As Republican presidential candidates travel from state to state debating the issues, the subject of the environment is rarely brought up. In the second of a series of reports on the candidates’ positions on the environment the Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham examines the record of Arizona Senator John McCain
Transcript
As republican presidential candidates travel from state to state debating
The issues, the subject of the environment is rarely brought up. In the
second of a series of reports on the candidates’ positions on the
Environment. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham examines
The record of Arizona senator John McCain:
In a primary election, the candidates tend to avoid talking about positions
that might alienate the party’s most ideological voters. For the
Republicans that’s meant saying very little about environmental issues.
To talk green rankles the right wing of the party. Despite that, one
Republican has ventured into that green area. Even when he’s not directly
asked by reporters… Senator John McCain volunteers his feelings about
the environment at news conferences.
“The environment is critical to the future of this country. And ranging from the white
Mountains to the Grand Canyon to other great national treasures throughout this country,
they’re under
great stress and great strain and they’re at risk.”
At that New Hampshire press briefing, McCain went on to say the National
Park system is under-funded by six-billion dollars. He’s proposing issuing
bonds backed by park user fees.
Allan Lichtman is a history professor at American University and author
of the book, Keys to the White House. He says McCain’s rhetoric on the
environment sets him apart from the other republicans.
“He has politically, however, at least been the only republican who’s tried to at least
make
environment at least a rhetorical issue. He said at one point -I think I’ve got the quote
right here- ‘I
believe the environment may be the sleeper issue of the campaign. There’s great concern
throughout this
country and there’s great dissatisfaction that Congress and the President aren’t doing
enough.’ That’s a
rather remarkable statement for a republican. You certainly would not have Steve Forbes or
George W.
Bush saying that Congress and the President ought to do more for the environment.”
Lichtman says McCain’s environmental position has gotten lost as he and
the other republicans have stressed other issues. In senator McCain’s home state,
environmentalists tend to hedge their
comments about the candidate’s environmental record. Rob Smith is the
Sierra Club’s southwest staff director.
“As far as John McCain’s environmental record in Arizona, there’s certainly a number of
very
important things to point at. A primary one is his defense of the Grand Canyon. He’s also
supported two
different wilderness bills for the state. So, there’s an environmental record in Arizona.
That has not
translated into very much environmental leadership at the national level and that’s been
disappointing.”
Smith says McCain’s voting record in the U.S. Senate is a mixed bag. He’s
stepped back from a bill to protect a wildlife refuge from oil and gas
drilling, but he’s supported stricter emissions standards for automobiles.
McCain’s position on global warming is example of how McCain’s ideas can
cut both ways. The senator supports reducing emissions that are believed
to contribute to global warming. He also supports more research.
“We need to put the best scientific minds in America and the world on this issue. And we
have to make the American people understand that there is the possibility that there is a
problem with
global warming and some would view even a probability. As President, I would say ‘Ok,
let’s do
whatever’s necessary to get these minds together and these studies conducted so that we
can have some
ideas.’”
However, McCain has reservations about committing to the Kyoto Climate
Change treaty because of the economic costs. Despite his mixed record, a group of GOP
environmentalists called “Republicans for Environmental Protection” has endorsed John McCain.
Martha Marks is the organization’s president.
“Republicans for Environmental Protection is recommending Senator McCain to primary voters
who want to vote for the republican with the strongest record on environmental issues. And
I really think
that says it all. We’re not saying he is perfect Mr. Conservationist, because he’s not.
but, in this field of candidates, he’s the most responsive on our issues and we believe he
has the best track
record.”
The Republicans for Environmental Protection feels McCain is the only
republican who would be able to defend his record on the environment in
the general election.
Professor Allan Lichtman says, politically, McCain’s mixed record might
have wider appeal among voters.
“He has does have some motivation, unlike other republicans, to try to make this an issue
in order to expand his appeal to independents who are very much concerned about the
environment and
again to position himself as a very different kind of republican.”
And, if the early primaries are any gauge, Voters might be looking for a
different kind of republican.
For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Lester Graham.