2008 Greenpeace Does Customized Reichert Press Release
posted by on December 6 at 15:12 PM
Add it to his ENDA vote, his vote to override Bush, and his speech against media consolidation—U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert is running (scared) left. (Challenger Darcy Burner is kicking some ass on fundraising—$370,000 on hand to Reichert’s $339,000.)
Today Reichert voted with the Democrats (one of only 14 Republicans to do so) on the energy alternatives act. The act sets new fuel standards for cars, 35 mpg by 2020 (which seems pretty easy given that 30 plus mpg was the progressive standard in the 70s!). However, this was the Dems bill, so don’t blame Reichert.
Reichert’s voting record has been conservative (particularly on the war and social issues) … and I’ve documented some of it here.
but I’m definitely noticing a left turn lately.
Anyway, Greenpeace sent out this press release just now exclusively about Reichert, which got my spider senses tingling.
Why would Greenpeace do a customized Reihcert press release? Did he promise them his vote so they’d do a solo Reichert release singing his praises. A Greenpeace release on Reichert cannot hurt in the 8th.
So, I called Greenpeace to ask them if Reichert was playing ball with them for gems like this. (Read the press release below the jump.)
They told me they’d been unhappy with his record in the past and so have been focusing on him this year and, quote: “He’s emerging as a real champion on global warming.”
Oh, Greenpeace. How soon we forget.
Reichert sided with American Wilderness Coalition just 33 percent of the time in 2005; supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters a limp 28 percent of the time in 2005; and got the nod from—bonjour oxymoron— Republicans for Environmental Protection a hardy 75 percent of the time in 2006.
GREENPEACE STATEMENT ON REP. REICHERT’S SUPPORT FOR THE ENERGY BILL
We commend Rep. Reichert for supporting the energy bill today. H.R. 6 will increase incentives for renewable energy, repeal tax breaks for Big Oil, and raise fuel efficiency standards for the first time in three decades. This bill will shift the country out of neutral and put us on the road to saving the climate. The mileage increase of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 is a weak compromise that must be strengthened in the years ahead.
The bill is a good beginning. Unfortunately, it falls short of the policies we need to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. To stop global warming, we need more renewable energy, greater fuel efficiency for cars and trucks, and at least an 80 percent cut in heat-trapping emissions by 2050. Now that the energy bill has been passed, Rep. Reichert should support the strongest comprehensive global warming bill in the House—the Safe Climate Act. By doing so, he will help protect Washington from the worst impacts of global warming.
Not for nothing, but it appears this thing passed with a 235/181 split, so Dave and his 13 fellow Rs really didn't have much of anything to do with passage.
@1,
Yes, that' also the case with his second stem cell vote and his Bush override, but that's a little subtle for voters...and apparently: Greenpeace.
10% is kicking ass?
The thing I like about Darcy Burner is that once elected, you will never see Darcy getting marching orders from Nancy Pelosi telling her to vote right on votes that don't matter to keep her swing district seat. Cause Democrats are different.
Right?
Greenpeace, today's Sierra Club!
He may be drifting left to win votes, but he still caucuses with the Republicans. When you vote for a congressman you are not voting for a free agent; you are voting for an organized system, because only organized systems can move in government. Vote Democrat.
elenchos- it's not that dems don't do it, it's to remember who is really is. greenpeace is not helping greenpeace causes by supporting dave. that's the point. unless dave is actually changing his views...
Greenpeace forever lost my support when they pulled this little stunt back in 1997.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2555298&date=19970817&query=greenpeace%2Baurora%2Bbridge
I spent over two hours stuck in my car on the Aurora Bridge with my infant daughter in a poopy diaper and without formula, because a quick trip turned into hours long ordeal.
I haven't donated a penny to the organization since.
Good work, Josh. Stay on it. Thanks.
@5 - sadly no. The Sierra Club can affect many GOP races a lot more than Greenpeace can.
Plus, it's more trusted.
Don't worry, David, I replaced what you no longer donate - I didn't donate to them in 97 and do so now.
As Juan points out, yet another safe vote he can throw away. These are exactly the kind of votes he was talking about in his now famous "I vote how the party tells me to vote to save my seat" speech last year.
The thing is, if he wants to get re-elected he is going to have to appeal to Republicans, and this kind of voting record could turn off enough people from voting for him to become an issue.
If he's trying to become a Democrat, we've seen how well that works with Democratic supporters when newly minted Democrat Rodney Tom unsuccessfully tried taking on the true progressive that Burner is.
The reason I continue to give money to Greenpeace every month and always will is that they remain independent. I pay attention to Greenpeace's global warming work, and they are working to make sure that every member of Congress has strong global warming platform, not just Republicans or Dems. They thanked Reichert when he voted the right way, and rightly so, because they can't always just be telling politicians to do better without acknowledging their good votes. Groups like the Sierra Club endorse candidates, but Greenpeace does not, and they stick to being independent, and they're are still working to push Reichert to do better. If we're going to win on global warming, we can't just support Dems- global warming can't just be a progressive issue. If we're going to win this one, we've got to reach out to both sides of the aisle.
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