MCCAIN'S ATTEMPTED GLOBAL WARMING PANDER KNOCKS SUNUNU'S LACK OF LEADERSHIP, EXTREMIST ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2008

MCCAIN'S ATTEMPTED GLOBAL WARMING PANDER KNOCKS SUNUNU'S LACK OF LEADERSHIP, EXTREMIST ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD 

Desperate to cover up his right-wing record on the environment, Republican presidential nominee John McCain yesterday pandered to environmentalists and attacked the last eight years of failed leadership, extremist positions and wrong decisions on the environment. But the shoddy record McCain attacked was actually John Sununu's.

"Sununu is accustomed to his New Hampshire constituents criticizing his Bush environmental record, but he probably didn't expect attacks from his own party's presidential nominee," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "McCain is so desperate to shore up his questionable environmental record that he's throwing Sununu overboard."

McCain's election-year pander drew harsh criticism from environmentalists who pointed to his votes to drill in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and his meager 24% career rating on environmental issues from the League of Conservation Voters. [Washington Post, 5/12/08]

Though environmentalists say McCain's record and policies miss the mark, his criticism of the Sununu record was right on.

The Science Behind Global Warming
Sununu's Position: Sununu stands with George Bush, ignoring scientists across the globe whose studies show that human activity is causing global warming. In a 2005 letter to a constituent regarding global warming, Sununu wrote that scientists are unable to agree on a "direct link between the temperature increase and human activity."

McCain's Attack: "We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great." [New York Times, 5/13/08]

 The Need to Confront Global Warming
Sununu's Position: Sununu has voted with Bush to prevent action to confront global warming numerous times:

• Sununu voted against a measure expressing the sense of the Senate that action should be taken to address global warming. [Senate Vote #151, 6/22/05]
• Sununu voted against reducing greenhouse gases 4 times, including the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003.  [Senate Vote #420, 10/30/03; Senate Vote #144, 6/21/05; Senate Vote #148, 6/22/05;Senate Vote #149, 6/22/05]

McCain's Attack: "Instead of idly debating the precise extent of global warming, or the precise timeline of global warming, we need to deal with the central facts of rising temperatures..." [New York Times, 5/13/08]

 The Need for U.S. Leadership
Sununu's Position: Sununu supported President Bush and ignored the international community by rejecting the Kyoto Protocol.

• Sununu Voted Against Urging U.S. to Re-engage in Kyoto Protocol Negotiations.[Senate Vote #151, 6/22/05]

McCain's Attack: "I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears," Mr. McCain said pointedly. "I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges." [New York Times, 5/13/08]