Tipper Gore - Politics and Activism

Politics and Activism

In 1985, she co-founded the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) with Susan Baker, wife of then United States Secretary of the Treasury James Baker, because Tipper heard her then 11-year-old daughter playing "Darling Nikki" by Prince. According to an article by NPR, Gore went "before Congress to urge warning labels for records marketed to children." Tipper explained that her purpose wasn't to put a "gag" on music but, to keep it safe for younger listeners. A number of individuals including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, John Denver, Joey Ramone and Frank Zappa criticized the group, arguing that it was a form of censorship. In response, NPR further stated that according to Gore, she "wasn't out to censor the objectionable material" and quoted her as stating that she is "a strong believer in the First Amendment" who is calling for greater "consumer information in the marketplace." One of the more controversial suggestions from the group under her tenure was a suggestion that all musical acts should record morality music while incurring all costs, and donating all profits to the Parents Music Resource Center. It was implied that this action would reclassify status letting the move on to other dangerous acts. This furthered the public belief that the group she represented was a profit making enterprise attempting to extort the music industry under a non-profit tax exemption; a controversy Tipper managed to deflect amongst her peers and the media. Still an ongoing issue in September 2012, though no IRS investigation has been initiated. Gore resigned from the group in 1992 when she became Second Lady.

She was actively involved in her husband's presidential campaign in 2000, making numerous campaign stops nationwide such as at Chicago's Taste of Polonia over Labor Day Weekend where she appeared along with Hadassah Lieberman.

In 2002, Tipper was urged by her supporters to run for the vacant U.S. Senate seat her husband once held in Tennessee, which was being vacated by Fred Thompson; however, she declined.