The GOP's Alternative (Energy) Reality
A new GOP strategy memo further proves that Republicans just don't have any new ideas when it comes to energy.
Yesterday, Politico reported that "Senate Republicans have come up with a novel way to fight the climate change bill working its way through the House: "Tee off on Big Business, and tie it around the neck of Democrats." Indeed, a confidential Republican strategy memo obtained by Politico reveals the new line of attack. "Republicans need an effective message to defeat this legislation...The bottom line is this: Democrats are protecting big business," it reads.
The idea of Republicans attacking Democrats for favoring business interests, particularly regarding climate change policy, is downright bizarre. After all, the GOP's energy platform might as well have been written by ExxonMobil (Grand OIL Party?). The business lobby -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers -- stands in strong opposition to the Democrats' cap-and-trade plan. And, even if the Republicans did have a legitimate argument, it would be an astonishingly hypocritical one; Republicans are the ones siding with Wal-Mart against a labor bill that would create higher wages and give our economy a boost.
Joe Romm notes that "when a party has no ideas, their message implodes." It seems pretty clear that's what's going on here. With global warming deniers like Rep. "Smokey Joe" Barton and Sen. James Inhofe as the party's leading voices on climate change, Republicans simply don't have any vision for a 21st century energy policy.
Climate Progress has more on the GOP's eroding message.
