John McCain Claims to Be ‘Mr. Renewable Energy’ in New Ad – Sierra Club Calls BS
Huh? I don’t get it.
That’s what I was left saying to myself after watching the latest logically bereft John McCain ad. This one continues on with the ‘Obama-is-a-celebrity-therefore-he’s-unfit-to-lead’ theme by asking if he is “ready to help your family?” The narrator goes on to say, “The real Obama promises higher taxes, more government spending – so, fewer jobs.”
Wait, what?
The ad then goes on to flash the iconic images of wind turbines and John McCain at some sort of manufacturing plant and the narrator says: “Renewable energy to transform our economy, create jobs and energy independence. That’s John McCain.”
Now you understand why I was dumbfounded, right? Here, watch it for yourself. Please, if you can help me understand it, I invite your comments.
Cathy Duval, the Sierra Club’s political director was quick to pounce on the ad:
“John McCain could’ve been the deciding vote on this issue twice — something that would’ve truly helped America’s workers and moved us toward energy independence — but he was the only Senator who didn’t even bother to show up and vote. And just last week, John McCain’s allies in the Senate blocked extending these energy incentives twice because they were determined to hold Congress hostage in order to push the Bush-McCain-Big Oil energy agenda at all costs.”
The Sierra Club also released a fact-check of the new McCain. Here are the highlights:
John McCain Offers Nothing More Than Empty Rhetoric on Renewable Energy
- John McCain opposes a Renewable Electricity Standard and has consistently voted against such a standard in the past. (Sources: 2005 Senate Vote #141, 6/16/2005; 2002 Senate Vote #50, 3/14/2002; 2002 Senate Vote #55, 3/21/2002; 2002 Senate Vote #59, 3/21/2002)
- John McCain believes the renewable energy industry is “doing fine” and doesn’t need any incentives. While he offered a $300 million gimmick on electric cars, he has voted against $290 million for clean energy. Meanwhile, John McCain favors billions in new and existing subsidies for dirty, dangerous, and distracting nuclear power. (Sources: Grist, 10/1/07; 2006 Senate Vote #42, 3/14/2006)
- If key clean energy incentives that are in danger of expiring soon are not renewed, it could cost more than 116,000 hardworking Americans in the wind and solar industries alone their jobs and sacrifice $19 billion in economic growth. Twice, when every single other Senator voted and measures to renew these critical incentives lost by just a single vote, John McCain didn’t even show up to vote when he could have made the difference. (Sources: Navigant Consulting study, 02/04/2008, http://www.awea.org/newsroom/pdf/Tax_Credit_Impact.pdf; 2007 Senate Vote #425, 2008 Senate Vote #8)
Related Posts:
- Is McCain Serious About Cap and Trade? Economic Adviser Forbes Doesn’t Think So
- New McCain Ad Blames Obama for High Gas Price
I see what he means clearly. I guess you have to be a little educated to understand. Obama IS higher taxes,how do you think he’s going to even start to pay for his Marxist fairytale America. We can barely afford gas right now,hence the drilling in ANWR is sorely needed.We need to break the Mid-Eastern stranglehold on us. The reason they want us out of Iraq so badly is because Iran plans to move in,take over the Strait of Hormuz, & cut off all oil to the west.They plan to take Israel out,& I’m sure if they are still enriching uranium,they will one day soon have a big surprise for the U.S. We never should have invaded Iraq, but now we have to deal with it.And we better take out Irans nuclear sites very soon. I hope it’s done before Bush leaves office.The Republicans have been the only group to hold this country together.The Dumbmocrats have never done anything constructive.They are wusses.Obama is a walking, talking B.S. DREAM!!You have to work. You don’t get nothing for free.Pretty soon we will be living the Gulag life,if we elect more dumbocrats!
Beth-
Thanks for your comments – I think. In you’re wide-ranging rant above, you still don’t address the logical gaps that I put into question. I want someone to elaborate on this allegation made in the ad:
higher taxes = more government spending = fewer jobs
And I also would like someone to explain to me how McCain can claim he supports renewable energy. What has he done, and what is in his current platform to expand renewables that enables his campaign to make that advertisement with a straight face?
Finally, I suggest the next time you kick off your comment by touting education you:
A) Make use of the spacebar.
B) Avoid sentences like: “You don’t get nothing for free.” Because when you think about it, you always get nothing for free. In fact, I think it’s actually pretty standard.
Was that an offshore oil rig shown during the portion touting McCain’s support of renewables? Offshore drilling can be debated… it’s definitely not renewable, though…
Yes it was. Images are so important. I think the offshore rig popped-up when the narrator mentioned something about ‘balanced energy policy.’
Mr. Hurst… this is not and will not be a flame by any means… but you should take an honest and better look at the Arctic drilling. Find comparable drilling projects and look at how long it takes to bring such a project to production levels. Also it is important to look at production quantity and how those resources can be refined for use. You will come out with a turning impression that shows that we need to move away from such thoughts when the end result is negligible.
Michael- thanks for jumping-in on this, even if it’s a little off-topic.
Believe it or not, I’m somewhat agnostic about ANWR drilling. I lean towards opposing it on most days of the week, because I feel like more investment could be made in developing our alternatives including: a stronger public transportation infrastructure, livable cities and neighborhoods, more efficient vehicles (plug-in hybrids, electric) alternative fuels, and even good old conservation.
Sure we are dependent on oil now, and until we develop ways to move away from petroleum, we will continue to be. But why wait? Doesn’t opening up ANWR just prolong that transition?
Gas prices are hurting Americans because the economy has tanked, the dollar has dropped to historical lows, and real wages have have been stagnant for far too long. I plan on expanding on this theme in a post or two here at Red, Green, and Blue as soon as time permits.
Thanks again for your comment.
Yeah–I have the same issue you do. No reasonable explanation for the Obama part (conclusions drawn without providing logical reasons why) and then a “John McCain will be better” ending. It’s frustrating that people buy into this!!!! And anybody can trump with the “green” card…..
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