Remember Jim Webb, the Democrat? Democrats in Virginia campaigned for him, donated to him, and elected him with 1,175,606 votes? On the ballot, he had a D next to his name? You don't expect him to be writing scripts for Senator James Inhofe (R-River in Egypt) and Lou "Who the H*ll does the President think he is" Dobbs. Yet that's exactly what he's started doing for his "good friend" Inhofe, in furtherance of their mutual goals:
undermining the President's ability to negotiate a climate treaty in Copenhagen;
blocking passage of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill;
doing nothing as coastal Virginia is inundated by rising seas
Dobbs and Inhofe may be louder, but they're only following Webb's lead. Details below the fold.
First, Webb wrote to President Obama, prominently featured with approval on the Heritage Foundation website -- where else should loyal Democrats' letters be posted? The letter:
Dear Mr. President:
I would like to express my concern regarding reports that the Administration may believe it has the unilateral power to commit the government of the United States to certain standards that may be agreed upon at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The phrase "politically binding" has been used.
Although details have not been made available, recent statements by Special Envoy on Climate Change Todd Stern indicate that negotiators may be intending to commit the United States to a nationwide emission reduction program. As you well know from your time in the Senate, only specific legislation agreed upon in the Congress, or a treaty ratified by the Senate, could actually create such a commitment on behalf of our country.
I would very much appreciate having this matter clarified in advance of the Copenhagen meetings.
What President Obama actually announced was substantially different, and respectful of the final legislation: "the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. In light of the President’s goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress..." (my emphasis).
Next, Inhofe appears on Lou Dobbs' show to amplify the letter written by one of his "good friends, a Democrat senator, Jim Webb from Virginia":
Transcript (h/t Brad Johnson, Think Progress):
INHOFE: Let’s look at the big picture. We have the Copenhagen meeting coming up in the middle of December. We now have learned the president has changed his mind again and President Obama will be attending around the 9th of December. It’s my understanding that he will make the statement that he will commit ourselves to the emission standards that were in the Markey bill that passed the House of Representatives. I’m sure you’ve talked about that because that was several weeks ago. That’s a 17% reduction in CO2 by the year 2020.
DOBBS: From 2005 levels.
INHOFE: Yes, that’s correct. He can’t do that. I just had an interview with a station in Copenhagen, in Denmark –
DOBBS: [laughter]
INHOFE: — that they were all under the assumption the president could unilaterally do that. No, that’s not true. In fact, one of my good friends, a Democrat senator, Jim Webb from Virginia has sent a letter to the president and I’m quoting a sentence out of it now: "As you well know from your time in the Senate, only specific legislation agreed upon in the Congress, or a treaty ratified by the Senate, could actually create such a commitment on behalf of our country."
So, we need to make sure — and that’s the main reason I was going to go to Copenhagen was to, if Barbara Boxer and John Kerry went there and made some kind of a commitment that we were going to do something, I wanted to make sure that countries were fully informed that we are not going to be passing legislation that will accomplish what President Obama I believe is going to tell on the 9th.
DOBBS: Senator, this begs the question, if I may put it forward right now: Who the hell does this president think he is?
INHOFE: I don’t know, because you can’t do that. And I think it’s certainly disingenuous to mislead countries into thinking that a president . . . You know, this is not a kingdom. He’s not able to do that.
Dobbs may be in search of higher ratings, and Inhofe is a pathetic flat-earth science denier, but Webb should know that the President is the Commander in Chief with the authority to negotiate treaties. His letter to President Obama would make sense if Webb were planning to help pass a key part of President Obama's domestic agenda. Instead, Webb has announced that he would not vote for the climate bill:
"In its present form I would not vote for it," he said. "I have some real questions about the real complexities on cap and trade."
.... "That piece of legislation right now is something that is going to cause a lot of people a lot of concern," he said.
For example, the climate bill causes a lot of concern to Webb's good friend Inhofe, the Heritage Foundation, Exxon Mobil, and Koch Industries.
Webb's good friend Inhofe attacks veterans, admirals, and generals who understand the national security implications of climate change: "they just crave the limelight."
Webb has, along with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tennukessee), introduced a competing measure to double the nation's nuclear power capacity while containing no cap on carbon -- a significant omission. Without commenting on whether nuclear power is preferable to renewable power, any bill omitting a cap on carbon will not affect rising carbon and thus rising seas. Studies find that the coastal cities of southern Virginia -- Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Newport News, and nearby cities -- are among the most vulnerable in the United States to sea level rise caused by climate change. (Photo credit: Washington State Historical Society via Grist.)
Senator Webb has a choice. He can stand with his good friend veteran-attacking Inhofe and Dobbs in demanding "who the h*ll does the President think he is?" Or he can answer them: "Our Commander in Chief, who deserves your respect." And he can stand with the Democrats who elected him, the people of the Hampton Roads area, and retired senator John Warner (R-VA), and demand a strong climate bill.
If you want to ask Senator Webb who the h*ll he thinks he is, in arming bordering-on-treasonous deniers like Inhofe and Dobbs with talking points -- or if you just want to tell him to support the Kerry-Boxer climate bill -- he can be reached at 202-224-4024 or through his regional offices.