Senate Democrats and the Environmental Agenda

Despite midterm election losses in the Senate, the Democrats managed to hang on to a narrow majority. But what does that mean for energy and climate issues?

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has won re-election and will remain Chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Boxer will continue to work for clean energy and the environment.

Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev) will retain his position as Majority Leader. Senator Reid has been the President’s lead advocate on advancing renewable energy and regulating the fossil fuel industry.

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) will remain the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Senator Bingaman is a lead proponent of a renewable electricity mandate. Bingaman is also an advocate of more responsible rules for offshore oil and gas production.

Besides control of these committees, the Democratic Senate majority could stop the Republican controlled House from getting environmentally destructive legislation onto the President's desk. But we should remember that Democratic Senators have little respect for party discipline and some have demonstrated a propensity to break ranks when they feel it serves their political interests.

Democratic Senators who have betrayed the party, the President and the environment, include Sens. Ben Nelson, (D-Neb.), Jim Webb, (D-Va.). Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.).

With the Democrats holding 23 of the 33 Senate seats being contested in 2012 (including two independents who caucus with the Democrats), Senators will have to choose between pandering to public confusion or taking on the tough issues. It remains to be seen whether Democrats will try to lead America to a cleaner more secure future or follow the polls and cower in fear.


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Democrats Learning the Wrong Lesson from Republicans

Although Republicans are the undisputed masters of the smear campaign, some Democrats are no better. In the 2010 midterm elections, Democrats followed the polls and fell silent on the issue of climate change. In the process, Democrats abandoned their President and their parties agenda.

To gain political favor Democrats used tactics more commonly associated with Republicans. Democratic candidates for the House resorted to attack ads devoid of an issue oriented message. They dug up Republican candidates’ personal financial records and Democratic candidate Ron Klein put his Republican opponent’s Social Security number in a TV ad.

Democratic candidate Frank Caprio told Obama to “Shove it!” on a radio show, referring to the President's endorsement. Caprio subsequently failed in his bid for governor of Rhode Island, but this tactic is reminiscent of South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson shouting, "You lie!" during President Obama's speech to Congress.

Democrats should not look to the Republicans for anything, the right is the wrong direction for America. Rather than engaging the misinformation that passes as fact, Democrats are looking for a strategy to win re-election thereby putting self interest ahead of the national interest.

Democrats need to do a much better job addressing the issues and communicating a party platform that explains the need for action on energy and climate change. Above all Democrats need to stop following Republicans and show America they know the meaning of leadership.


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House Democrats Punished Despite Populist Pandering

Many Democrats are guilty of pandering to populism. Rather than sticking to the facts and communicating the truth, Democratic candidates are avoiding contentious issues to save their political skins.

Although it is clear that Republicans are global warming deniers, the Democrats must also shoulder blame for the failure of Congress to secure climate and energy legislation in President Obama's first term.

Taking their cues from polls, Democrats ignored the environment during the 2010 midterms. They failed to communicate the urgency of climate change and the importance of being a competitive player in the burgeoning green economy. This kind of political cowardice undermines efforts to engage the struggle against climate change and puts American global comptitiveness at risk.

In 2009, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey energy and climate bill. With increasingly numbers of Americans succumbing to misinformation, Democrats who resisted the bill could be mistaken for a shrewd strategists intent on self preservation.

However, many House Democrats who voted against the bill, lost their bids for re-election. Two dozen House Democrats who voted for the energy and climate bill were voted out of office in the 2010 midterms, along with 19 who opposed the bill.

With the electorate so woefully confused on climate change, America needs leaders that will aggresively engage misfinformation. By following public opinion on climate change rather than leading the discussion, Democrats are reifying the Republican's lies.


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