Kerry blaming Bush for Kerry's own bill

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Thursday, December 11, 2003 | Diana Lynne

[JohnHuang2]

ELECTION 2004
Kerry blaming Bush
for Kerry's own bill
Blasts president over carcinogenic fuel additive he helped promote

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Posted: December 10, 2003
10:56 a.m. Eastern

By Diana Lynne
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

In a classic case of the political pot calling the kettle black, Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry blasted the Bush administration over failing to be accountable for the disastrous fallout of the use of a fuel additive deemed carcinogenic, without mentioning he was behind legislation that mandated its widespread use.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during televised debate of Democratic presidential candidates this week. (Courtesy: WMUR-TV)

Trailing in the polls and eager to make friends in New Hampshire before that state's primary next month, Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., during Tuesday's Democratic debate referenced the plight of a Salem, N.H., couple, the Denuccios, who can't drink their water or shower because they live next to a lake contaminated with the additive Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, or MTBE.

"Kids can't make the lemonade now. They don't take showers with the water. They have to buy bottled water. MTBE is the culprit," Kerry described. "This administration is trying to prevent accountability for MTBE – $50 billion worth of add-ons in oil and gas subsidies in the energy bill; $139 billion of return-on-investment for $139 million of lobbying money in Washington."

Lisa Denuccio appeared with Kerry at a news conference last month during which Kerry pledged to ban MTBE if elected president. (Incidentally, in a post-debate telephone interview, Denuccio told the Associated Press the couple now showers with the water from their town rather than the old polluted well. They still drink bottled water, however.)

According to Kerry, one-sixth of the water bodies in the Granite State are polluted by MTBE or other pollution.

But what Kerry failed to mention is that he co-sponsored legislation that led to the widespread use of MTBE by oil and gas companies as a relatively inexpensive way to reduce air pollution.

Passed by Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the Clean Air Restoration and Standards Attainment Act of 1989 amended the Clean Air Act by setting oxygenated-fuel standards. Oxygen makes gas burn more thoroughly, which in turn reduces air pollution.

The law mandated the use of oxygenates by energy companies, and MTBE was the most commonly used additive.

WorldNetDaily reported that while MTBE was mandated in fuel sold all over the United States because it was predicted to reduce harmful emissions, leading scientists agree that prediction hasn't come to fruition.

Rather, the mandated use of MTBE has backfired. Dr. Joel Kauffman, professor of chemistry at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, told WorldNetDaily MTBE seems to have little or no effect in reducing carbon monoxide emissions and, in contrast, is actually increasing nitrogen oxides emissions, which contribute to smog.

What's worse is the additive, which has leeched into water supplies in California and elsewhere, is believed to be a carcinogen.

"If it gets into the water and people drink the water, there is an increased risk of cancer," Dr. Nachman Brautbar, a clinical toxicologist and editor of International Journal of Occupational Medicine, told WorldNetDaily.

In July 1999, an advisory panel warned the Environmental Protection Agency that MTBE constitutes a "risk to our environment and public health" and recommended its use be reduced or eliminated.

After being one of the first states to use MTBE, California has banned the additive as of Jan. 1 this year. A ban in Connecticut takes effect New Year's Day, while New York also is outlawing the additive.

[JohnHuang2]

Thursday, December 11, 2003

Quote of the Day by woodyinscc

[RLK]

Kerry belongs in the Chock-Full-Of-Nuts hotel.

[Waco]

Liberal sh-t is good for you. Never miss a chance to swallow some.

[Lancey Howard]

John Kerry.
This article refers to him as "Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry". When did HE jump into the race?

[KneelBeforeZod]

[GavoDotCom]

I don't understand how it is Kerry's fault that energy companies used this dangerous chemical when all that the law mandates is that power companies use more oxygen in their combustion.

This is the problem with writing with such a clear bias. I have to assume that, as a liberal, I am simply unable to understand that if a company is mandated to improve the fuel efficiency of its products, then it will in all instances ignore what is good for people, and will instead use the cheapest, most toxic alternative to comply with law.

If Conservatives want a smaller government, they would do good to press these companies into explaining why they couldn't use a little responsibility, rather than blaming Democrats for the wrongs committed by corporations.

[flashbunny]

Welcome to free republic. Glad to see you're supporting kerry on your first day.

What we have here is the 'good intention' law in effect. Kerry had good intentions, so he can't be blamed for what happened. It's not his fault that he didn't see what was already in use as the most common additive (MTBE). He didn't need to make sure there was research reviewed on the effects of widening the use of MTBE. It's not his responsibility to look at the impact of the laws he passes. It's just his responsibility to mean well and make sure other people take the blame when his laws cause more harm than good. After all, it's the democratic way!

So yeah, it's all the evil corporations fault. Instead of using the most common additive, they should have just sprinkled their magic fairy dust and created a magical additive that could never cause any harm to the environment - no research period required. After all, if the government issues the orders, the private sector just needs to wave their magic wands and make everything happen in the timeline specified by people who know absolutely nothing about the petroleum technology.

[weegee]

It would appear that his namesake webdomain is for sale.

[JohnHuang2]

When did HE jump into the race?

I've heard John F. Kerry served in Vietnam...is this true?

;-)

[greasepaint]

If the people of Mass. don't like mtbe, they should ban the stuff. They don't need
MY permission to do so.
Also, New York state has banned mtbe effective 2004.
It is going to be interesting to watch what happens
when summer specification gas is required, and
they can't use mtbe. Ethanol is not a direct substitute.
If ethanol is used in summer gas, the other 90% of the gas
is very difficult to make.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I've heard John F. Kerry served in Vietnam...is this true?

I've been hearing those same rumors for awhile now. ;^)

[JohnHuang2]

I've been hearing those same rumors for awhile now. ;^)

Don't you hate it when that happens? ;-)

[MEG33]

I think he DID serve in Viet Nam now that you mention it....;)

[JohnHuang2]

I wonder why John F. Kerry hasn't mentioned whether he served in Vietnam or not? ;-)

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I wonder why John F. Kerry hasn't mentioned whether he served in Vietnam or not? ;-)

Well, if it's true that Kerry(who's French-looking, by the way) did serve in Vietnam, I'm sure that the reason he hasn't brought it up is due to modesty.

[MEG33]

Modesty I suppose....;)

[Squat]

Kerry was not alone, the following list plus the Sen Max Baucus, should ALL be held accountable for the introduction of MTBE. They were paid off by ARCO maybe and others.
COSPONSORS(22), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Adams, Brock - 1/29/1990 [WA] Sen Burdick, Quentin N. - 9/14/1989 [ND]
Sen Chafee, John H. - 9/14/1989 [RI] Sen Cohen, William S. - 9/14/1989 [ME]
Sen Cranston, Alan - 9/14/1989 [CA] Sen Dodd, Christopher J. - 11/20/1989 [CT]
Sen Durenberger, Dave - 9/14/1989 [MN] Sen Graham, Bob - 9/14/1989 [FL]
Sen Hatfield, Mark O. - 4/3/1990 [OR] Sen Jeffords, James M. - 9/14/1989 [VT]
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. - 1/29/1990 [MA] Sen Kerry, John F. - 11/16/1989 [MA]
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. - 9/14/1989 [NJ] Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 11/17/1989 [VT]
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. - 9/14/1989 [CT] Sen Mitchell, George J. - 9/14/1989 [ME]
Sen Moynihan, Daniel Patrick - 9/14/1989 [NY] Sen Pell, Claiborne - 10/6/1989 [RI]
Sen Reid, Harry M. - 4/3/1990 [NV] Sen Warner, John W. - 9/14/1989 [VA]
Sen Wilson, Pete - 11/9/1989 [CA] Sen Wirth, Timothy - 10/6/1989 [CO]

[Arrowhead1952]

Kerry failed to mention is that he co-sponsored legislation ...... that causes a disastrous fallout of the use of a fuel additive deemed carcinogenic.

Mr. Ketchup "Whiner" Kerry has taken his campaign to a new low.

[Arrowhead1952]

Glad to see you're supporting kerry on your first day.

Looks like GavoDotCom didn't last evry long.

This account has been banned or suspended.
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