Al Gore at JJ

I took a day off (gasp) yesterday when Iowa Democratic Party officials announced the big name who will headline their annual fall fundraising banquet.  The news release is pasted below:

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Democratic Party announced today that former Vice President Al Gore will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Jefferson Jackson Dinner.  The dinner will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at HyVee Hall in Des Moines.  This will be Mr. Gore’s first trip back to Iowa since he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and authored “An Inconvenient Truth.”

“We are deeply honored that former Vice President Al Gore, our nation’s leading voice on combating the global climate crisis and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, will be the keynote speaker at our Jefferson Jackson Dinner,” said Scott Brennan, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.  “I join Governor Chet Culver and Senator Tom Harkin in expressing gratitude to former Vice President Gore for accepting the invitation to speak at what will be our biggest event of the year.  We are excited to welcome him back to Iowa.”

Mr. Gore served our country for over two decades in Congress and as Vice President.  In addition, he authored and was the subject of “An Inconvenient Truth,” a bestselling book and Oscar-award winning film.  His life’s passion received the highest recognition last October when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to combat the global climate crisis.

Recently, former Vice President Gore had a prominent speaking role on the night of Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  He spoke eloquently about how Sen. Obama will bring the change we need to combat the global climate crisis, and at the same time, jumpstart our economy and strengthen our national security.