This post is by Tony Kreindler, Media Director, National Climate Campaign, Environmental Defense.
Environmental Defense commissioned the Republican polling firm Ayres, McHenry & Associates – who no one could accuse of a left-wing bias – to survey voters in 49 swing congressional districts about their views on climate change (view full survey results [PDF]).
Notably, independent voters – who could have a big say in which party controls the Congress after the next election – think that Congress should stop bickering and pass legislation that requires cuts in carbon emissions.
What’s more, Independents are more concerned that Congress will do too little and hurt our environment than do too much and hurt our economy.
All voters in swing districts trust Democrats over Republicans on environmental issues by a two-to-one margin; among Independents the margin is three-to-one. But all voters say that if their congressman supports legislation cutting carbon emissions, they’d be more likely to vote for him or her. Conversely, if their congressman blocks legislation cutting carbon emissions, they’d be less likely to vote for him or her.
Voters of all political persuasions – but notably, Independents
– are most likely to vote for candidates who say:
- Climate change is a serious problem, versus climate change is exaggerated.
- Climate change is a scientific fact versus climate change is a hoax.
- U.S. should lead on carbon versus U.S. should wait for China and India to act.
- Carbon cuts would create jobs versus carbon cuts would drive jobs overseas.
- Carbon cuts would make us less dependent on foreign oil versus carbon cuts would make it harder to use coal.
Republicans lost control of the Congress in 2006 – even though their base turned out – because Independents voted overwhelmingly for Democrats. Candidates who want to win in the House should take note!
6 Comments
one little burp from the sun can/will do more damage to the earth than mankind ever will
I agree with mohee. The sun is the greatest influence on the Earth’s climate in the solar system. Without the sun we would have no climate or life on the Earth. And yes, the sun has been going through a period of increased activity that has affected our climate in recent years. Yet, the Global Warming crowd is so intent on blaming man for recent climate changes that they overlook the real causes and possible dangers.
But, many scientists, weather people, and meteorolists are speaking out. On Wednesday November 7, 2007, founder of the Weather Channel, John Coleman, called Global Warming the “Greatest Scam in History.”
He states, “In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling. And, natural cycles and drifts in climate are as much if not more responsible for any climate changes underway. I strongly believe that the next twenty years are equally as likely to see a cooling trend as they are to see a warming trend.”
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/comments_about_global_warming/
Those who believe in Global Warming say that there is a scientific consensus that supports this belief. This is untrue. As many, and possibly many more scientists do not believe that man is responsible for Global Warming. There is no consensus.
K.C. Weber
The sun has not been “burping”. Here’s proof it’s not the sun (for those interested in actual science and data):
http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2007/07/12/human_cause-5/
Dear Sheryl,
If you go to the web address you have listed and scroll down you will see a blog from me giving 5 web sites that counter your “proof” and say that it is the sun.
K.C. Weber
Let’s leave the “is it/isn’t it?” for the areas of the blog that actually discuss this. We can discuss solar burps or urban heat islands or WAIS collapse all over the place without really getting anywhere.
Thanks for the post that shows how “independent” voters have swung to the scientific consensus position. I believe that a majority of all ages, and across both parties also support the statement “We should act now on climate change”. Now we just need representation in government.
Quentin
Thanks for your post(s) Quentin. You are a breath of fresh air!