MoveOn.org Virtual Town Hall: Environment Poll

The second MoveOn.org "Virtual Town Hall" dealt with Envrionmental Action. Both global warming and energy independence were discussed. Here is a clip from MoveOn's press release

Edwards Wins Straw Poll on Climate Change
Print Ads to Run in NH and IA Next Week

Largest MoveOn Event Since 2004; Over 100,000 People Joined at 1,300 House Parties and Online to Watch Virtual Town Hall

Former Senator John Edwards won MoveOn.org Political Action’s poll on the climate crisis which asked, “Which candidate’s position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?” Of the field of eight Democratic hopefuls, Edwards received 33% of the total votes cast–more than twice the support of the next two candidates, Rep. Kucinich and Senator Clinton, who each garnered 15.7%.

MoveOn member vote results:

John Edwards - 33.10%
Dennis Kucinich - 15.73%
Hillary Clinton - 15.71%
Barack Obama - 15.03%
Bill Richardson - 12.60%
Joe Biden - 3.06%
Chris Dodd - 3.01%
Mike Gravel - 1.78%

MoveOn will run print ads in newspapers in early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire next week, announcing the results of the straw poll on the climate crisis. Fundraising for the ads begins today.

“The enormous response we got from our members on this issue emphasizes how important it will be for our next president to make solving the climate crisis a top priority in 2008,” said Eli Pariser, Executive Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

“MoveOn members want leaders who will take on the oil and coal industry and create a clean energy economy. That’s probably why Sen. Edwards’ support of cap and auction systems – which force polluters to pay citizens—and his call for more green collar jobs received such strong backing,” added Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

The membership vote began immediately after the organization’s Saturday night Virtual Town Hall and concluded on Tuesday, at midnight PST. The Virtual Town Hall, at which, the candidates answered members’ questions about climate change and global warming, coincided with the Live Earth concerts around the world.

MoveOn members who watched the Town Hall at one of the parties voted differently from those who did not.

Votes by MoveOn members who attended house parties:

John Edwards - 25.53%
Bill Richardson - 20.19%
Dennis Kucinich - 17.55%
Hillary Clinton - 13.80%
Barack Obama - 10.18%
Joe Biden - 6.15%
Chris Dodd - 3.63%
Mike Gravel - 2.96%

MoveOn.org Virtual Town Hall: Iraq Poll

MoveOn.org is holding a series of "Virtual Town Halls" that allow the candidates a chance to answer questions from MoveOn members regarding the three key issues of the campaign. Each town hall is dedicated to a different issue. The three issues they are covering happen to be the three issues that John Edwards (who is most definitely shaping the debate) has focused his campaign on. The issues are...

Ending the War in Iraq
Universal Health Care
Environmental Action

The first town hall was about ending the war in Iraq.

This town hall was done differently from the second one. Members voted for the candidates that they wanted to see at the town hall and then the candidates answered via phone interviews.

The first number is the poll of all voters who took part in the poll. Because the videos were put on You Tube individually as the poll was open many of those who voted in the poll likely did not watch all of the candidate's videos. Nevertheless John Edwards did very well.

MoveOn (All voters)

Obama - 28%
Edwards - 25%
Kucinich - 17%
Richardson - 12%
Clinton - 11%
Biden - 6%
Dodd - 1%


A second poll was done just of those who actually attended the "Town Hall". This meant that they streamed the Town Hall on their computer as it aired. John Edwards won this poll.

MoveOn (Town Hall Viewers Only)

Edwards - 25%
Richarson - 21%
Obama - 19%
Kucinich - 16%
Biden - 10%
Clinton - 7%
Dodd - 4%

Feeling The Love From The Grassroots

Daily Kos (August)

Edwards - 34%

Obama - 29%

Clinton - 8%

Richardson - 7%

_

Daily Kos (July)

Edwards - 38%

Obama - 25%

Clinton - 8%

Richardson - 6%

_

Daily Kos (June)

Edwards - 40%

Obama - 22%

Clinton - 6%

Richardson - 5%

_

Daily Kos (May)

Edwards - 39%

Obama - 24%

Richardson - 8%

Clinton - 6%

_

Daily Kos (April)

Edwards - 42%

Obama - 25%

Richardson - 13%

Clinton - 3%
_

MyDD (April)

Edwards - 43%

Obama - 34%

Richardson - 8%

Clinton - 4%
_

Democrats.com

Edwards - 41%

Kucinich - 24%

Obama - 18%

Clinton - 9%

Richardson - 6%
_

Daily Kos (March)

Edwards - 38%

Obama - 26%

Richardson - 8%

Clinton - 2%

I am a Woman & I Choose Edwards by "sarahlane"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/25/114228/247

This is an excellent diary that "sarahlane" posted on Daily Kos. It underlines the importance to nominate someone who will fight for ALL Americans no matter their gender, race, faith, economic status, or sexual orientation.

I am a Woman & I Choose Edwards

by sarahlane

Wed Jul 25, 2007 at 08:42:28 AM PDT

There has been lots of back and forth about remarks made by Elizabeth Edwards where she said she believes her husband is the best women's advocate in the race. She also addressed the perception that a woman should naturally vote for a woman candidate because they are a woman. I believe, as Elizabeth does, that it's not gender that matters most, but how much a candidate would affect women as a whole in America. All of candidates in the race have great record on women's issues. Hillary Clinton has a long history of fighting for equal pay, and both Hillary and Obama have done their fair share to help with reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies by way of education. The reality is, all of our candidates are pro-choice, are adamant about doing something to fight physical abuse of women, and want to make sure women get the same opportunities that men do. It's not a matter of which candidate is better than any other on women's issues, it's which candidate you think will affect the most women's lives if they are elected POTUS. Everybody has their opinion on the matter, and here's mine........

Now, for a little backtrack, let's look at Edwards record on women's issues when he represented North Carolina in the Senate. For some reason his advocacy for women's issues have gone largely unnoticed in the blogosphere. Yes, he got a 100% rating from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and has been endorsed by Kate Michelman for POTUS, but that's just the icing on the cake. Even though Edwards was only in the Senate for one term, his positions on a woman's right to choose couldn't be more clear:

Woman's Right to Choose

Edwards is for a Federal Freedom of Choice Act, which would protect a woman's right to choose no matter if Roe is eventually overturned. He came out in favor of this publicly back in 2003.

Edwards opposes the Global Gag Rule, which Bush reinstated during his tenure, the gag rule would prevent an organization receiving federal or UN dollars if they perform abortions, or counsel people about abortions.

When Edwards had the chance to vote for or against AG nominees or SCOTUS nominees such as Priscilla Owen, John Ashcroft and Bill Pryor, he did. He also was a very vocal opponent against the nominations of Alito and Roberts after he had left the Senate.

When the Senate pulled a fast one of many politicians with the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Edwards was not one of them. He knew that the passage of this act would put Roe V Wade into jeopardy, so he voted against it.

Back in October of 1999, Edwards voted to lift the ban on women having abortions on military bases. He also voted to allow military women overseas to have abortions.

Edwards also voted against restrictions for funding abortions for federal employees and other residents of DC. He also voted against a ban on partial birth abortion five times while in the Senate. So, now it's pretty obvious to you all where he has stood when it comes to choice. Let's review other legislation he sponsored and co-sponsored that would have helped women all across America...

Women in Trauma Act

In 2002, Edwards introduced this act which would have funded shelters all across America, and helped them improve mental health and substance abuse services for women who are affected by domestic or sexual violence.

Counseling in Shelters Act

Edwards introduced this act to provide federal funding to enable shelters and other `community-based` providers to hire mental health and substance abuse counselors to help victims.

Funding Breast Cancer Research

Edwards co-sponsored several bills to provide additional funding for breast cancer research and to promote awareness of the disease. Edwards also authored a bill to increase awareness of the link between periodontal disease in pregnant women and birth defects.

Supporting Equitable Coverage of Contraceptives

In 1999, and in 2001 Edwards co-sponsored two bills to require health insurance companies provide equitable coverage of contraceptives. When a bill finally hit the floor back in 2003, he voted to require insurance companies cover contraceptives.

What about equality in the workplace? Or, lending a helping hand to working families who have just had a baby? Or allowing women to choose their OBGYN as their primary care provider?

Paycheck Fairness Act

Edwards co-sponsored this act which would penalize employers for not giving women equal pay for equal work.

Family Leave Tax Credit

Edwards proposed a 2,500 tax credit for working families who have a baby but cannot afford to take off work. It would have helped 3.5 million families each year.

Patients Bill of Rights

Edwards co-sponsored this bill which would have forced the HMO's to pay up for the health care they're supposed to cover. Edwards also was an advocate for allowing women to choose their OBGYN as their primary care provider as well as providing inpatient care after any mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lymph node dissection.

There's plenty more bills he authored and co-sponsored that would have helped women, but what about his proposals today? How will Edwards become a champion for women? Right now, women make nearly .77 to every man's dollar. There are 18 million women who do not have health insurance. Women make up over 61% of the American workforce working for minimum wage. Who will best represent these women? IMO, it's a no-brainer, Edwards has the boldest policy proposals on the table that will directly affect millions of America women.

Ending Poverty for Women

Right now 21 million women live in poverty. Edwards has multiple proposals to help lift them out of poverty. His Stepping Stones Jobs Program will lift 1 million Americans each year out of unemployment and get them to work. Edwards has proposed raising the minimum wage to $9.50 by the year 2012, which will directly help millions of Americans who are suffering from low wages. Edwards is also a proponent of the card check, expanding the SEIU and other unions as well as creating new ones, and is wholeheartedly trying to reignite the labor movement in this country. Edwards has also proposed Work Bonds, which would match savings up to $500 a year for a low income worker. Lastly, and maybe most importantly his Universal Health Care Plan will be a welcome relief to single mom's who can't afford insurance, or even if they can afford it, it will be cheaper monthly and help them financially in a big way. Insurance is expensive, and if a single mom cannot afford to pay a dime, her insurance and her children's will be covered through subsidies.

Helping Women by way of Taxes

Edwards will also expand the EITC, and triple it for low income workers without children. Edwards will also reduce the marriage penalty for families struggling to make ends meet.

Reining in on Predatory Lending, Credit Card Co. & Mortgage Company Abuses

Women make up a large portion of the population who end up being victims of predatory lending, and all too often, they are elderly women on fixed incomes. These three industries need more regulation, and with Edwards that's exactly what you will get. Whether it's his proposal for a Home Rescue Fund to help women facing foreclosure, or enacting a national law against predatory lending or reinstating the 10 day grace period on credit card bills to give people relief from high late fees, he's got our back.

Protecting a Woman's Right to Choose

Here's a statement by Edwards on a woman's right to choose:

"I strongly support a woman's right to privacy & reproductive choices. It is essential to the full equality and dignity of women, and today it is under attack. I will guarantee this right."

Edwards is for a Federal Freedom of Choice Act which would ensure that a woman's right be protected no matter who gets elected to SCOTUS. This is a biggie for me, because we never know who can and will be elected to SCOTUS in the future, and Roe will always be threatened. This is a way to protect Roe from a conservative President and a conservative court.

Edwards opposes the Child Custody Protection Act, because it puts a woman's health in danger and burden's a woman's right to choose. Edwards opposes Gag Rules and Global Gag Rules that prevent organizations from getting funding if they perform abortions or counsel women about abortions. Edwards opposes a ban on partial birth abortion as well.

Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies

Edwards supports sex education for kids of the appropriate age, and Title X family planning services. He is for forcing insurance companies to cover contraceptives. He is also for improving access to emergency contraceptives.

The Supreme Court

Edwards will nominate judges who have demonstrated a commitment to full range of constitutional protections. This is also a biggie for me, I don't want the next Democratic President to nominate a moderate who could end up voting conservatively later in life.

Just briefly, here's a few more things that Edwards will do to help women:

Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act

Strongly Support the Paycheck Fairness Act

Expand Resources for Women Entrepreneurs through his REACH Fund

Edwards Pledges to Protect Davis Bacon Act

Edwards will create a Families Savings and Credit Commission to protect families

There are plenty more proposals on the table that will directly affect women, whether it's his College For Everyone Initiative which would help over 2 million students go to college, or his plans to create second chance schools for high school dropouts. I'm sure there are plenty of single moms out there who could use a helping hand sending their kid to college. Even though Edwards is incredibly strong on a woman's right to choose, that's not the biggest issue affecting women in our country. It's a sad fact that 50% of women headed households are renting and not owning their homes. It's a sad fact that 18 million women in America do not have health insurance, or that women only make 77 cents to every dollar a man makes. It shows that we need to do something about women living in poverty, we need to do something to equal the playing field, and we need to lend a helping hand to single mom's by providing Universal Health Care. That said, this is my reasoning for why Edwards is a great advocate for women in America. He will protect our rights, and will make sure to lift millions of American woman up out of poverty. That's why, as a woman I choose to support Edwards for President of the United States!

I'll leave you with a statement by Kate Michelman, the former head of NARAL....

"I believe in John's deep and profound commitment to the issues that matter most in women's lives. From health care, to Iraq, to poverty, to our environment, I know John is the most effective national messenger for the values we share and I have complete confidence that—with our help—he will win the White House and improve the lives of women everywhere."

The Heat Is On!

http://www.heatison.org/content/blank/candidate_chart

This is taken from the The League of Conservation Voters' chart that describes where the candidates currently stand.

CANDIDATE: Hillary Clinton
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 35 mpg fleetwide standard by 2020
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 20% standard by 2020
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Suppors 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2020
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: Supports investing in liquid coal if it reduces carbon pollution by 20%


CANDIDATE: Barack Obama
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 45 mpg standard by 2020
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 20% standard by 2020
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Supports 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2020
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: Supports investing in liquid coal if it reduces carbon pollution by 20%


CANDIDATE: John Edwards
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports at least 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 40 mpg fleetwide standard by 2016
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 25% standard by 2025%
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Supports 15% decrease in electricity consumption by 2018
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: Supports ban on new coal plants unless they capture and store carbon emissions


CANDIDATE: Bill Richardson
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 90% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 50 mpg fleetwide standard
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 30% standard by 2020 and 50% by 2050
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Supports 20% increase in energy productivity by 2020
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: Opposes liquid coal. Supports ban on new coal plants unless they capture and store emissions


CANDIDATE: Joe Biden
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 40 mpg fleetwide standard by 2020
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 20% standard by 2020
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Supports 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2020
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: Opposes investment in liquid coal


CANDIDATE: Chris Dodd
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supports 50 mpg for cars by 2017
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 20% standard by 2020
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: Supports 15% decrease in electricity consumption by 2018
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: New coal plants must capture and store carbon emissions

CANDIDATE: Dennis Kucinich
CARBON CAP AND TARGETS: Supports 80% reductions by 2050
FUEL EFFICIENCY: Supported 33 mpg in 2005
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD: Supports 20% standard by 2010
EFFICIENCY TARGETS: General support for efficiency; no target specified
NEW COAL PLANTS AND LIQUID COAL: No articulated position

Grist Magazine's How Green Is Your Candidate?

http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2007/07/06/candidates/index.html

How Green Is Your Candidate? (Original Version)
Where the presidential candidates stand on climate and energy issues

By David Roberts
06 Jul 2007

All of the Democratic presidential candidates put energy independence and climate change among their top-tier issues. They all support carbon cap-and-trade systems of varying strengths. They all at least gesture at renewable energy and hybrid cars. Most support ethanol and "clean coal." The aggressiveness of their climate and energy plans rises inversely with their chances of winning -- the better the chances, the weaker the plan. Here's a quick and dirty rundown of some of the Democratic contenders' stances. These descriptions of candidates' positions are not and should not be perceived as endorsements. Grist does not endorse political candidates.

Hillary Clinton dutifully toes the Democratic line on climate change and energy independence, seeing the former as a way to reach young people and the latter as a way to sound tough. She's been somewhat vague on the details. Her distinctive contribution is the notion of a "Strategic Energy Fund" financed by repealed tax breaks and royalties from oil companies. Where she mentions specific solutions, she tends to focus on "clean coal" and ethanol. She signed on to the Sanders-Boxer climate bill, the most ambitious climate bill in the Senate, but only in May, after Edwards had endorsed bold emissions targets. On these issues, Clinton is studious and solid, but not out front.

Barack Obama's take on energy and climate is, well, Obaman: the rhetoric is soaring and high-minded, the policy proposals consensus-seeking and incremental. With the exception of showy gimmicks like his "Healthcare for Hybrids" bill, he's largely been a follower, signing on to multiple cap-and-trade bills and copping Schwarzenegger's low-carbon fuel standard. His main splash in the energy world happened when he came out cheerleading for liquified coal, which coal barons (especially in his home state of Illinois) loved but plenty of other folks hated; he later "clarified" his way back to safety. On these issues, Obama is largely platitudinous and reserved.

John Edwards is running left. What mixture of genuine sentiment and political calculation is behind that strategy only he and Elizabeth know, but it's translated into far and away the strongest, most comprehensive climate and energy plan among the three front-runners. He's stumping for 80 percent cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, and fleshing that goal out with detailed proposals for a renewable portfolio standard, big boosts in fuel efficiency, changes to the energy grid and efficiency standards (the only front-runner to emphasize these), a green-jobs program, and more. On these issues, Edwards has done his homework and he's not trimming his sails.

Bill Richardson wants to be the "energy president" and the plan he's put forward is a humdinger. He wants to cut oil demand 50 percent by 2020, cut greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2040, and generate 50 percent of U.S. energy from renewables by 2040. Though he kisses ethanol butt in speeches like all the candidates, there's next to nothing about ethanol in his plan, nor about nuclear power (a subject with which he has a complicated history). At least on paper, his plan calls for straight-up renewables and efficiency, aggressively pursued. On these issues, Richardson has an appropriate sense of urgency.

Chris Dodd's climate and energy plan has largely been overlooked, much like, um, Chris Dodd. But if anything, it's more ambitious than even Richardson's. It's got similar aggressive targets, plus an item only Dodd has had the stones (or lack of anything to lose) to endorse: a corporate carbon tax. The revenue from the tax would be put in a fund devoted to renewables and efficiency. There's also a ban on new coal plants with no carbon sequestration (a bold plank he shares with Edwards), good stuff about public transit, hybrid cars, and green buildings, and much more. On these issues, Dodd is forward-thinking and aggressive.

Dennis Kucinich has long supported restructuring the electric power industry, and he backs instituting a 20-percent-by-2020 renewable portfolio standard. He would institute a Global Green Deal to share cheap renewable-energy technology with developing countries, cut off subsidies to dirty energy companies, vastly increase public investment in clean energy, and institute a Works Green Administration (modeled on FDR's WPA) that would put young people to work retrofitting buildings for wind, solar, and efficiency. Despite -- or perhaps because of -- these ambitious plans, he is not taken seriously as a viable presidential candidate by anyone but his core band of supporters, who take him very, very seriously indeed.

Joe Biden has a fairly reliable Democratic voting record on environmental issues, but hasn't shown much indication that climate and energy are animating passions. His tough talk on energy security manifests, for the most part, in lamentably enthusiastic support for biofuels. Like Clinton and Obama, he signed on to the Sanders-Boxer cap-and-trade bill when it became the safe thing to do. He also supports a new round of international negotiations on climate change. He's not an obstruction on climate and energy, but he's not particularly distinguished either.

The John Edwards "First and Often Only" List

1st candidate to respond to DFA (Democracy For America) with a clear plan for ending the war in Iraq.

1st candidate to respond to DFA with a clear, detailed plan for environmental action on issues like energy independence and global warming.

1st and only of the "big 3" candidates to publicly support the 2006 Kerry - Feingold amendment to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. When asked about the amendemnt on ABC News' This Week Edwards said that he supported the amendment. Both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton voted against it.

1st and only of the "big 3" candidates to support stopping the escalation of the war in Iraq by cutting of the funding for the "surge". Both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton stopped short.

1st and only of the "big 3" candidates to make it clear from the outset where he stood on the recent vote on the recent Senate funding bill, also known as the "Capitulation Bill". Edwards made it clear from the start that he opposed any bill without timetables. Meanwhile Senators Obama and Clinton did not indicate which way they were going to vote. They engaged each other in a cheap game of "chicken" instead of showing leadership. In the end they were among the last to vote. Senator Obama voted first and the Senator Clinton, in typical fashion, followed.

1st major candidate to support Jim Webb's important Iran legislation.

Only one of the "big 3" who chose not to endorse Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Connecticut Senate primary.

1st major candidate to endorse and campaign for Ned Lamont against Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Senate race. Edwards was also one of the first candidates to call for Lieberman to drop out of the race. Both John and Elizabeth Edwards said that because Lieberman had just run in the Democratic primary and lost to Lamont, Lieberman should honor the result of the primary.

Only major candidate to spend no money on polling in the first quarter of 2007.

1st and only major candidate to release a truly Universal Health Care plan.

1st candidate to release a comprehensive plan for Energy Independence / to combat Global Warming.

1st and only candidate to release a plan for Rural Recovery.

1st candidate to release a detailed and specific national security doctrine ("Smart Power") as well as a comprehensive plan specifically to stop terrorism (often referred to as "Cast Fear Aside").

1st candidate to say no to debate on FOX News. This happened not once but twice. Both times FOX news was scheduled to host a Democratic debate John Edwards was the first candidate to say no. He was also the only one to make it clear that he did so because FOX News is bias and he did not want to legitimize a Republican spin machine.

1st candidate to call for the resignation of Alberto Gonzales.

1st candidate to call for the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz.

1st candidate to accept the offer from the SEIU to work a union job for a day. He is also the only candidate to actually work the job of a union worker. The other candidates gave an interview to union workers.

1st candidate to appear on Meet the Press’ hour long interview series Meet the Candidate. Edwards has made it clear throughout the campaign that he wants every American to know where he stands on the issues and what he would do as president. While other candidates have shied away from hard questions Edwards has made it clear that he believes that it is his duty to answer them.

1st and only candidate to mention the passing of the late great Molly Ivins during his speech to the DNC's Winter Meeting. You cannot knock the other candidates for not mentioning her. They stick closely to their prepared remarks and just because they didn't mention her doesn't mean that they don't respect her. But in brining attention to her passing John Edwards displayed an important respect for powerful progressive voices.

1st and only candidate to lead a major effort to reform the Democratic party by encouraging Democrats running for office at all levels to reject money from DC lobbyists.