Issa And China Sitting In A Tree-- Peeing On America

Career criminal Darrell Issa, the wealthiest crook in Congress, has a district in suburban northern San Diego County tailor made for a reactionary, and his Democratic opponent, Jerry Tetalman, is far from a reactionary.

"It's about the issues," Tetalman said Monday. "I don't think he's looking out for the little guy. He's looking out for the rich and for special interests."

A North County resident since 1978, Tetalman is a former registered nurse who gave up the profession to start his own real estate company, Progressive Realty. He's also vice president and former president of California Citizens for Global Solutions, a progressive anti-war group that calls for worldwide cooperation to solve common problems.

...He's working on securing the endorsement of the California Democratic Party but said he has not been in touch with the Washington-based Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

No need to waste his time with the DCCC. There's no chance in hell that they'll ever consider taking on Issa, regardless of the fact that he's one of the most fanatic anti-working family extremists in Congress. Isaa was re-elected with 63% last year and in 2008, when the district gave McCain a 53-45% advantage, Issa beat his Democrat rival with 58%. Grassroots groups in California have identified Issa as one of Congress' most corrupt and dangerous men. And even if the DCCC won't raise a finger to help Titalman-- or any other progressive challenging Issa-- real representatives of the 99% are pitching in to let voters in the 49th district know what a viper they have in their midst. The DCCC represents-- strictly represents-- the interests of the 1%. Progressives are depending on citizens' groups, from labor unions to organizations like the Sierra Club, to give Issa a little trouble. Last week, in fact, the Sierra Club launched the TV ad above. Their executive director, Michael Brune, pointed out that "At a time when working families are struggling to make ends meet, Rep. Issa is blocking clean energy jobs and investments for his constituents. He has repeatedly blocked proven job creators in the clean energy sector, in order to keep Americans dependent on dirty fossil fuels-- this catering to corporate polluter lobbyists is inexcusable... Clean energy is already providing Americans with affordable and reliable energy-- without polluting the environment or threatening our health. A clean energy future beyond dirty coal and oil is within our reach-- and it’s time for our leaders to stop living in the past and invest in clean, safe and renewable energy to jumpstart our economy."

Issa and the Republican Party, obligated to China for the huge sums of money the Chinese government illegally funneled into last year's congressional elections through the Chamber of Commerce and unscrupulous right-wing SuperPACs, have worked hard and consistently, to allow China to have a free hand at becoming the world's clean energy superpower and making the U.S. into an importer of Chinese solar panels. The Chinese investment in making Gingrich Speaker and giving hacks like Issa powerful committee chairs has paid off very handsomely for them.

Isaa has led the battle against clean energy in the U.S. On July 15 Issa's reactionary energy bill passed the House 219-196 (only 21 Republicans showing the courage to buck him and the party to stand up for America's interests). And again on September 23 all but 24 Republicans betrayed America's vital interests in the green energy battle.

Wikipedia reports that Renewable energy is helping "China complete its economic transformation and achieve 'energy security.' China rapidly has moved along the path of renewable energy development. About 17% of China's electricity came from renewable sources in 2007... Technology development and increased amounts of investment in renewable energy technologies and installations have increased markedly throughout the 2000s in China, and investment in renewables is now part of China's economic stimulus strategy. Researchers from Harvard University and Tsinghua University have found that the People's Republic could meet all of its electricity demands from wind power by 2030... China produces 30% of the worlds solar photovoltaics (PV). It has emerged as the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels in the last two years... If Chinese companies manage to develop low cost, reliable solar modules, then the sky is the limit for a country that is desperate to reduce its dependence on coal and oil imports as well as the pressure on its environment by using renewable energy." Issa and the GOP are making sure the U.S. cannot compete with China, while most House Democrats desperately fight back to protect America's vital interests. Friday 59 congressmembers released a letter to Obama demanding an investigation into China's alleged unfair trade practices in the clean energy sector.

"We cannot strengthen our energy security, or create jobs and economic growth, by replacing Middle East petroleum imports with unfairly traded clean energy technologies imported from China," the lawmakers wrote.

Representative Sander Levin, the top Democrat on the House committee with jurisdiction over taxes and trade, led the group, which included members of both parties from the House and Senate.

The letter echoed a plea last month from SolarWorld Industries America, a subsidiary of SolarWorld AG of Germany and the sector's leading manufacturer in the US, for Obama to impose trade sanctions on China for what the firm charged were unfair subsidies to its solar panel exporters.

"We urge you to take all available measures to expeditiously investigate these allegations and take swift and appropriate action based on those findings," the lawmakers said.

Chinese solar panel makers this week rejected the complaint, warning it risked "seriously hindering the development of green energy," and accused SolarWorld of benefiting from lavish government subsidies.

Battlelines are hardening and Issa is clearly on China's side, not America's. One would think the DCCC might be willing to help a candidate like Jerry Tetalman get this out in southern California. They aren't.