McCain Fails Own Test

(10 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Last Thursday, both Barack Obama and campaign-suspended John McCain spoke at a session of the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.  Some have already called John McCain’s comments “the height of hypocrisy.”  Reading McCain’s speech and considering John McCain’s spinning out of control flip-flopping on energy and global warming issues over the past year, it is hard to disagree with this evaluation.

John McCain’s words merit examination against his action. Not for the first time, but perhaps with the strongest words, McCain spoke out forcefully re Global Warming

We now know that fossil fuel emissions, by retaining heat within the atmosphere, threaten disastrous changes in climate. No challenge of energy is to be taken lightly, and least of all the need to avoid the consequences of global warming.

“Disastrous changes in climate” threaten us (and the U.S.), changes driven by “fossil fuel emissions”.  

With this in mind, how can anyone consider these words with a straight face in light of McCain’s selection of Sarah (Global Warming denier) Palin for the Vice-Presidential slot and the embrace of “drill, baby, drill” as a (if not the) core element of the Republican Presidential campaign?

Truly, in these spaces, I strive to remain civil.

Truly.

With great restraint, hypocrite is the politest word that I can conjur for John McCain this morning.

In this speech, John McCain offered up words that merit attention.

Global warming presents a test of foresight, of political courage, and of the unselfish concern that one generation owes to the next.

Sadly, these words clearly are simply that, words, and have no substantive meaning for him.

“Unselfish concern” means latching on to the drillusion offered by Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less (in about 20 years)?

Again, many of the words within this speech have real meaning. Evidently, just not for John McCain and the Republican Party.  Many of these words have real merit. However, coming from John McCain’s mouth, they simply don’t have meaning and do not merit believing.

Even without the current financial crisis, it is hard to see that the media or the electorate would focus closely on global warming issues. The record is not a pretty one with a near total absence of questioning on Global Warming. And, when it comes to energy questions, price of gasoline will trump any discussion of the relationship of fossil-fuel use with Global Warming.

The news when it comes to energy remains ugly. Note that the $700 billion bailout is eerily similiar to the amount we send overseas each year for imported oil.  

The news when it comes to Global Warming is ugly, with melting ice, storms, bubbling methane in melting permafrost, and CO2 concentrations growing faster than predicted.

Amid this, John “Truthiness” McCain says things about renewable energy and global warming that simply do not comport with his actions and associations.  

Do not be confused, John McCain’s “green” credentials have nothing to do with sane energy policy and helping find solutions to global warming challenges.  Do not let anyone else be confused. At best, Halfway McCain sees the problem, but doesn’t offer any real solutions.  And, we are past the time where we can afford not to be solving problems.

It is time for Real Solutions for Real Problems!

And the problems are real … and serious.

350.org … because the world needs to know

NOTE: Brand New: DeSmogBlog guide to US and Canadian elections and global warming.