Al Gore Screwed Apple, Made Buckets of Cash?

Al Gore is being accused of using his power as an Apple board member to further his own financial investments.

The National Center for Public Policy Research (which refers to itself as a “conservative, free-market, non-profit think-tank”) is leading the charge, claiming that Al Gore violated Apple's

Business Conduct Policy. It all stems from Apple's decision to end its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2009. The National Center for Public Policy Research wants to know if Gore influenced Apple on that decision. If he didn't, that will probably be the end of the story. But if he did, one question will remain: why? The National Center for Public Policy Research believes that Apple – through Gore's influence – may have ended its membership “as part of an effort to pressure the trade group to stop opposing greenhouse gas regulations.” “Since Apple's business in computers and electronic devices does not make it a major emitter of greenhouse gases, global warming regulations are not a core business issue for the company,” Tom Borelli, Ph.D., director of the National Center's Free Enterprise Project, said in a company release. “This fact raises questions why the company would weigh in on a policy issue matter such as greenhouse gas regulations. Because Apple's decision could have benefited Gore and not the company, we filed this shareholder proposal and urge shareholders to vote for our proposal.” Gore, of course, is both a supporter of and an

. The assumption here (by the National Center for Public Policy Research, at least) is that if Gore could use Apple to influence a green agenda, he could reap the financial benefits.