Environmental Positions of Presidential Candidates
If you’re just as excited about the upcoming presidential elections as I am, then it’s probably best to do some background research on some important issues across each candidate. Each candidate whether republican, democrat, or independent has issues that are more focused in certain areas rather than others. When it comes to changing the course of the next four years with a new president, it is the responsibility of U.S. citizens to voice their opinion with votes. The topic that peaks my interest the most is the stance each candidate has about energy and the environment.
Ron Paul 
A republican presidential candidate that currently is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas’s 14th district. Ron Paul stands out as a unique candidate because of his outspoken criticism of the Internal Revenue Service and the federal income tax. Ron Paul’s voting record does not seem to paint the picture of an environmentally friendly candidate and raises the question about whether or not he even feels something should be done at all about climate change. Ron Paul's official website doesn't even have the Environment as an issue listed, leading me to believe that it is not on the top of his agenda. Ron Paul’s scorecard on the League of Conservation Voters in 2006 was 25%. RonPaul2008.com Hillary Clinton
A democratic presidential candidate that is currently holding a seat in the U.S. senate in New York. Her voting record in the senate proves that she really cares about environmental issues regarding energy and global warming. Some people say that the United States isn’t ready for a female president, but I say that she fits the bill quite well. She has a decent shot at winning the democratic primaries, but she’ll have to put up quite a fight. Hillary Clinton “introduced a plan to Congress to create a Strategic Energy Fund that would inject $50 billion into research, development, and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other homegrown biofuels, and more.” She wouldn’t raise taxes to its citizen’s but instead would give oil companies a choice: to invest in renewable energies themselves, or put money into a fund that will invest into renewable energy research (HillaryClinton.com). Her scorecard on the League of Conservation Voters in 2006 was 71%. HillaryClinton.comFred Dalton Thompson
Recently announced that he was joining the race for presidency. Fred Thompson is a former US Senator of Tennessee that held two terms. He is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has connections with the American Enterprise Institute, a very influential right wing and pro business think tank. Fred Thompson is a global warming denier, which doesn’t surprise me at all with his pro business affiliations. The subject of the AEI could be talked about in its own book. However, it may be important to point out that since they are a non-profit organization they thrive off of donations from organizations, corporations, and individuals. The AEI offered $10,000 to scientists that would try and disprove global warming, while it received a $1.6 million donation from ExxonMobil...it makes you wonder (read story here). Fred Thompson also had an acting career in film and television and most notably played New York’s district attorney in NBC’s Law and Order. Fred Thompson scored a 6% with the League of Conservation Voters in 2002 as Senator of Tennessee, as it is obvious that he is anti-environment. Fred Thompson ReportDennis Kucinich
A democratic presidential candidate that currently is a member of the House of Representatives from Ohio’s 10th district. "I am not tied to any corporate interests that would strip our forests or pollute our air or water. Throughout my career, I have worked for structures of law that protect the environment, and the principles that animate my campaign are principles of sustainability (-Dennis Kucinich)." Talk about an environmental hero. Dennis Kucinich wants to invest in a 20% renewable energy portfolio by 2010. If we have the technology to be sustainable then why not invest more money into these markets. Dennis Kucinich as a candidate has a solid environmental voting record that dates back to his days in Ohio city counsel. With his scorecard on the League of Conservation Voters being 100% in 2006, I might have to seriously consider this guy as a strong candidate. kucinich.usJoe Biden
A democratic presidential candidate who is a Senior U.S. Senator from Delaware serving in his sixth term. Joe Biden says this about climate change: "the science is clear, and the physical consequences of global warming are obvious in shrinking polar ice caps, retreating glaciers, stronger storms, and changing rainfall patterns." According to Joe Biden's website, if elected he was elected president he would restore U.S. leadership on climate change, cap greenhouse gas emmissions in the U.S., increase use of renewable energy, and increase fuel economy, etc. The list really goes on and on. I think it's safe to say that this guy means business when it comes to climate change. According to the League of Conservation Voters in 2006, Joe Biden gets a green scorecard of 100%. JoeBiden.comMitt Romney
A current GOP candidate that holds the position as Governor of Massachusetts. Mitt Romney supports a national energy policy to reduce foreign imports on oil, and he supports improving fuel efficiency in cars and in homes. So far I am not sure how he intends to implement those things, but he believes in energy independence as a national defense policy as well. When asked in the debates about the notion that republicans are often times thought of as having close ties to oil companies...his response was that he feels oil companies should re-invest their profits into new infrastructure that includes new refineries. Besides the fact that we do need new refineries, I don't think that he really answered the question. With regards to energy independence, Mitt Romney has the right idea; however, I don’t think that he truly is concerned about the environment. He does seem like a very good potential for the republicans that should not be dismissed. MittRomney.comWilliam B. Richardson
This democratic presidential candidate has a long list of political background in his portfolio. Currently he sits as the Governor of New Mexico. His political experience makes for a great candidate and includes, US congressman from 1983-1997, a US Ambassador to the United Nations from 1997-1998, and served as the US Secretary of Energy 1998-2001 before becoming Governor of New Mexico. From an environmental standpoint this guy has a proven ‘green’ track record: restored the Clean Water Act, revived the Clean Air Act, expanded disclosure of toxic pollution, preserved and protected National Parks, and he supported and protected the Endangered Species Act. Not only does he have a proven environmental record, but also a great strategic plan for energy. He has turned New Mexico into a clean energy state, and has the will to change the country to a clean energy nation. RichardForPresident.comMike Huckabee
Is a republican presidential candidate that served as the 54th Governor of Arkansas. The former Governor is a southern Baptist, and says this in regards to global warming: "Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it's all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it." For a republican, Mike Huckabee is quite green. However, this former Governor is going to have to convince me further of his environmental passion. MikeHuckabee.comBarack Obama
Is a current frontrunner as a democratic presidential candidate. He currently serves as the US Senator of Illinois. His previous experience is in the Illinois state senate. Barack Obama believes that we should take steps to limit the effects global warming. He wants to increase fuel efficiency standards and lower the carbon in our fuels. He would encourage auto manufacturers to create more advanced vehicles and he would require that 20% of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2020. These issues come together as an intuitive and comprehensive action plan with regards to the environment. The League of Conservation Voters rates Barack Obama with a 100% for 2006. BarackObama.comJohn McCain
Is a republican presidential candidate that currently holds a position as Senator of Arizona. In general, Senator McCain is a pro-business kind of guy. He usually doesn’t care about the environment if it means businesses will lose money. However, he does have a mixed voting record that includes pro-environment bills. For example, he voted yes for including oil and gas smokestacks to be included in the mercury regulations put out by the EPA to cap mercury emissions. If I was a republican that cared about the environment, I think that I might vote for someone else who had a more positive solid stance for the environment. The League of Conservation Voters rated Senator John McCain at 29% for 2006. ExploreMcCain.comJohn Edwards
Former Senator of North Carolina and former candidate for Vice President in 2004, John Edwards shoots for the presidential seat in 2008. This democratic leader is an outstanding role model for pressing environmental issues. John Edwards has a website entitled ReduceYourCarbon.com which is a website dedicated to encouraging Americans to pledge to reduce their carbon footprint. This proves that the climate change issue is one that is on the forefront of many people's minds. John Edwards plan for climate change includes capping greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2010 with a cap-and-trade system, and reducing it by 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. He would try to to implement a true global pollution reduction plan that would include developing nations unlike the Kyoto Protocol. John Edwards seems to have his action plans ready to battle climate change and is seemingly pro-environment. JohnEdwards.comRudy Guiliani
Is the guy that was the mayor of New York City when 9/11 happened. Does this GOP candidate have a shot at presidency? When asked about whether he believed in global warming, he accepts what most scientists are saying about it. He believes we should be developing alternative energy methods in the US. He calls it a national security threat for Americans to be buying oil from our enemies. Guiliani does not believe in signing the Kyoto Protocol however, because he feels that it would just offshore the carbon to China and India where they are considered developing nations not bound by Kyoto. JoinRudy2008.com
Technorati Tags: Presidential Election, Environment, Energy
2 COMMENTS, ADD YOURS HERE:
Ron Paul definitely cares about the environment, but he doesn't sugar coat it with politician type blatherings. He goes right to the source and tells people we must protect PROPERTY RIGHTS. This means that if we keep PROPERTY RIGHTS protected, no person or entity is allowed to pollute YOUR air, land or water. He talks about PROPERTY RIGHTS in many interviews and this is a HUGE issue when dealing with what has to addressed on the environmental front, but no other politician explains it better or even cares about it other than Ron Paul, the protector of ALL of our Liberties and Freedoms.
A solid liberal??? ME thinks his 'property rights' is a very shallow one and would keep wetlands being turned into condo developemnts and help companies like BP keep their propoerty celar form reivew. If the guy had an enviroinmental plan he would have it available.
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