Presidential Candidates May Miss Climate Vote

Sen. John McCain walked through the wilderness that surrounds Chester Morse Lake with state and local officials North Bend, Wash., May 13, 2008, to call attention to his climate change agenda. (Associated Press)

Updated 6:48 p.m.
By Juliet Eilperin
LOS ANGELES -- While the three remaining presidential candidates have touted climate change as a central theme in their campaigns, all of them may miss next week's critical vote when the Senate considers a landmark bill imposing mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.

With the debate set to begin Monday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will miss the entire proceedings because he will be campaigning all week. In a press conference Wednesday McCain defended his decision to skip the vote, and outlined his opposition to the bill.

"First of all, I have not been there for a number of votes. The same thing happened in the campaign of 2000," he said. "The people of Arizona understand I'm running for president of the United States."

McCain added that even if he did show up he would not back the bill, which is authored by two of his closest allies, Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and John Warner (R-Va.).

"Second of all, as I have said, I'm very deeply committed to the nuclear component of any legislation that will have a significant effect on greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "And I've been disappointed so far that there has not been a robust and serious addressing of the issue of nuclear power...You're never going to really significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions unless nuclear power is a major component of it. I know that's not a popular position."

A bill goes before the senate this week that could possibly have a larger economic impact on our country than any bill that has gone before and the 3 contenders for the presidency aren't going to show up. How did we here?!

1 posted on 05/31/2008 8:57:45 PM PDT by Delacon

It would just be two votes for the bill and one against. With all three skipping it, it’s a one vote net gain for sanity.

2 posted on 05/31/2008 9:04:10 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)

"In a press conference Wednesday McCain defended his decision to skip the vote, and outlined his opposition to the bill."

That's something anyhow.

3 posted on 05/31/2008 9:11:01 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck)

“It would just be two votes for the bill and one against. With all three skipping it, it’s a one vote net gain for sanity.”

Its not about the vote count. No, this is about 3 politicians who should have the guts to be stand up and be counted if they want to be the president.

4 posted on 05/31/2008 9:13:04 PM PDT by Delacon ("The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." H. L. Mencken)

Can we get our people riled up like we did for illegal immigration. How convienent the candidates wont be voting, pausible deniablity when the public finally detrimines globull whoring is bs, one of them as president can say they didnt vote for it. In a way I want it to pass. It is riling us up enough that republicans picked their worse candidate, we might as well get more taxes and an economoic downturn. It could be the tipping point.

5 posted on 05/31/2008 9:13:24 PM PDT by Liberty2007 (Obama,Osama or Chelsea's mama.(they are all bad)

McCain is triangulating on global warming

He'll only support it if it includes nuclear power (which will never happen) so in the end he can say he supported climate change but nukes need to be part of the equation.

6 posted on 05/31/2008 9:49:33 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Bipartisanship: Two wolves and the American people deciding what's for dinner)

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

“He’ll only support it if it includes nuclear power (which will never happen) so in the end he can say he supported climate change but nukes need to be part of the equation.”

Or, or, or he could show some of that courage he was known for, which was his best quality and make a stand by voting no on this bill.

7 posted on 05/31/2008 9:54:41 PM PDT by Delacon ("The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." H. L. Mencken)

What is most sickening about this bill is that it is being co-sponsored by a “Republican”. Disgusting.

8 posted on 05/31/2008 9:58:50 PM PDT by Left2Right ("Democracy isn't perfect, but other governments are so much worse (especially Iran's)")

“What is most sickening about this bill is that it is being co-sponsored by a “Republican”. Disgusting.”

You’re not use to it by now?

9 posted on 05/31/2008 10:07:55 PM PDT by Delacon ("The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." H. L. Mencken)

Too bad everyone doesn’t stay home. Our country would be better off.

10 posted on 05/31/2008 11:27:54 PM PDT by taxesareforever (We'll never forget Matt Maupin and his service to our country.)

I believe the Senate as well as the House have lost their minds. Nothing but corruption. I intend to vote every one of my incumbents out of office.

11 posted on 05/31/2008 11:40:18 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)

To: taxesareforever

Now, there’s a good idea.

12 posted on 05/31/2008 11:41:01 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)

To: Entrepreneur; Defendingliberty; WL-law; Genesis defender; proud_yank; FrPR; enough_idiocy; ...

13 posted on 06/01/2008 11:39:47 PM PDT by steelyourfaith

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