As many of you saw, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom gave a green speech introduction for Van Jones on Sunday at Netroots Nation. But immediately after his green speech, a local blogger asked a very important question:
I just asked Newsom if he would support the Clean Energy Act. At first, he said yes -- absolutely. Then he said, "oh are you talking about the one about PG&E?" I said yes. He said, "oh no it's horrible." I asked him to elaborate, but he would not. I then asked, "is that because your consultant [Eric Jaye] is working for PG&E?" Newsom denied it, but really. It was kinda pathetic.
Indeed. As we all know, Al Gore thinks the entire country needs to go 100% clean electrically by 2019 and Mayor Newsom won't try for his city to do the same by 2040?
San Francisco blogger Paul Hogarth immediately wrote it up and fellow San Franciscan Luke Thomas declared:
Gubernatorial hopeful Gavin Newsom today stated his opposition to the San Francisco Clean Energy Act defying all expectations that he will run for Governor consisting of a renewable energy platform.
Siding with PG&E against the Sierra Club and opposing the San Francisco Clean Energy Act on this year's ballot is a clear indication Mayor Newsom has no plans on winning the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2010. Sure he might try, but siding with PG&E against Clean Energy is an ad that writes itself.
This is Newsom's Iraq Vote
The Clean Energy Act is a no-brainer to supporter unless you are a political consultant working for PG&E and already lying to the voters.
The first campaign I worked for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was waaaaay back in 2000. And if you ask me, a good deal of his perception problems are that he is over scripted, over protected, over done. I think the most likely way for Mayor Newsom to win the 2010 Gubernatorial campaign is if they let Newsom be Newsom. His handlers don't have to be defensive, but when they are it shows.
I find it sad and discouraging that a politician with so much potential has decided to sell out in such a manner. I mean, siding with PG&E against the Sierra Club to oppose Clean Energy is about the worst thing you can do.
But what is insulting (though not as bad as when the Mayor slept with my friend's wife), is that Gavin Newsom went to Netroots Nation to try and appear environmental and seems to think so little of bloggers that he thought he could give a greenwash speech and still oppose Clean Energy to help PG&E without anyone noticing. Not cool. Accountability matters.