“I Will Fight for Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas”

That’s what Mitt Romney said tonight.  Yes, this is the same man who also said, just a month ago, that he believes that humans are contributing to climate change.  But his heart belongs to fossil fuels. According to Mr. Romney, maximal use of fossil fuels is also the key to economic recovery. Romney even seems more attached to fossil fuels than to tax cuts, which he’s hedging about.

George Bush was a Texan, with ties to the oil industry, so his views didn’t seem so incongruous.  Romney’s passion on the subject makes it clear just how central “drill, baby, drill” has now become to his party’s platform.  The price for this fossil fuel obsession — in the form of heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods — will be paid by future generations.  Unfortunately, they don’t vote.

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Reader Comments

6 Replies to ““I Will Fight for Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas””

  1. Of course Obama tried to paint himself the same way, trying to take credit for increased fossil fuel production and the increase in oil and gas drilling on private land. Although his policies have not been particularly pro-development, you wouldn’t know it from watching last night’s debate. What does it say when both major candidates are trying to trumpet their support for carbon-based fuels?

  2. Of course Obama tried to paint himself the same way, trying to take credit for increased fossil fuel production and the increase in oil and gas drilling on private land. Although his policies have not been particularly pro-development, you wouldn’t know it from watching last night’s debate. What does it say when both major candidates are trying to trumpet their support for carbon-based fuels?

  3. Jonathan–I agree that that on oil and gas, Obama did not sharply distinguish himself from Romney at this debate. (And of course, there’s a fairly good argument that natural gas use is actually a good thing in terms of climate change, at least if the alternative is coal.) On the other hand, Obama hasn’t made fossil fuel production that #1 prong of his economic plan, unlike Romney, who sees it as our economic salvation. And Romney stands alone in his desire to increase the use of coal as much as possible.

    Dan

  4. Jonathan–I agree that that on oil and gas, Obama did not sharply distinguish himself from Romney at this debate. (And of course, there’s a fairly good argument that natural gas use is actually a good thing in terms of climate change, at least if the alternative is coal.) On the other hand, Obama hasn’t made fossil fuel production that #1 prong of his economic plan, unlike Romney, who sees it as our economic salvation. And Romney stands alone in his desire to increase the use of coal as much as possible.

    Dan

  5. Want to see a Conservetard’s head explode? Consider the following.

    Obama is a Christian, and Romney is NOT a Christian. How so?

    1. Per Genesis, Christians are supposed to be “stewards of the Earth.”
    2. Obama is about alternative energy sources.
    3. Romney “…Will Fight for Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas.”

    Who is the better “steward of the Earth?”

  6. Want to see a Conservetard’s head explode? Consider the following.

    Obama is a Christian, and Romney is NOT a Christian. How so?

    1. Per Genesis, Christians are supposed to be “stewards of the Earth.”
    2. Obama is about alternative energy sources.
    3. Romney “…Will Fight for Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas.”

    Who is the better “steward of the Earth?”

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About Dan

Dan Farber has written and taught on environmental and constitutional law as well as about contracts, jurisprudence and legislation. Currently at Berkeley Law, he has al…

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About Dan

Dan Farber has written and taught on environmental and constitutional law as well as about contracts, jurisprudence and legislation. Currently at Berkeley Law, he has al…

READ more

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