probably 1000 times less deaths a year than alcohol....which is legal.
Drug addiction happens in the best of families. President Bush's niece is a drug addict who tried to pass off forged prescriptions.
Please keep in mind that Al Gore's son suffered a traumatic brain injury in a near death car accident. The likelihood of this young man having lost impluse control in his brain should be taken into consideration.
Can someone please tell me why Gore's article "I've fallen out of love with politics" is number 1 on the 'Top Entertainment Stories' here on CNN?
Anonymous,
He hasn't had any sentencing, so what are you talking about? He's facing 3 drug felonies which isn't a small matter.
If you think he deserved to be in jail for the DUI or the other marijuana possession charge, you have no idea how full the jails would be if they incarcerated people who had similar charges.
I didn't know you could do 100 mph in a Prius!
Does the exhale of pot smoke offset the lowered emissions of a prius? My guess is little Al thought he was being carbon neutral.
A "private matter"? Smoking pot in your own home may be sold as a private matter, but driving 100 mph on a public street or highway under the influence of narcotics is a very public issue.
Well I like to give credit where credit is due. At least Al Gore III and his Dad are up front and honest. They stated the true facts and then as it should be, stated it is a private family matter.
At least we know what he's on.....Isn't it too bad we can't say the same about Bush...on any topic.
AL Gore III isn't the first and won't be last to have this problem. I wish him much success.
I do not care for Al Gore at all. However, this was the worst time in the world for his unworthy son to make a fool of himself in public. That is a shame.
It will be interesting to see what special treatment in the judicial system money will buy in this case.
The Marijuana possesion is at least a 2nd offense. The posession of prescription medication with out a valid prescription are felonies. along with the reclkess\irresponsible driving charges.
Going back to treatment for drug addiction is a positive step but should not justify a walk in the court system. He should be treated as any "regular" citizen.
And driving a Prius at 100mph isn't being environmentaly friendly. As the gas saving benefit is from stop and go driving to recharge the batteries.
Although I imagine stopping from 100mph does a good job at that.....
Dan Highland ... Gore III's driving the Prius 100 mph was indeed environmentally friendly. Most people (like me) probably didn't know it could even go that fast. And that'll boost sales.
His check from Toyota is in the mail as we speak!