A number of Democrats and liberal commentators have attacked Republicans lately for declining to state flatly that human activity is causing climate change. The accusation is that GOP lawmakers are denying science because they are in the pocket of the coal industry, or the oil and gas industry, or the Koch brothers, or in some other way in thrall to energy billionaires.
In the first Louisiana Senate debate, held in Shreveport on Tuesday night, Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu pointed to another way. Yes, human activity is contributing to climate change, Landrieu said. But no, there’s no reason to do anything about it, beyond expanding Louisiana’s fossil fuels industry. Here is the question, and Landrieu’s answer, in full:
LANDRIEU: Yes, I do believe our climate is changing, and I do believe that humans contribute. However, we have to be very careful about the policies that we promote. I am a strong promoter of fossil fuels, yes, natural gas particularly, because it is a 50 percent cleaner burning fuel. We have 200 years of it. America could do itself a great service, and increase our security, by promoting more domestic energy exploration and production.
And I have been a strong supporter. I opened up eight million new acres in the Gulf [of Mexico]. I have secured expedited permits on western lands. I do not agree with President Obama on his energy policies. I have now served with three presidents and six governors. I have had disagreements, as well as support, for some of their policies. We have to be careful about what we do, but we can build a strong energy future with Canada and Mexico and be energy independent.
As a rhetorical matter, Republicans could learn a lot from this veteran Democrat. If GOP candidates followed Landrieu’s lead — perhaps they could even cite her — they would agree that human activity is part of climate change. And then they would declare full-throated support for the fossil fuels energy industry.
