Regular readers of this site won’t be surprised to learn that Mitt Romney is a major flip-flopper on climate and environmental issues. Four years ago, his then-rival, John McCain, put together a playbook that that laid out just how much of a panderer par excelance (that’s French for “totally, dude”) Romney was. McCain has endorsed him this round, but someone leaked the playbook.
For background,
- see our story from June, Mitt Romney acknowledges climate change is real
- and our story from August, Does Mitt Romney believe in climate change? Not any more…
- And our story from October, Romney has a problem – he USED TO care about the environment
The tragedy of this election is – the environmental positions Romney took to win election as governor of liberal Massachusetts are actually pretty good. But to win the Republican nomination he’s running to the far right of any Republican elected prior to 2000. In trying to nail down the Neanderthal vote, he’s looking to make life pretty miserable for us Homo Sapiens who plan to live on planet Earth for the next few centuries.
Here, with some edits, is the McCain playbook’s complete section on ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT. And its portrayal of Romney’s record is not pretty.
In 2003, Romney Said “I Think The Global Warming Debate Is Now Pretty Much Over”
Romney: “I think the global warming debate is now pretty much over and people recognize the need associatedwith providing sources which do not generate the heat that is currently provided by fossil fuels …”
2003: Romney “Acknowledged That Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Harming The Environment And Agreed To Help Design A Regional Emissions Cap” With Surrounding States.
“In another nod to environmentalists, Gov. Mitt Romney has joined with New York Gov. George Pataki in a plan to limit greenhousegases from Northeast power plants. In a July 21 letter to Mr. Pataki, Mr. Romney acknowledged that carbondioxide emissions are harming the environment and agreed to help design a regional emissions cap for powergenerating plants.”
Romney, In July 2003 Letter To Then-Gov. George Pataki (R-NY): “Now Is The Time To Take ActionToward Climate Protection.”
“I concur that climate change is beginning to affect our natural resources and thatnow is the time to take action toward climate protection. … I share your interest in ensuring that the economic andsecurity contributions made by our electricity generating system are not negated by the impact of emissions fromthat system on the health of our citizens. … Our joint work to create a flexible market-based regional cap andtrade system could serve as an effective approach to meeting these goals.”
The Economist Named Romney “Climate-Friendly” Republican Along With New York Governor GeorgePataki And Sen. McCain.
“Other ‘climate-friendly’ Republicans include Governor George Pataki of New York,Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Senator John McCain.” (“Schwarzenegger v Bush?” The Economist , 10/2/04)
December 2005: Romney “Abruptly” Pulled Out Of Compact Talks Hours Before Deadline For Agreement.
“Officials in New York, New Jersey and several other Northeastern states scrambled yesterday to hold togetherwhat was left of a landmark regional pact to control power plant emissions after the governors of Massachusettsand Rhode Island abruptly refused to sign on. … Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a Republican who isexpected to run for his party’s presidential nomination in 2008, pulled his state out of the agreement yesterday,hours before the deadline for reaching an agreement, and just before announcing that he would not run for asecond term next year.”
Romney Pulled Massachusetts Out Of The Pact On December 14 – The Same Day He Announced He Would Not Seek Reelection As Governor.
“Massachusetts yesterday pulled out of a landmark multistate pact toreduce carbon dioxide emissions from Northeast power plants, Governor Mitt Romney confirmed last night. … Anannouncement of the pact was scheduled for today in New York, but it has been put on hold as the sevenremaining states discuss changes because of the loss of the two states.”
Other States Were Willing To Compromise “But Not To Go As Far As Massachusetts Wanted.”
“The other states were willing to compromise, the government officials said, but not to go as far as Massachusetts wanted because they thought it would have undermined the pact’s effectiveness.”
Romney Rejected Plan “Over The Advice Of His Advisers” After Requesting Deadline Extension, Raising Questions About His Intentions Among Other States.
“Earlier this month Mr. Romney asked for negotiationsto be prolonged past a Dec. 1 deadline. Massachusetts and the other states negotiated intensely and thoughtthey had reached an agreement on a proposal to limit the cost of pollution allowances, thereby protectingcustomers. … But Mr. Romney rejected the plan on Wednesday, over the advice of his advisers, promptingofficials in other states to wonder whether he had ever intended to accept them at all.”
At Press Conference Announcing New State Policy To Combat Global Warming, Romney Stated He Wasn’t Sure If Global Warming Was Happening.
“As he introduced a new state policy to combat globalwarming, Governor Mitt Romney had a surprise for the environmentalists gathered along the Charles RiverEsplanade yesterday: Personally, he’s not sure global warming is happening. During a news conference at whichhe formally announced the Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan, Romney said he decided not to take sides inthe debate about ‘is there global warming or is there not, and what’s causing it.’ His hedging on the issuesurprised some activists …”
Though State Plan Pointed To “Consensus Of Climate Change Scientists” Agreeing That Global Warming Was Happening, Romney Claimed To Be Unconvinced, Wrote Letter Asking “If Climate Change Is Happening.”
“Though the new state plan points to a ‘consensus of climate change scientists’ who agree that an increase in greenhouse gases is causing global temperatures to rise, Romney attached a letter to the plan’s finalversion suggesting he remains unconvinced on the issue at the heart of the proposal. ‘If climate change ishappening, the actions we take will help,’ Romney wrote. ‘If climate change is largely caused by human action,this will really help. If we learn decades from now that climate change isn’t happening, these actions will still helpour economy, our quality of life, and the quality of our environment.’”
Some Observers Saw Politics Playing Role In Romney Stance.
“Some observers see the governor walking asubtle but savvy line between the moderate Massachusetts constituents he is courting and the conservative wingof the national Republican Party, which argues that greenhouse gases do not play a significant enough role inclimate change to warrant mandatory reductions.”
Romney Initially Called Northeast Regional Compact To Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions “Good Business,” Then Retracted His Support Only Weeks Later.
“A group of Northeast states has postponed the announcement of a landmark agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants after Governor Mitt Romney raised objections to the pact late last week, two government sources familiar with the agreement saidyesterday. … News of the delay comes two weeks after Romney indicated his overall support for the initiative at aconference in Boston, calling it ‘good business’ because it would prompt Massachusetts companies to developstate-of-the-art clean-energy technology.”
Romney Changed Positions On Regional Agreement Within Span Of One Day.
“At a clean-energyconference in Boston on Nov. 7, Romney sounded exuberant about the Northeast state agreement, saying in hisspeech that it was ‘a great thing for the Commonwealth.’ ‘We can effectively create incentives to help stimulate asector of the economy and at the same time not kill jobs,’ he said. Later that day, however, Romney outlined toreporters several fears he had about the proposed agreement.” (Beth Daley and Scott Helman, “Romney Doubts Seen Delaying Emissions Pact,” The Boston Globe , 11/22/05)
In February 2007, Romney Said “Scientists Haven’t Entirely Resolved” Global Warming Question ButThere’s “No Question About One Thing, It’s Getting Warmer.”
“I have to tell you with regards to globalwarming that that’s something, which, you’re right, the scientists haven’t entirely resolved, but no question aboutone thing, it’s getting warmer, and a lot of good reasons for us to use less energy, to use it more efficiently and todevelop sources here in this country that could allow us to be more independent of foreign sources.”
Romney “Never Really Contested The Underlying Science” Behind Global Warming Theory.
“The debate about the existence of global warming is over. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who will probably announce next week that he’s officially a candidate for president in 2008, single-handedly erased any lingering doubts I may have had during his interview yesterday … Romney gave some vague answers regarding his views on dealing with climate change, other than to emphasize that he wanted market-oriented solutions. But Romney, a guy who is trying to portray himself as a follower of Reaganomics, never really contested the underlying science.”
Romney Statement “On The Current Environmental Debate”:
Romney: “[B]ig Oil Is Making A Lot Of Money Right Now. And I’d Like To See Them Using That Money ToInvest In Refineries.”
One Of Romney’s Top Campaign Promises: “Reworking The Vehicle Excise Tax” To “Encourage ThePurchase Of Fuel-Efficient Cars.”
Romney Campaign Acknowledged Plan Could “Require Owners Of New SUVs And Other Gas-Guzzlers ToPay A Higher Automobile Excise Tax.”
To Increase Fuel Efficiency, Romney Administration Directed State Agencies To Only Use SUVs And 4x4s When “Absolutely Necessary” And “Required” State To Purchase Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles.
In 2005, Romney “Issued His Own Call For Conservation” Saying “We’re Going To Have To Rethink HowWe Use Energy In Our Society.”
Romney:
(Image of Mitt the Flipper by DonkeyHotey, under Creative Commons license)
About Jeremy Bloom
