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Neil: Apologize to Barack and the Nation

May 7th, 2009 · No Comments

Neil Abercrombie (D-HI-01), Hawaii Co-Chairman for Barack Obama, has taken a prominent position undercutting one of President Obama’s core agenda items and undercutting the potential for achieving sensible energy policies in the United States.

In 2008, amid the Republican calls for “Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! (About a penny less per gallon 23 years from now!), Congressman Abercrombie took a leadership role in introducing an ‘all of the above’ form of legislation, with a major opening of offshore oil exploration, undercutting efforts to develop sensible energy concepts and approaches in 2008, amid the Presidential election cycle.

This Tuesday, Neil returned to the table in a leadership role for a bipartisan proposal that is designed to undercut the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act. Abercrombie’s American Independence and Clean Energy Act of 2009 is a reprise of the mistaken agenda from 2008, with a heavy emphasis on drilling off the coasts, emphasizing fossil-foolish elements above the

Abercrombie called Cap & Trade “stalled”, seeking to undermine the clean energy, energy efficiency, and climate change combination of the Waxman-Markey ACES. When it comes to an item that President-elect called a top priority, Abercrombie commented that cap-and-trade is “virtually unexplainable, and when it does get explained, nobody wants to do it. Can you explain it? Can you explain it to your mom?”

What absurdity. Totally, unambiguously absurd and insulting. First of all, I “explain[ed] it to [my] mom”, who understood it without a problem.

What an explanation? How about taking one minute out of your life?

Okay, Neil, if that didn’t do it for you there is a 10 minute version after the fold and lots of other short pieces here.

Wow, Neil, there is a Mayor who had it explained to him who, clearly, supports a CAP. “Nobody wants to do it”, Neil?

Abercrombie and his erstwhile climate action delayer allies seem to ignore the tremendous benefits that moving forward with Climate legislation might well bring to the American economy.

Perhaps even more importantly, like those anti-science syndrome sufferers screaming against any action to deal with Global Warming, Abercrombie’s (and his allies’) efforts seem totally oblivious to a key factor: the cost of inaction, ignoring the very serious implications of putting off to the future taking climate change seriously.

Abercrombie, evidently, has tired of the long flights to the mainland and has his sights on the Governorship come 2010. Hawaii, under a Republican Governor, has the most serious renewable energy targets in the nation: 20 percent by 2020, 70 percent by 2030. Solar panels on all new homes come 2010. Hmmm … based on the oil-exploration friendly legislation that Neil keeps bringing to the table, it is hard to see how switching from a R to a D Neil in the Hawaii Governor’s mansion would be an improvement on creating a path for a prosperous and climate-friendly Hawaii.

In any event, it is hard to understand why “the only Congressman to meet Barack Obama as a child” and co-chair of his Hawaii campaign would be so interested in pushing legislation that undercuts the potential for achieving legislation in line with President-Elect and President Obama’s emphasis on clean energy and on tackling climate change.

Listen to President-Elect Obama’s list of Governors who took leadership positions on climate change. And, at the 1 minute 20 second mark, President-Elect Obama states “That will start with a Federal Cap and Trade system.” Got that, Neil, you are taking a position directly in opposition to President Obama. Considering Neil’s approach to energy legislation, it is hard to imagine that he would make the list of Governors leading on climate action if elected in 2010.

Neil:

Take the right step.

Take your name off this legislation.

And, send a note of apology to President Barack Obama, stating your support for his clean energy jobs agenda.

Let the citizens of Hawaii know that you will lead, rather than retard, progress toward a prosperous, climate-friendly future.

Now, perhaps Neil can take 10 minutes for an explanation.

From: Adam Ruben, MoveOn.org Political Action
Date: Thu, May 7, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Subject: Abercrombie vs. Obama

Dear MoveOn member,

What is Neil Abercrombie thinking? Representative Abercrombie was the chair of President Obama’s campaign in Hawaii, so why is he giving a big “thumbs down” to Obama’s clean energy jobs plan? (“Energy Reform Limps Ahead,” Roll Call, May 6, 2009)

Obama’s plan will put millions of Americans back to work while saving consumers money and making us energy independent.

Instead of supporting Obama, Rep. Abercrombie has introduced legislation that would deepen our addiction to oil by opening protected coasts to offshore oil and gas drilling. (“American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act,” Library of Congress, May 4, 2009)

Can you take a moment to call Rep. Abercrombie today and ask him to support President Obama’s clean energy jobs plan? Here’s where to call:

Representative Neil Abercrombie
Honolulu District Office: 808-541-2570

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

The problem is, Rep. Abercrombie’s not just quietly leaning against clean energy jobs. He’s actively promoting a giveaway to oil companies—and trash-talking the clean energy jobs bill.

Here’s what he had to say about President Obama’s clean energy plan: “It’s virtually unexplainable, and when it does get explained, nobody wants to do it. Can you explain it? Can you explain it to your mom?” (“Energy Reform Limps Ahead,” Roll Call, May 6, 2009)

Well, it’s pretty simple. America’s economy needs a shot in the arm. Clean energy creates four times more jobs than oil. (“Green Recovery: A Program to Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy,” Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, September 2008)

And in fact, Hawaii’s already leading the way. Most of the key provisions in President Obama’s Clean Energy Jobs plan have already been put in place at the state level, including legislation to require 20% of the state’s electricity come from clean, renewable sources by 2020. Legislation to strengthen Hawaii’s clean energy goals even more is moving through the legislature right now.

Rep. Abercrombie needs to know that it’s not OK for him to actively campaign against clean energy jobs for Hawaii. We need him to stand with President Obama and other Hawaiians.

Please call Rep. Abercrombie today and ask him to support President Obama’s clean energy jobs plan.

Representative Neil Abercrombie
Honolulu District Office: 808-541-2570

Then click the link and tell us how it goes:

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam, Noah, Anna, Ilyse, Peter and the rest of the team

Tags: Energy · politics