Where I Stand — Brian Greenspun: Mrs. Gore deserves a Las Vegas welcome

Friday, July 31, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

THE LAST TIME I tried to welcome Tipper Gore to Las Vegas, she was a no-show.

That prompted a column questioning why Americans have a compelling need to make the wife of the vice president of the United States travel coach across this country on scheduled airlines that oftentimes don't make their scheduled rounds.

Mrs. Gore was supposed to come to Las Vegas to meet with a number of education specialists and children, and the sudden cancellation of her flight left her stranded in Phoenix with no way to get from there to here in time. Not only did it make for a long and tiring day for Tipper, but it disappointed a great many Las Vegas children and educators who were looking forward to their once-in-a-lifetime visit.

I suggested that a rich and powerful country such as the United States should be able to afford a private plane to carry Mrs. Gore to her appointed rounds. I did so believing a sudden increase in hate mail would follow from the usual cast of characters. To my surprise and great joy, the ugly words I expected did not come, renewing, if only for a short time, my faith in my fellow Americans.

There is a saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and that is true about Tipper and Las Vegas. For this is my second attempt to welcome her to Las Vegas. She is coming, by the way, aboard a scheduled airline because we still haven't found the money, the inclination or, I suppose, the political will to treat Mrs. Gore with the degree of respect to which the wife of our vice president should be entitled. On second thought, if Mrs. Gore doesn't mind, why should I be concerned?

In any event, welcome to Las Vegas, Tipper Gore.

Like most of what she does, Tipper travels the country with little or no fanfare, helping children get a head start on life, providing elderly people with a higher quality of life in their later years and giving ordinary people the feeling that their tomorrows will be better than their todays.

Hers is a style that Americans understand and with which they are comfortable. And, while she differs somewhat from our first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the two women have something very powerful in common. They have both raised children who are responsible, respectful and reliable. Whether it is the vibrant and always chipper Chelsea Clinton or any one of the Gore group, Americans have been able to associate with these children as they have watched them grow up under the scrutiny of the bright lights of national politics. That they have grown so well and so stable is a tribute -- certainly to their dads -- but, I suspect to a far greater degree, the time, attention and caring of their moms.

So when Tipper Gore comes to cities such as Las Vegas, whether she is speaking to the National Association of Letter Carriers, a group of women struggling to succeed in the workplace or a gathering of students looking for newer and better ways to grow in tomorrow's world, she is viewed as one of us.

Perhaps that is her greatest gift in these odd political times. Americans are comfortable with Tipper Gore and she, in turn, feels right at home with us. So, Mrs. Gore, enjoy your day in the Entertainment Capital of the World. It may be a bit hot, but it is not nearly as uncomfortable as the heat being generated inside the Beltway.

I know one of your great pleasures while you are here is helping our senior senator and your friend, Harry Reid, garner the support he needs to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate, a move that would give Reid and all Nevadans the kind of seniority that would help protect us from the oppressiveness of those in Congress who would dump their problems on us and do what they can to destroy our No. 1 industry.

So, have a nice day in Las Vegas, Mrs. Gore. On behalf of all Nevadans, it is my honor to welcome you to our state.