Clark Wins Endorsements From Leading Environmentalists

[KittyWampus]

WILMINGTON, Jan. 21 (OneWorld US) -- Three top environmental thinkers and advocates denounced the Bush administration's environmental record and expressed support for the candidacy of Retired General Wesley K. Clark in Delaware Wednesday morning

"When George W. Bush took office, he became Commander in Chief of the anti-environmentalist forces in America and around the world," said Russell Peterson, former Governor of Delaware and one-time president of the National Audubon Society, at a press conference in Wilmington Wednesday morning. "We are very, very lucky to have someone like Wes Clark to run on the Democratic ticket and lead our country. We need a higher standard of leadership in the White House," Peterson continued.


Peterson was joined by Earth Policy Institute founder and president Lester Brown and former EPA Deputy Administrator W. Michael McCabe in criticizing the environmental record of the Bush administration and endorsing Clark for the presidency. "George Bush is dismantling the bipartisan environmental consensus that goes back to the Nixon administration," said Brown, emphasizing that environmental policy and sound economics go hand-in-hand. "We have the technology to restructure the U.S. economy to make it cleaner and more efficient. Wes Clark understands this. George Bush does not."


Brown criticized the current administration for its reluctance to take advantage of existing technologies that would supply power to vehicles and residences while emitting fewer greenhouse gases, which are believed to be the principal cause of global warming and other destructive climate change around the world. The renowned environmentalist, who has been described by the Washington Post as "one of the world's most influential thinkers," also chastized the current administration for basing environmental policy on its political agenda rather than on sound science.



Clark, who didn't participate in the Iowa caucuses, was the second-most common choice of registered Democratic voters in the most recent national poll conducted by the Gallup polling organization.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/oneworld/20040121/wl_oneworld/4536772981074721047

[KittyWampus]

1. A Bit More

Brown described an encounter with former Bush administration Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill to demonstrate the extent to which politics drive Bush administration environmental policy. Asked whether, since joining the administration, he still supported imposing a tax on companies commensurate with their emissions of carbon dioxide, O'Neill responded, "If I answer that question, I probably won't have a job tomorrow."


A "carbon tax," said Brown, is considered one of the most powerful ways to promote the restructuring of the U.S. economy in favor of cleaner energy sources. Clark's environmental platform includes imposing stricter standards of fuel-efficiency on the automotive industry and offering tax incentives for the purchase of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. Clark would also provide incentives for power plants to limit carbon emissions and aggressively promote the use of renewable energy like solar and wind, setting a target of producing 20 percent of U.S. electricity from renewablesources by the year 2020.


"Protecting the environment is a basic and fundamental responsibility of our national leaders," states the introduction to Clark's environmental strategy paper. "Those who would sacrifice our natural gifts to give well-connected insiders a short-term windfall ignore this responsibility and undermine America's long-term economic strength. As President, I will protect the health of our citizens and conserve the resources our children will inherit," pledged Clark

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Trees?

We don't need no stinking trees.

Want to stop forrest fires? Get rid of the forrest.

G DUHbya

[Loren645]

3. Excellent. Clark's support is so broad, military folks, progressives,

environmentalists. Truly a classic Dem big tent.

[KittyWampus]

6. Brown Is Very Well Known Internationally

and you are right. Clark has a very wide range of endorsements.

[SHRED]

4. Go Clark!

Yeeeah!

[maddogesq]

5. I am ignoring IA and NH because...

an army of former military and progressives is marching off in the distance towards a big showdown in those primaries in February, led by a four star general who is now ready to provide a butt-whoopin' in the southern and midwestern states.

Don't get me wrong: All of our candidates are great. However, you cannot deny the broad appeal of this guy. He is now saying the right things at the right time, and I do not think he will back down after NH.

[kwolf68]

7. HUGE

This is a huge set of endorsements, because it shows Clark can cut across “issue lines.” Many (such as myself) consider it imperative that the Democratic Party be the party of the environment, the ESA, parks, conservation, etc…I DEMAND IT or I will never vote for this party. Considering Bush is so pathetic, cruel, heartless, narrow-minded, greedy concerning the environment it is a smart play for Clark to pickup an “environmental angle” and WE WILL VOTE.

Having Clark speak on the issues and knowing he would be willing to work to make our natural world more vibrant and sustainable while not selling it all off as a commodity makes me VERY HAPPY that if he does win the nomination (I am a Kerry/Edwards guy) I will be 100% behind him in pulling that lever in November.