As noted here Thursday, the top leadership of the Democratic National Committee turned down Gov. Jay Inslee’s request that one of the first four debates of the Democratic presidential candidates be solely focused on the climate crisis. Inslee joined the race for the Democratic nomination specifically to ensure that the crisis gets the attention that in the past most Democratic candidates up and down the ballot have failed to do.
Campaign Action
The DNC not only told Inslee that it would not hold such a debate, but also reminded the governor of the committee’s rule that any candidate who participates in a non-DNC debate, whatever the topic, will not be allowed to join future DNC debates. The rejection and what Inslee and others have labeled a “black-listing” by the DNC has put Inslee on the edge of defiance. Rebecca Leber reports:
“I cannot rule out any other debate that would highlight both the necessity of defeating the climate crisis and calling for the candidates to step up to the plate,” Inslee said in an interview with Mother Jones on Thursday, while calling from the road in Seattle, Washington. “Sixty-second sound bites, which is all you’ll be able to get in a party debate, is grossly inadequate to the task.” [...]
The reaction to [the DNC] announcement was swift and critical. On Twitter, Al Gore called it a “mistake to refuse to hold a #ClimateDebate.” Elizabeth Warren chimed in with her disappointment: “Gov. Inslee is exactly right. Climate change is the biggest challenge we face. Every candidate running for president should have a serious set of policies to address it, and should be eager to defend those proposals in a debate.”
At the moment there is no outside climate debate scheduled, but there’s talk of one. Varshini Prakash of the Sunrise Movement, a youth-run grassroots activist group backing the Green New Deal, told Leber: “The American people deserve a climate debate. If the DNC isn’t willing to put it on, we’ll consider organizing one ourselves.”
In addition to these critics, 18 members of the DNC, including nine state party chairs, are appealing the committee’s decision not to make an exception to its no single-issue debates in the case of the climate crisis. At the DNC’s Executive Committee meeting at the end of June, they plan to introduce the following resolution:
Resolution to Request a Democratic Presidential Debate on the Climate Crisis
WHEREAS, Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment for generations to come, requiring urgent leadership and real solutions to make critical change; and
WHEREAS, Climate Change impacts everyone on our planet, exacerbating economic instability, causing irreversible damage to our biodiversity, and disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations globally; and,
WHEREAS, as Democrats we both believe in science and in acting now to prevent further damage to our people, planet and economies; and
WHEREAS, failure to address Climate Change comprehensively now may result in creating only temporary and partial solutions to the fundamental inequities in American society that are the core of the Democratic platform; and
WHEREAS, as Democrats we have a moral responsibility to provide a national debate to focus the country's attention on this critical issue and what the American people must do to solve it, while also dispelling the myths and outright falsehoods that have been perpetuated regarding Climate Change;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that one of the first several DNC Presidential Debates should be focused on Climate Change issues and solutions; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the DNC decides not to sponsor such a debate that it clearly states that our candidates are free to participate in any and all forums or debates focused on Climate Change sponsored by other groups.
Submitted by
Tina Podlodowski, Chair, Washington State Democrats
Casey Steinau, Chair, Alaska Democratic Party
Jess Durfee, DNC Member, California
Christine Pelosi, DNC Member, California
Kealii Lopez, Chair, Democratic Party of Hawaii
Van Beechler, Chair, Idaho Democratic Party
Chris Reeves, DNC Member, Kansas
Marg Elliston, Chair, Democratic Party of New Mexico
Carla Hanson, Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon
Pete Lee, Vice Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon
Tanya Shively, DNC Member, Oregon
Daisy Thomas, Chair, Utah Democratic Party
David Green, Vice-Chair, Washington State Democrats
Ed Cote, DNC Member, Washington
Sharon Mast, DNC Member, Washington
David McDonald, DNC Member, Washington
Nancy Monacelli, DNC Member, Washington
Joe Barbuto, Chair, Wyoming Democratic Party