That’s from the Las Vegas Review Journal regarding Sen. Obama and one of his biggest campaign contributors. This may not be on our radar where we live, but the caucus-goers in Nevada will be paying close attention to the candidates when it comes to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository.
Seriously – would you want that stuff stored in your backyard?
I think Hillary hit a nerve when she called Obama on his past support of this whole thing in the debate last Saturday. Or maybe it’s the ad Hillary’s running, in which she calls attention to a huge campaign contributor of Obama’s, who’s been pushing for that repository in Nevada. As Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld at TPM reported this morning in Hillary & Obama Duke It Out Over Yucca Mountain Ad, this has Obama so concerned that they held a conference call earlier today, in which a supporter of his assured reporters that he’s make the right call going forward.
Too bad he wasn’t able to do that in his votes so far. Make the jump – there’s more...
From Sargent & Kleefeld’s article...
The Obama campaign — which has made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of its argument — is not denying the ad's charge about his donor, but is disputing its significance and arguing that it doesn't compromise his opposition to the project in any way.
In response, Hillary spokesman Howard Wolfson sends us this: "The facts speak for themselves. While Senator Clinton has consistently stood against Yucca, one of Senator Obama's biggest financial backers is a huge proponent of Yucca."
Press coverage on this issue seemed to favor Hillary right after the debate. The Street had some great things to say about the points Hillary made in the last debate...
Clinton Shines in Vegas
Inconsistent Nuclear Stances
The Democrats all offer innovative energy plans that favor alternative energies over fossil fuels. Tuesday's energy discussion stood out because it focused on an issue near and dear to many in
Nevada -- the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
Clearly, Nevadans need to know where a candidate stands on nuclear power and nuclear waste. The words they heard from both Edwards and Obama can't have soothed them, which could have an effect on the outcome of Thursday's caucus, as Clinton's record seems far more consistent than either of the men.
Obama also faces some questions on consistency. He has disavowed lobbyist money in this campaign, but as I chronicled his vote for the 2005 Energy Bill, it showed his role in a legislative effort that capped years of work by lobbyists and Vice President Dick Cheney.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Obama has received significant funds from Exelon (EXC) . Exelon is based in Obama's home state and has pushed hard for new subsidies for nuclear power plants. They got their wish in the 2005 Energy Bill with 29 new plants planned. Companies like Exelon would require the Yucca Mountain repository to dispose of waste.
Clinton said she has consistently opposed Yucca Mountain in Congress, though she remains open to the possibility of nuclear power in the future. Furthermore, her Senate sub-committee held hearings on Yucca Mountain and presented information on its many dangers.
But Clinton scored the most memorable quote: "President Bush is over in the Gulf now, begging the Saudis and others to drop the price of oil. How pathetic! We should have an energy policy right now."
This combination of forcefulness coupled with her knowledge on issues made for a convincing performance in Vegas.
Here’s what the Las Vegas Sun Times had to say about her points in that debate...
Clinton is Clear Winner
Hillary Clinton, during Tuesday's debate, shows again why she is ready for the presidency
snip
Hillary Clinton seizes on the moment to go after both Barack Obama, pointing out that he has taken large campaign contributions from the nuclear industry in his state, and John Edwards, pointing out that he voted in favor of the project before turning against it.
Here's what Hillary had to say in the debate on Saturday regarding Yucca. From the transcript of the debate...
Brian Williams asks each candidate to promise to end the program at Yucca Mountain.
CLINTON: Well, I voted against Yucca Mountain in 2001. I have been consistently against Yucca Mountain. I held a hearing in the Environment Committee, the first that we've had in some time, looking at all the reasons why Yucca Mountain is not workable. The science does not support it. We do have to figure out what to do with nuclear waste.
You know, Barack has one of his biggest supporters in terms of funding, the Exelon Corporation, which has spent millions of dollars trying to make Yucca Mountain the waste depository. John was in favor of it twice when he voted to override President Clinton's veto and then voted for it again.
I have consistently and persistently been against Yucca Mountain, and I will make sure it does not come into effect when I'm president.
I think she hit the ball out of the park with this next point...
CLINTON: Well, Tim, I think it's well accepted that the 2005 energy bill was the Dick Cheney lobbyist energy bill. It was written by lobbyists. It was championed by Dick Cheney. It wasn't just the green light that it gave to more nuclear power. It had enormous giveaways to the oil and gas industries.
CLINTON: It was the wrong policy for America. It was so heavily tilted toward the special interests that many of us, at the time, said, you know, that's not going to move us on the path we need, which is toward clean, renewable green energy.
Snip
It's not going to happen by hoping for it. And these small, you know, pieces of puzzle that are starting to take shape around the country are not sufficient for us to break our addiction to foreign oil.
CLINTON: So that 2005 energy bill was big step backwards on the path to clean, renewable energy. That's why I voted against it. That's why I'm standing for the proposition -- let's take away the giveaways that were given to gas and oil, put them to work on solar and wind and geothermal and biofuels and all the rest that we need for a new energy future.
But you know, this is going to take a massive effort. This should be our Apollo moon shot.
CLINTON: This is where a president needs to come in and say, "We can do this, America. You know, we can make this change." We've got to do it by having a partnership with what needs to happen in Washington, but there's work for everybody to do -- the states, communities and individuals.
That's what I want to summon the country to achieve, and I think we can make it.
HILLARY’S ENERGY PLAN
Now I’m guessing some folks here will yell and holler that all of this is simply untrue. Obama would NEVER take money from someone pushing so hard to get this program into place – not after voting for a bill that helped this whole thing along. Well Hillary’s team put out something right after the debate that backs up what she was saying – as usual, this stuff is sourced. Check it out...
ALL OF HILLARY'S CLAIMS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE FACTS
One of Sen. Obama's biggest donors is the energy giant Exelon:
Exelon is the sixth largest donor to Sen. Obama's presidential campaign and the fourth largest career donor to Obama's federal campaigns. Exelon employees have donated over $269,100 to his federal campaigns and over$194,750 in 2008. [opensecrets. org, 2008, 2004-2008] Exelon's CEO is a key advocate for storing nuclear waste at Yucca:
Exelon CEO John Rowe calls Yucca mountain project `linchpin' to solving waste problem and building new plants. "So what does Exelon Chief Executive Officer John Rowe want? Fortune magazine, in a May 15, 2006, article titled 'Meet Mr. Nuke,' details Rowe's call to solve the waste problem before additional nuclear power plants are built. "We have to be able to look the public in the eye and say, 'If we build a plant, here's where the waste will go,' " Rowe told Fortune. The Yucca Mountain Project is the 'linchpin' to solving the waste problem and building new plants."[Las Vegas Review Journal, 5/15/07] Exelon has spent millions lobbying to open up Yucca mountain:
In 2002, Exelon spent $2,172,000 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including 'Yucca Mountain Project Management' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year; year-end]
In 2003, Exelon spent $2,864,400 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including 'Yucca Mountain Project Management' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year; year-end]
In 2004, Exelon spent over $1,000,000 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including 'Yucca Mountain Project Management' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year; year-end]
In 2005, Exelon spent $1,815,000 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including `the Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain Project.' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year, year-end]
In 2006, Exelon spent $1,329,014 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including `the Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain Project.' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year, year-end]
In 2007, Exelon spent $1,732,321 dollars on lobbying the federal government on issues including the `Yucca Mountain National Interest...' [sopr.senate. gov, mid-year]
(See above link to get sources and links for each item listed)
Wow – that’s a boatload of money. It makes me ill to think of all the good that money could have done.
And earlier today Fact Hub put up information specific to that big donor of Obama
Top Donor to Sen. Obama Spent Millions Lobbying to Store Nuclear Waste at Yucca Mountain
1/17/2008 1:57:36 PM
One of Sen. Obama's biggest donors is the energy giant Exelon:
Exelon is the sixth largest donor to Sen. Obama's presidential campaign and the fourth largest career donor to Obama's federal campaigns. Exelon employees have donated over $269,100 to his federal campaigns and over $194,750 in 2008. [opensecrets. org, 2008, 2004-2008] Exelon's CEO is a key advocate for storing nuclear waste at Yucca:
Exelon CEO John Rowe calls Yucca mountain project `linchpin' to solving waste problem and building new plants. "So what does Exelon Chief Executive Officer John Rowe want? Fortune magazine, in a May 15, 2006, article titled 'Meet Mr. Nuke,' details Rowe's call to solve the waste problem before additional nuclear power plants are built. "We have to be able to look the public in the eye and say, 'If we build a plant, here's where the waste will go,' " Rowe told Fortune. The Yucca Mountain Project is the 'linchpin' to solving the waste problem and building new plants."[Las Vegas Review Journal, 5/15/07]
Exelon has spent millions lobbying to open up Yucca mountain:
The article goes on to repeat the donations and figures cited above.
I just checked Fact Hub again and they have something new up on all this. Seems Senator Obama had the chance to oppose Yucca while he was serving in the Illinois State Senate – and didn’t.
In Illinois State Senate, Sen. Obama Didn't Speak Out Against Yucca When He Had the Chance
1/17/2008 4:42:55 PM
On April 18, 2002, the Illinois State Senate passed SR342 urging the U.S. Congress to support Bush on Yucca:
Illinois State Senate Resolution 342 "urges Congress to sustain President Bush's affirmative decision on Yucca Mountain's suitability as a permanent federal repository for high-level radioactive materials." (S.R. 342, 4/18/02)
Sen. Obama had the opportunity to speak out against the resolution but remained silent. From the State Senate transcript:
"Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, Senator Rauschenberger moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 342. Those in favor say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it and the resolution was adopted." (Pg. 26, Illinois senate transcript, 4/18/02)
In contrast, when a similar resolution came before the U.S. Senate in July 2002, Hillary voted against the resolution and issued a press release underscoring her opposition.
That press release by the way was from July 9, 2002. She’s not a Janey-come-lately to this issue you guys. She didn’t vote for it before she found some documents that changed her mind and then voted against it. She’s not taking money from someone who’s been pushing for this project for years and saying she’ll shut it down anyway.
She’s the real deal when it comes to Yucca Mountain and if the voters in Nevada want a president who’ll shut this down once and for all – then they need to get out and support Hillary in their caucuses on Saturday.
You want a leader who’s got what it takes to get it done – here she is folks...