For McCain, alternative energy means energy independence.
ABC host George Stephanopoulos also sits down with the woman of the hour, Sen Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), who hosted a secret late-night meeting between Obama and Clinton at her Washington home on Thursday.
In McCain’s analysis, establishing a national standard for tradable carbon emission permits will allow the so called “good carbon emitters” to offset the “bad” ones. (In contrast, both Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton have said they would set a goal to reduce overall carbon emissions to 80 percent of 1990 levels by mid-century. He views nuclear energy as the most viable technology to meet the nation’s electricity demands. This Week With George Stephanopoulos Sen Barack Obama supporter Sen John F Kerry (D-Mass.
Time may reveal whether these press events truly signify McCain’s intentions toward renewable energy. McCain argues that establishing a cap on carbon emissions and setting a national goal to reduce overall carbon emissions to 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 is a realistic, and effective way to tackle climate change. For this year’s legislative session, McCain gets a Zero; thus far he’s been absent for any of the environmentally related bills that have come up for a vote.
McCain’s voting record, however, leaves critics dubious about his intentions and commitment toward the environment.
Furthermore, a nationwide cap and trade system would provide the necessary incentives to promote growth of solar, wind, and other renewable energy industries.
For McCain, the cornerstone of his environmental plan mandates a “cap and trade” system. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, of the three current presidential frontrunners, John McCain most vocally favors reinvesting in nuclear power. McCain does not offer specific policy or market tools for solar or wind technologies because he is confident that a cap and trade system would sufficiently bolster those and other similar renewable energy markets.
On Monday, McCain restated his environmental policy at a wind power company in Oregon.
He’s certainly savvy when it comes to renewable energy photo-ops. In his speech he made in Oregon (and posted on his website), McCain views the nexus among energy, the environment, and national security as one of the most important issues facing our nation. They cite that McCain was one of the first in Congress to acknowledge climate change and introduce legislation addressing the issue.
Supporters contend that McCain, as a political maverick, has consistently distinguished himself from conventional Republicans. Nor has McCain outlined a more detailed plan on how his cap and trade system would work or what industries and activities would be targeted. ); Sen John McCain supporter Sen Lindsey Graham (R-S. In February McCain stood in front of a solar photovoltaic manufacturer when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his endorsement for the Senator.
Will she offer any new details on Sunday?
Finally, Stephanopoulos breaks down the week’s politics with The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capeheart, Time magazine’s Jay Carney and ABC’s Claire Shipman and George Will. McCain’s commitment to fight global warming differs from current Administration policy and from many other standard-bearing Republican Party agendas.
Critics point to inconsistencies in McCain’s voting record.
ABC’s This Week features interviews with two high-profile campaign surrogates — Massachusetts Sen John F Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and Sen Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a long-time McCain confidant.
As an article in Monday’s Washington Post points out, McCain has embraced some environmental provisions, yet shunted others not so seemingly different from the ones he supports.
