Nearly 200 environmental leaders signed an open leader on Monday urging likeminded voters to support Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden Joe BidenCrowd aims 'lock him up' chant at Obama during Trump rally Biden campaign plans to run ad during every NFL game until Election Day LA mayor condemns protesters shouting 'death to police' outside hospital treating ambushed officers MORE in the November election instead of casting their ballots for the Green Party's candidate.
“Angry right-wing voters and liberal absentees put Trump in the White House in 2016,” the letter reads. “In 2020 the same unholy team could keep him there. Progressives who vote for the Green Party candidate, or write in Henry David Thoreau, or refuse to vote at all for lack of an ideal choice will give Donald Trump precisely what he wants, and enough such pious gestures will produce catastrophic results.”
Signers of the letter include Earth Day founder Denis Hayes, Environmental Action coordinator Peter Harnik and former Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope.
Green Party nominee Howie Hawkins has qualified for the ballot in 31 states and Washington, D.C., although polling indicates a far smaller percentage of voters is leaning toward a third-party candidate than in 2016.
Hawkins told the Daily Beast that if Biden were to lose by a margin of fewer votes than the Green Party nominee received, it would be the former vice president's fault for failing to motivate the Democratic base.
"I'd be disappointed that Biden didn't get his base out," he told the publication. "Right now, you look at the polls, Trump is toast. And what is Biden saying? He's Uncle Joe. He's not Trump but what policy is he a champion of?”
While Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and invest in renewable energy, he has frustrated many in the party’s progressive wing by declining to support the Green New Deal. He also recently emphasized his opposition to bans on fracking after President Trump Donald John TrumpCrowd aims 'lock him up' chant at Obama during Trump rally Nevada governor: Trump 'taking reckless and selfish actions' in holding rally Michigan lieutenant governor blasts Trump coronavirus response: He 'is a liar who has killed people' MORE falsely claimed the former vice president supported them.
Another signer, Diane MacEachern, said that despite flaws in Biden’s approach to environmental issues, Trump’s reelection would actively exacerbate environmental problems.
“There is no environmental problem we faced when Donald Trump assumed the presidency three-and-a-half years ago that is in any way better today. If anything, they will get worse,” MacEachern told the Daily Beast. “We can either try and put out the fire or we can fan the flame.”
2wedfgdfgfgfg on September 14th, 2020 at 16:59 UTC »
The fact is that voting for Biden will be better for the environment than voting green will be.
CaptainNoBoat on September 14th, 2020 at 15:44 UTC »
Friendly reminder about Trump and the environment, for anyone who needs more convincing:
His environmental "policy" is ruled by the largest environmental de-regulation effort in history
Some notable regulations removed: - Clean Power Plan - Methane Rule - Clear Air Act: Emissions Standards - Oil and Natural Gas Emissions Standards - Coal Ash Rule - Waters of the U.S. Rule - Endangered Species Act: Rule Revisions - Penalties for Violations of Fuel Efficiency Standards - Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Standards and Emissions - Sage Grouse Protections - Emissions Limits for Coal Power Plants - Methane and Waste Prevention Rule - Endangered Species Act: Mitigation Policy - Lowering Renewable Fuel Standards for 2018 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure - Scientific Transparency Rule - Oil and Gas Fracking Rule
...And too many more to list.
He has removed humongous swaths of federally-protected land in the interests of fossil fuel entities.
He is extremely critical of renewable energy, even promoting false conspiracy theories against them.
He's notoriously skeptical of climate change, once claiming it was a "Chinese Hoax.".
He has a dubious track record with natural disasters, including increased hurricanes and wildfires - largely passing blame rather than solutions or unity.
The U.S. withdrew from the Paris Accord, making America the only country apart from Syria to break ranks.
His de-regulation agenda is further evidenced by his cabinet picks:
•Rick Perry - The Secretary of Energy. Rick Perry is a longtime proponent of corporate deregulation and tax breaks, and once said he wanted to abolish the Department of Energy.
The head of the DoE is now a former lobbyist for Ford Motors.
•Scott Pruitt - Former Head of The Environmental Protection Agency - An oil lobbyist who had personally sued and fought the EPA for years in the interest of fossil fuel entities. He resigned in shame, and under multiple investigations.
•Andrew Wheeler - Pruitt's successor at the EPA - Worked for a coal magnate and frequent lobbyist against Obama's regulations.
•Ryan Zinke - Former Secretary of the Interior. A fervent deregulation proponent. Zinke opened more federal lands for oil, gas and mineral exploration and extraction than any previous secretary. He resigned in disgrace, and under many investigations.
•David Bernhardt - Zinke's successor at the Interior. An oil industry lobbyist who was under investigation only days after his confirmation. Bernhardt, when asked about climate change (something that directly affects the lands he is in charge of) dismissively quipped "It doesn't keep me up at night."
•Bridenstine, head of NASA, was appointed after a career of climate denialism. Only recently (and thankfully) did he change his views on the matter.
• Now the head of NOAA is a "virulent climate change denier"
Get these fucks out of office. The environment can't take 4 more years of a Trump admin.
hildebrand_rarity on September 14th, 2020 at 13:53 UTC »
We can debate all day whether or not the two party is terrible but the reality is voting for a third party is exactly what Trump wants.
They know they can’t add many more voters but if they can convince progressives to not vote for Biden then they can take votes from him and close the gap.