The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

The Seacoast Media Group hosted John McCain for a forum on climate change and energy security.  McCain spoke about how hearing about climate change from NH citizens in 2000 caused him to study and embrace the issue.  He proudly stated that he would match his environmental record with anybody.

There were no major policy changes to McCain’s climate policies but he was able to clarify his stances on cap and trade, drilling in ANWR, and nuclear power.

Watch video from the forum:

McCain explains how a cap and trade uses market forces to succeed.

McCain answers a question from an Air Force vet about how our military will be forced to quell resource wars caused by global warming.

McCain explains his position on domestic drilling.

Giuliani, Romney, and Thompson have not yet held or attended forums focused on addressing climate change.  Both McCain and Huckabee attended a NH global warming conference in October.

John McCain and Curt Schilling hosted a “Politics and Sports” town hall meeting in Manchester last night.  The questions varied between the two topics, including one that directly addressed both a man’s favorite sport and his biggest political concern: global warming.

A hunter in an orange hat stood up and told McCain that he would offer McCain his vote if he would sign onto the Warner-Lieberman bill.  McCain explained that the bill is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without imposing burden on taxpayers and that the only problem he has with the legislation is that he feels nuclear power needs to be a big part of the solution.

Later in the program, McCain asked to hear from a snowman in the back of the room who was holding a ”Make Global Warming a Priority” sign.  To the audience’s surprise, the snowman directed his question to Curt Schilling.  The snowman explained that global warming is not only a scientific and political problem, but a leadership problem and asked Curt how he could offer leadership to Americans who use twice as much energy as the average European.

The Union Leader picked up on Schilling’s response, quoting “The next time I hear a politician talk about global warming and then hop in a Hummer and drive away, I’m going to throw up.”

Audio for the Hunter’s Q&A

Audio for the Snowman’s Q&A

Oprah Winfrey is coming to Manchester for a rally with Barack Obama this Sunday at the Verizon Center.  MSNBC reported that there is already a waiting list to get into the arena, which holds more than 10,000 people.  It seems that Oprah is already drawing a large crowd and a lot of national media attention.
 
The Carbon Coalition, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and others are coming together for a climate change rally outside of the arena to remind candidates and voters everywhere that NH wants action on global warming!  
 
Want to help? E-mail Emily or meet at the Climate Action Center (931 Elm Street) this Sunday at 5:00pm. 

In the meantime, check out Oprah’s Global Warming 101 on her website.

MTV and MySpace hosted a Presidential Dialogue with Sen. John McCain last night at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.  The very first question, asked by a SNHU student, was about global warming. 

McCain gladly took the opportunity to talk about his climate change plan, touting alternative energies and conservation.

Later on in the program, Chris Cilizza of the Washington Post introduced the winning MySpace video question which had been voted on the days leading up to the event.  The winning question was, once again, about global warming.

McCain then offered further detail about his climate change plan including support for cap and trade legislation and an increase of nuclear power.

Watch the clip from MTV