If You Want Congress To Address The Climate Crisis Seriously, You Should Help Elect Candidates Who Take It As Seriously As You Do

If you've been following DWT since 2012, you probably remember when we endorsed then-state Senator Al Lowenthal of Long Beach for Congress. He had a great record in the state legislature, so it was an easy pick. And-- guess what... he's been a great member of Congress as well. His ProgressivePunch rank has consistently been an "A" and he's always up there with Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Judy Chu and Ted Lieu in fighting for the core progressive agenda.

Much of his campaign back in '12 revolved-- as much of his work in Sacramento had-- around the environment so it was no surprise that that's where he's directed much of his energy since going to DC. And now, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, he is the chairman of the subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Rights.

In a note to his supporters over the weekend he reiterated that "The Trump Administration is no friend of our environment. In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, this administration has used the crisis as cover to continue rolling back environmental regulations and pushing through controversial policy changes that threaten not only our environment, but the health of many Americans."

Furthermore, he wrote, "These actions are being quietly slipped under the radar as many public health officials who would have serious concerns over the policy change are busy in efforts to fight coronavirus. Americans are getting sick, and the Trump Administration's cruel environmental policies, all in the name of a pro-polluter agenda, will only make them sicker. People across the nation are suffering from the impacts of these misguided environmental policies, and each additional action by this administration only adds to the harm. As a chairman of a key subcommittee on the Natural Resources Committee, I remain committed to protecting and preserving our environment.

Basically, Lowenthal and other progressives like him are fighting to make sure the Trump regime doesn't destroy our environment in the name of saving our health when they really mean saving the investments of the top 1%.

"The Trump Administration has spent years rolling back decades of hard-fought environmental progress. The White House has worked to undermine science, accelerate climate change, undo decades of work to protect our air, water, and health, and compromise the health of our planet." Lowenthal is doing the hard work it takes to protect the environment by working to stop Trump and protect the future of our planet-- something Trump doesn't spent a second thinking about, beyond claiming the Climate Crisis is a "Chinese hoax."

Here we are, 8 years later and we're still trying to help elect enough progressives to break down the corrupt establishment walls-- transpartisan-- that are holding back progress on the environment and Climate Change. I asked progressive challenger Robin Wilt where these issues are for voters in Monroe County, New York and how she will persuade them she's going to do more than establishment New Dem Joe Morelle.

She told me that "Although the urgency of the environmental crisis has seemingly taken a backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic, those on the frontlines of the struggle are painfully cognizant that the climate change crisis has always been intimately connected to the propagation and spread of global pandemic diseases like COVID-19. Not only does our deforestation and removal of habitat create more opportunity for cross-species spread of viruses not native to the human species, but the susceptibility to illness of certain groups (disproportionately our urban Black and Brown communities) is increased by prolonged exposure to pollutants. That is why it is so important that we have policy like the Green New Deal that focuses on environmental justice. When our representatives, like Joe Morelle, stubbornly ignore not only science, but also our most vulnerable communities, it creates recipes for disaster like the COVID-19 conflagration. We must hold our representation accountable for the circumstances that they have created…and for our future. With the clock ticking on our ability to avoid species-threatening massive casualties from climate crises, we must now, more than ever, vote like our lives depend on it and remove the do-nothing representatives that present a barrier to our collective progress."

Tom Guild is running for the Oklahoma City seat, currently held by a very conservative, utterly worthless Blue Dog, Kendra Horn, who has refused to sign onto the Green New Deal proposal. Earlier today Guild told me that one of his "main goals when elected to the U.S. House is to initiate bold action to fight climate change. The principles of the Green New Deal will be a good guidepost to help us reverse the damage done by excessive use of fossil fuels. We will create tens of millions of good paying green jobs as we transition to an environmentally friendly renewable energy policy. According to a consensus of the scientific community, time is running short to effectively deal with climate change. We must not set in motion an irreversible situation that leads to the destruction of our environment that scientists say will likely render planet earth unsustainable for human life in the foreseeable future."

Audrey Denney is the progressive Democrat running for Congress in a sprawling rural district in northeastern California. When Bernie decided to announce his own climate plank, he did it at an event with Audrey in her district. Few candidates are as serious as she is about Climate. This morning she told me that "Climate change is the single most important issue facing the planet. We are already living through its effects. In 2018, 93 people died in our district in two devastating and historic wildfires-- where climate change was a contributing factor. My commitment to moving forward policy that help us mitigate and adapt to climate change was the reason I was the first congressional candidate to be endorsed by the Sunrise Movement this cycle. I’m running against a far-right extremist climate change denier-- who is also a rice farmer. Every single farmer I know and work with knows that climatic patterns are changing. Except Congressman LaMalfa."

Riverside County progressive Liam O'Mara is practically a neighbor of Al Lowenthal's and he's just as gung-ho on the environment and climate change as Lowenthal is. Liam made this minute-long video for us today. He says when it comes to the Climate Crisis, Congress should "stop listening to lobbyists and start listening to scientists... We are falling behind Europe and east Asia in the technologies of to-morrow, and ought instead to set American ingenuity free to create the jobs that will make us competitive for generations. Infrastructure investment pays itself back 3-to-1, so let's put Americans back to work building a modern power grid, battery storage, and renewable generating capacity." He also noted that the CA-42 incumbent, "Crooked Ken Calvert, has a lifetime score of 7% from the League of Conservation Voters and a 0% from the Sierra Club. He wants to pillage the earth for short-term corporate profit and hand taxpayer money to polluters."

At This Weekend's California Democratic Party Convention, Activists Want To Know Who's For Impeachment-- And Who Isn't

Earlier this week, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer, hosted a Q&A with House Intelligence Chair and L.A. area congressman, Adam Schiff, Constitutional Clash. An exasperated Schiff went after his Republican colleagues' moral character. He said many of them come up to him in private to "express their deep concerns and worries" about Trump and his regime and to offer encouragement to him for his work in getting to the bottom of Russian interference with our elections. "But," he told Feuer, I’m, frankly, exhausted by the private misgivings. People need to speak out... I think there’s been an epidemic of cowardice in the GOP. This president doesn’t stand for anything that the Republican Party said it stood for."

Some might find it... ironic that Schiff himself is not one of the 50-some odd Democrats now openly calling on Nancy Pelosi to start the formal impeachment hearings. "I’m not there yet, he told Feuer, "although the president seems to be doing everything in his power to get me there."

This weekend, the California Democratic Party is holding its annual convention in San Francisco. Many of the congressional delegation are there as are pretty much all the 2020 congressional candidates-- and Bernie, who endorsed impeachment Thursday. (In fact, pretty much all the presidential candidates showed up except human chicken Status Quo Joe who avoids party activists like the plagued.) And, believe me, the Congress members are all hearing from party activists, who are aggressively in favor of impeachment. So far the eleven California members who have signed on to impeachment are:

• Barbara Lee
• Ted Lieu
• Mark DeSaulnier
• Katie Porter
• Alan Lowenthal
• Jared Huffman
• Maxine Waters
• Brad Sherman
• Jackie 'Speier
• Norma Torres
• Juan Vargas

That's a mixed bag of progressives, moderates and conservatives. Alan Lowenthal is bringing his constituents along with him on this by helping to educate them. Yesterday he wrote to them: "I am proud that during my time representing Long Beach and Orange County I’ve fought for what I believe is right. I’ve fought to make life better for my constituents, and all Americans. The same cannot be said for our president, and after reviewing the Mueller Report, hearing directly from the Special Counsel, and listening to my constituents, it’s clear to me that it is time for Congress to do our constitutional duty and begin an impeachment inquiry into the president."

If anything is to be learned from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s public statement this week, it’s that Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly misled the American people. Despite what Barr and the White House want you to believe, Mueller has now made clear the president was not cleared on all charges. Instead, Mueller said clearly about his obstruction of justice investigation, "...if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so." The report simply, in the Special Counsel's own words, did not clear the president.

With frightening levels of Russian interference in our elections and a president who seems to disregard our laws, it’s important to remember that while the presidency may be the highest single office in our government, Donald Trump and the executive branch he leads is still one of our three coequal branches of government, along with Congress and the Judiciary. The president is not a king. He is not above the law, and he must be held accountable.

We have listened to the lies of the president and his attorney general for too long. We need leaders who will put aside partisan politics and do what’s right for the survival of our democracy.

These are the Californians who have not signed on yet-- progressives' names are in blue:

Pete Aguilar (New Dem)
John Garamendi
Mike Thompson (Blue Dog)
Doris Matsui
Ami Bera (New Dem)
Jerry McNerney
Josh Harder (New Dem)
PELOSI
Eric Swalwell
Jim Costa (Blue Dog)
Ro Khanna
Anna Eshoo
Zoe Lofgren
Jimmy Panetta
TJ Cox
Salud Carbajal (New Dem)
Katie Hill (New Dem)
Julia Brownley (New Dem)
Judy Chu
Adam Schiff (New Dem)
Al Cárdenas (New Dem)
Grace Napolitano
Jimmy Gomez
Raul Ruiz (New Dem)
Karen Bass
Linda Sanchez
Gil Cisneros (New Dem)
Lucile Roybal-Allard
Mark Takano
Nanette Barragan
Lou Correa (New Dem)
Harley Rouda (New Dem)
Mike Levin
Scott Peters (New Dem)
Susan Davis (New Dem)

And, by the way, here's how Republican candidates are attacking Democrats on impeachment. A slimy little right-winger, Don Sedgwick, an unpopular Laguna Hills city councilman. campaigning against Katie Porter in central Orange County sent out a typically right-wing distorted press release: CA-45 CANDIDATE SEDGWICK PUSHES BACK AGAINST PORTER'S RADICAL SHIFT TOWARDS IMPEACHMENT-- Porter Yet Again Panders To Her Ultra Liberal Cronies Pushing For Impeachment Instead of Focusing On What Matters.

Don Sedgwick, candidate for Congressional District 45, today pushed back against Katie Porter’s radical shift towards impeachment. Speaking on impeachment at a town hall meeting Thursday, Porter called it “a real turning point,” saying “the time is nigh.”

Don Sedgwick stated, "Porter has chosen to play Washington insider games with her ultra left-wing friends like AOC, Warren and Sanders instead of focusing on what matters-- solving veteran homelessness, fixing our broken healthcare system and growing our economy. Shame on her.”

“She’s out of touch and out of control. Representative Porter, do your job and get to work on what matters, instead of pandering to your liberal DC cronies," concluded Sedgwick.

Mike Quigley (D-IL) is neither from California nor particularly progressive. He's a New Dem representing Rahm's old seat in Chicago. This morning, though, he explained to his constituents why he just came out for impeachment. "For three years," he wrote, "I've been part of the critical House investigation in to the Russian government’s attack on our democracy. It’s never been a question for me whether President Trump was fit for office-- he is not; it has never been a question of whether he has abused his powers-- he has; whether he obstructed-- he certainly has, and I believe he and his cohorts conspired with the Russians. But, up to now, I have not called for impeachment because getting to the truth of what happened, and being able to prevent future attacks on our democracy, is my priority. Now that the President and his administration are continuing to obstruct Congressional investigations-- ignoring our legally-binding subpoenas-- we can’t fulfill our constitutional duties with him in the White House. It’s time."

He wrote that he's calling on Pelosi to start the formal impeachment inquiry. "As bad as Russia’s attack on our elections was, the response to it by the President is far worse-- and has done lasting damage to our country. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s message earlier this week was loud and clear: it’s Congress' job to carry his work forward and assess consequences for the President’s actions. Mueller very clearly believes President Trump obstructed justice, but he believes long-standing Department of Justice policy leaves him powerless to act. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has responded to Mueller’s report with obfuscation, obstruction, and blatant lies to the American people. They’re ignoring our subpoenas and won’t show us the unredacted Mueller report or let us talk to the witnesses Mueller interviewed. It’s become clear that the President is intent on blocking Congress from doing its job. Opening an impeachment inquiry will help us get the information that they’re keeping from us. I have given this tremendous thought these past few months and believe there is no other option but to take this step... I take this decision seriously. Foreign interference in our elections compromises the sanctity of our democratic system and we need to get to the bottom of it. This is more important than Watergate, and vastly more complex."

Can Anything Prevent The Trump Take-Over Tomorrow?

This is what Trump has done to the Lincoln Memorial (the jumbo-tron is not photoshopped)

Tomorrow, America will see the inauguration of a deranged and narcissistic fascist with shady ties to brutal Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to a CBS poll released Wednesday, Trump's approval rating is just 32%. In contrast, other recent presidents of both parties have had sky-high transition approval ratings. George H.W. Bush's was 82%, Bill Clinton's was 81%, Obama's was 80% and even George W. Bush's, which wasn't nearly as high (72%), was still way over double Trump's. And yet... barely over a third of the Democratic congressmembers are boycotting the horror tomorrow. And not a single senator is joining them. (At last count, there were 70-something congressmembers who have announced they're staying away from the Day of Shame events.)

The 3 top leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, co-chairs Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva and first Vice-Chairman, Mark Pocan, are staying away. Grijalva explained why he's going to be in Tucson Friday. Rather than participate in the inauguration," he explained, "I will be joining with members of my district to reaffirm and renew this democracy and the people that are part of it. My decision to skip the inauguration is not motivated by disrespect for the office of the president, or by disrespect for the government. It is an individual act of defiance at the disrespect shown to the millions of Americans by this incoming administration."

Donald Trump wants to deport millions of people who call this country home, create a national registry for Muslims and repeal the Affordable Care Act. Skipping his inauguration is a necessary step in the fight to reject his harmful policies and stand with those who will be most at risk during his presidency.

The majority of voters rejected Trump-- they deserve respect. The 20 million Americans threatened by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act with no replacement-- they deserve respect. And the millions of voters who did not participate in the election because they blame both parties-- they deserve respect, too.

That's why during the inauguration I will be at home in Arizona meeting with seniors, the immigrant community, health care providers, and folks that care about the environment and climate change. I will join with the people of Tucson to demand respect from the Trump administration.

Now is the time for us to come together to defend and protect the future of all Americans.

David Cicilline is a vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He's decided that he should go top the Trump Inauguration and he explained why-- after hearing from lots of angry Rhode Islanders-- on his Facebook page yesterday. He points out that he "worked hard to prevent Donald Trump from becoming our 45th President. When Trump's affinity for Vladimir Putin came into focus last summer, I asked President Obama to cut off his access to classified intel. I denounced his deplorable comments on women and people with disabilities, and his attack on Latinos as the hate speech that it was. And I condemned his selection of Mike Pence, a running mate with an unambiguously anti-LGBT record. Since his election, I have refused to give a single inch to the President-elect. I led more than 160 of my colleagues demanding that he rescind his appointment of Steve Bannon as White House chief strategist. I introduced new legislation that requires him to release his tax returns so we finally know what he's hiding. And just this past weekend I condemned him for his outrageous comments about John Lewis, an icon of the civil rights movement and a man who I am proud to call my friend."

And yet, Cicilline is still going tomorrow. Why? This is what he says:

I understand the frustration that people are feeling over the results of this election, and I share it. Some of my colleagues have decided the most powerful way to express their opposition to the incoming administration and the policies of the new President is to boycott the inauguration. I have deep respect for their decision and recognize that this is one way to express strong opposition. Others, like me, think it's an equally powerful message to attend the inauguration to make it clear that we're in this fight from the very first minute he takes office and for the next four years.

Tens of thousands of Americans and many Rhode Islanders are taking time out of their lives to travel to Washington D.C. to protest the incoming Administration on Inauguration Day, and I will be there in solidarity and in opposition to the policies and the rhetoric of Donald Trump. And to carry on that message, on Saturday, I will join the Women's March on Washington to oppose Trump’s agenda and to commit to fight for our shared values.

Serving our state is the honor of my life. It's a responsibility that I never take lightly. And as your Representative, I promise that I will not surrender the field to Donald Trump for a single moment. He may be our 45th President, but I will be there to make sure your voice is heard loud and clear in Washington.

I take him at his word. He's a good member of Congress; better than most. The DWT strategy-- articulated by Noah: "Disdain, Derision and Zero Tolerance"-- isn't the same as Cicilline's but that doesn't mean I don't respect his decision and his service. This is a symbolic effort. I believe in it.

Alan Lowenthal, a progressive policy wonk who represents Long Beach, California had been reported by the L.A. Times to be going. He told me he never spoke with the Times about it and that he's been undecided and trying to figure out the best thing to do after Trump's deranged attacks on John Lewis. He told me this morning that "After much soul searching, and two days of listening to my constituents, I felt I could not attend the inauguration." In a message to those constituents he said that "On inauguration day, our nation invests the President-elect with executive power. We do not anoint the President with respect.  Respect must be earned. Donald Trump, in his attacks on Rep. Lewis, and minorities, and women, and the disabled, has yet done little to earn my respect. For that reason, and in solidarity with those he has attacked, I have decided not to attend the inauguration. I sincerely hope that over the next four years President Trump will work hard to earn the respect of all Americans, not just those who voted for him. The American people deserve it and the office of the President requires it."

Meanwhile, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the most truly disgusting and unworthy member of Congress on either side of the aisle-- if Trump was smart, he'd ban her from his inauguration-- decided to send out an e-mail implying she was resisting Trump. She asked her supporters to send her money because Friday is the inauguration. What she didn't say, of course, is that she's one of the corrupt deplorables who can barely wait to mingle with the lobbyists and fellow insiders at the inauguration. She'll be there... in all her contemptible shame and lack of dignity.

Blue America started this page when only a tiny handful of members were supporting Luis Gutierrez's call for a boycott. We've raised nearly $12,000 in 4 days for members to encourage this kind of resistance. But, in the end, what we're looking for is men and women in Congress willing to hold the line on bad policies and bad nominees. Bernie says he's going to the inauguration. So are Elizabeth Warren and Al Franken. Did you hear their questioning of Trump's horrible nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary Wednesday? That's more important. The votes from Democrats on Tom Price's putrid  nomination will mean a lot more-- in every way-- than whether or not they decide to go to the Trumpanzee inauguration. But if you want to show solidarity with the members who aren't going... here's the place (just tap that thermometer):

Another Shakeup In The Inland Empire Congressional Race (CA-31)

After huge endorsements for Inland Empire progressive Eloise Reyes from Southern California progressive leaders Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Lucille Roybal Allard, state Senator Ed Hernández, and ex-Secretary of Labor/former CA-31 Congresswoman Hilda Solis, the DCCC's Steve Israel was forced to back away from his love affair with corrupt conservative empty suit Pete Aguilar. He added the district rather than Aguilar to the Red-to-Blue list. Perhaps that was enough of a signal for Rep. Grace Napolitano in a neighboring district to co-endorse Eloise (along with her old friend Joe Baca, who is also running in CA-31).

And yesterday, Long Beach progressive, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who the DCCC had persuaded to back Aguilar many months ago, issued this statement in support of Eloise's campaign:

"Eloise has spent her entire career fighting for injured workers and I’m confident that she’ll continue to be a strong fighter for working families in Congress. And like me, she is committed to providing a safe school environment for our children. She’s done an outstanding job putting together her campaign and I believe she would make a fine representative. A dual endorsement is therefore appropriate in this case."

Eloise, who has made it clear she aims to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus as soon as she's elected, has also been endorsed by Progressive Caucus chairman Raúl Grijalva. Aguilar, a corrupt ex-bank lobbyist, is from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party and while Eloise is being endorsed by progressives he's sucking up to the Wall Street-owned New Dems and seeking their endorsement.

Yesterday, Third Way corporate whores used Politico to attack Markos from Daily Kos and go after the uplifting progressive vision of real Democrats that drives sold-out, right-wing "business" Democrats like Steve Israel and Pete Aguilar crazy. Markos and the Third Way sell-outs were arguing about the Senate:

Who cares if seven of the 10 were replaced with Republicans? Ten years ago, Democrats had 49 members in the Senate. Today they have 53 plus Bernie Sanders and Angus King. And even if they lose the Senate this year, which they won't, it won't be much more than a rental as 2016 is a stellar map for us (up to 10 potential pickups).

So is it better to have Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller in a 49-seat minority, or is it better to replace them with better Democrats in a 55-seat Democratic majority? Only morons would argue for the former, but apparently, that's what Third Way wants to be.

But it's an important dynamic in House races as well, where Blue Dogs, New Dems and other fake Dems from the Republican wing of the party have been coddled and encouraged by Israel, himself an "ex" Blue Dog, usually at the expense of progressives and grassroots Democrats. It's precisely what we see going on in the Inland Empire, where Israel and his coterie is hoping to slip in another "mystery meat" candidate who's just looking for a career trajectory and may well aspire to nothing more than a K Street lobbying job someday after he does enough favors for Big Business at the expense of ordinary working families. Just look at him. Does this embarrassing mess look like a congressman?

Blue America Welcomes Alan Lowenthal

Alan Lowenthal will be the last official Blue America endorsement of 2012. As a state legislator, Alan has been an unabashed, unapologetic and very effective progressive from Long Beach. He's widely acknowledged to be one of the best California state senators when it comes to moving progressive ideas out of the realm of wishing and hoping and ion the realm of solid policy achievement. If he can do half of what he's accomplished in Sacramento, in Washington, the whole country will be better off.

This week there was a brouhaha in his race because the confused Republican running against him told an audience filled with Fox News global warming deniers that he doesn't believe in Climate Change and that we can't do anything about it anyway and they should just recycle. Even the right-wing newspaper that always endorses Republicans was shocked. Alan's whole career has been based on doing something about it!

At the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Alan drafted legislation which capped emissions and reduced airborne particulates by over 75%. Now, the two ports are the cleanest and greenest ports in the nation and a model for clean ports all over the world. That's called doing something about it.

Is Alan too principled and too wedded to progressive solutions to be able to work with Republicans? Well, maybe not Bachmann and Akin but Senator Lowenthal has been one of the most effective legislators in California history in bringing both sides together for the sake of ordinary families. He authored legislation which increased student success and graduation rates at all 113 of California’s Community Colleges, and linked the educational community in Long Beach by aligning common core standards from kindergarten to college. This was done with overwhelming bipartisan support. And as a founding member of the Bipartisan Caucus in the State Assembly, Alan also took the lead in authoring the legislation needed to create a new redistricting process which was more representative of the needs of the people, not the political self-interest of the politicians; the end result being the independent Citizen Redistricting Commission.

It's important to remember that his opponent, who is being heavily backed by Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan, will never stray from right-wing dogma. Gary Delong will always walk in lock-step vote for the Party and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is lying to Democrats, Independents, and progressives throughout the district about being a “new breed” of Republican, and trying to paint Alan's stellar legislative career as the worst thing to ever happen to this state-- blaming him for trying to ban styrofoam, passing AB 32 (California’s climate change plan), and choosing to save funding for schools and public safety instead of cutting them completely.

In officially endorsing Alan, Blue America joins the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Bill Clinton, the American Federation of Teachers, MoveOn.org and DailyKos. Please consider helping upgrade Congress by supporting Alan Lowenthal for a swing district that spans Long Beach and parts of Orange County. He's joining us for a live chat at Crooks and Liars today at 11am (PT).

Gary Delong-- Global Warming Denier... In Southern California?

Thursday we looked at how hostile to Science-- the engine of all economic progress-- the Republicans in Congress are. And, of course, like most reactionary trains of thought, Global Warming deniers are dominant in the old slave-holding states of the Confederacy. But in Southern California? Gary Delong, the Republican nominee who beat mainstream Republican Steve Kuykendall in the primary, roiled the race for the 47th CD congressional seat (Long Beach, Cypress, Westminster and Garden Grove) by making a stunning claim that he sees no scientific evidence of Climate Change. Does he think he's running for a seat in Mississippi or Alabma instead of California?

Delong removed the video of his crackpot statements from his own website, but luckily some of his fans had saved it and you can watch the whole thing here. (Delong gets going into Republican Fantasyland at 10:25.) David Allgood, Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters, was stunned. "Climate change and global warming are real. The denial of this scientifically proven phenomenon is not only a threat to our planet's health, but our economy and our children's future. Climate change deniers are nothing more than apologists for polluters, oil companies, and right-wing ideologues like the Koch brothers. Gary DeLong is not just wrong, his position is dangerous. We can't afford someone like him who puts politics and ideology ahead of science and the health of our community."

Thursday the editorial board of the very right-wing Long Beach Press-Telegram, the biggest newspaper in the district-- which has endorsed Delong-- was also mortified.

With the weather being so unseasonably warm over the last few days, one would think Long Beach City Councilman Gary DeLong would believe in a proven little fact like climate change. Alas, no.

The Republican congressional candidate recently told the Rossmoor Homeowners Association that global warming is "questionable."

When asked a follow-up question as to whether climate change is manmade, DeLong offered this doozy:

"No, you know there are scientists on both sides of it, but no, I don't immediately get there," DeLong said in a video posted on YouTube. "I don't see any scientific evidence."

These pages endorsed DeLong for the 47th Congressional District and hailed him as a moderate based on his own statements that he would buck the GOP's lockstep train of thought on social issues and the environment. ... Was DeLong pandering to the conservative views of a handful of Orange County voters in this new congressional district? With only 20 days left until Election Day, it's up to the voters to decide where DeLong's vision for the environment truly lies.

State Senator Alan Lowenthal is the progressive running for the seat. He also happens to be widely considered one of the most environmentally-conscious members of the state legislature and has been lauded for drafting the legislation that has made Long Beach and Los Angeles the cleanest ports in America and models for ports all over the world. Alan will be the Blue America guest at Crooks and Liars on Tuesday morning at 11am (PT). (You can contribute to his campaign on the main Blue America page.) His campaign was surprised to hear Delong take such an extreme, ideological position that is so diametrically opposed to that of most people in the district. Claiming that "now is not the time" to address the climate crisis, isn't something most voters in the 47th want to hear from someone running for office.

It is worth noting that DeLong went on record, and even wrote published editorials, opposing Alan Lowenthal’s bill SB 568, which places recycling standards on non-biodegradable expanded polystyrene containers that pollute the Los Angeles River and the Pacific Ocean.

“Climate change isn’t just a political issue, it is a scientific fact and an economic issue,” said Alan Lowenthal. “Economists Frank Ackerman and Elizabeth Stanton calculated that putting off adaptation and mitigation efforts could cost the United States 1.4% of its gross domestic product by 2025, and 1.9% by 2100. We can’t afford this hit to our economy just so polluters can avoid making sensible changes to stop fouling our air and water.”

A recent Pew Research study also concluded that 67% of Americans believe in climate change.

“Gary DeLong is now aligning himself with polluters and right-wing climate deniers like the Koch brothers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is not a principled position. This is putting the future of our children and the health of our planet at risk in order to increase profits for oil companies and polluters,” Lowenthal spokesman Mike Shimpock said, “Climate change is a scientific fact, it is not a partisan issue or a talking point. Gary DeLong just chose politics and profits over the truth.”

California is the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world, but has been widely recognized as the leader in climate change awareness and mitigation.

In 2006, Senator Alan Lowenthal voted in support of AB 32, the landmark law to reduce California’s carbon emissions, and serves as a national model. The law requires the California Air Resource Board to develop regulations and market mechanisms to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, representing a 25% reduction statewide, with mandatory caps beginning in 2012 for significant emissions sources and was signed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Alan Lowenthal is a leader in reducing pollution and the amount of carbon emissions at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. His efforts helped cut pollution at the Port by more than 75%.

He is endorsed by shipping industry leaders such as Maersk, Inc., and environmental organizations such as Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.

  “Climate change is real-- the facts are there,” Lowenthal said, “If Gary wants to continue denying it, then so be it; Californians such as myself will continue on a path of climate change mitigation, adaption, and cooperation with or without politicians like him.”

Delong is at odds with the majority of Americans, who are very well aware of teh reality-- and the dangers inherent-- in man-made climate change. A just released study from Yale is further proof that Climate Change deniers like Delong should be kept as far  away from public policy as possible. This is what the new study shows: 

• Americans’ belief in the reality of global warming has increased by 13 percentage points over the past two and a half years, from 57 percent in January 2010 to 70 percent in September 2012. At the same time, the number of Americans who say global warming is not happening has declined nearly by half, from 20 percent in January 2010 to only 12 percent today.

• For the first time since 2008, more than half of Americans (54%) believe global warming is caused mostly by human activities, an increase of 8 points since March 2012. Americans who say it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment have declined to 30 percent (from 37% in March).

• A growing number of Americans believe global warming is already harming people both at home and abroad. Four in ten say people around the world are being harmed right now by climate change (40%, up 8 percentage points since March 2012), while 36 percent say global warming is currently harming people in the United States (up six points since March).

• In addition, they increasingly perceive global warming as a threat to themselves (42%, up 13 points since March 2012), their families (46%, up 13 points), and/or people in their communities (48%, up 14 points). Americans also perceive global warming as a growing threat to people in the United States (57%, up 11 points since March 2012), in other modern industrialized countries (57%, up 8 points since March), and in developing countries (64%, up 12 points since March).

• Today over half of Americans (58%) say they are “somewhat” or “very worried” - now at its highest level since November 2008.

• For the first time since 2008, Americans are more likely to believe most scientists agree that global warming is happening than believe there is widespread disagreement on the subject (44% versus 36%, respectively). This is an increase of 9 percentage points since March 2012.

Why Should We Support State Senator Alan Lowenthal For Congress? I Asked Him

My name is Alan Lowenthal. I grew up in New York and moved to the sunny coast of California during the fateful Summer of Love. Now more than 40 years later, I’m trying to return to the East Coast, but this time as a United States Congress Member.

A few days ago I finally had a chance to speak with Howie Klein. Howie has been a part of the progressive movement for a while, but we’ve never quite connected. Our conversation was to-the-point. I get the impression every conversation with Howie is to-the-point, and for good reason. There isn’t a lot of time to dawdle. We have an opportunity to take back the House of Representatives, and I am humbled that I have a chance to be a part of that change.

I was happy that Howie asked me to write this post for Down with Tyranny-- to give me this opportunity to introduce myself to the ever-growing online community of progressive activists that help keep the Democratic Party true to itself.

It’s fortuitous that I’ve begun to actively reach out to the online progressive community. The internet has enabled the bringing together of progressives on a scale that Long Beach Area Citizens Involved (LBACI), a community group, could never have imagined. Here we are, hundreds of thousands strong helping to direct and influence public policy. Things that people used to think would never happen in their lifetime are suddenly happening. We elected an African-American to the White House; marriage equality is no longer a dream; Wall Street has revealed itself; and, people are starting to wake up to the wide-spread and institutionalized economic disparity in this country. We are on the verge of a great new day in America, and I am so excited that I might be able to come to Washington D.C. and be a part of it.

When I first began this campaign, even though I’d served in elected office for 20 years-- first as a City Councilmember in Long Beach, then an Assemblymember and State Senator-- I was still so humbled every time I uttered the sentence, “I’m running for Congress.” It’s such a remarkable thing to say out loud.

A lot has happened between my move to the West Coast and this campaign. I helped pioneer the field of Community Psychology and had a 28 year career as a college professor at California State University, Long Beach (Go Beach!). I became a community activist and helped lead the group Long Beach Area Citizens Involved, attempting to bring all the progressive groups in the area to work together and help move our city forward in a direction that we thought would mean a better life for our neighbors and us.

The inaction of the House Republicans has gone on for too long, and this election gives the American public a chance to take back the House with better, brighter, and more experienced leaders.

Moving our country forward requires drafting and enacting progressive, not regressive, policies. This is why I am running for Congress.

I am taking my progressive record with me to Congress. I’m proud of the legislation I have authored throughout my tenure in the California State Legislature, and I plan using my experiences as a framework for when I go to Congress.

1. I led a nearly ten-year fight in the Capitol for reform of the redistricting process in the state. After not being able to get a second from either party, my persistence and determination led to a ballot measure approved by voters in 2008 that instituted citizen-run independent redistricting in the state, also known as the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

2. I have fought for more than 20 years to clean up the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. My efforts led to a complete revamp of their business model at these two ports (#1 and #2 respectively in Western Hemisphere) that places environmental stewardship at the forefront. Bills authored by me has led the ports to take action which has reduced the air pollution by over 75%. The two ports are now the greenest in the world and role models for the entire port industry.

3. I authored (and got passed) the Student Success Act of 2012-- the first major student-focused reform of the community college system in more than two decades (SB 1456).

4. I provided the first allocations for the purchase of commercially-made electric cars in the state and created the benchmark environmental standards for the production and use of hydrogen fuel in vehicles (AB 2061 and SB 1505).

5. I authored landmark consumer protection legislation, AB 1778, requiring auto insurers and repair shops to fully disclose the type of parts used in a repair.

Progressive may not be a party, but it is greater than that-- it is a way of living life. I have never sought out the label of ‘progressive’, but if a progressive is someone who stands up for affordable housing, education and health care, tax fairness, environmental justice, equality and inclusion, and a pro-choice stance on women’s reproductive rights, then by all means I am one.

In Congress, I am looking forward to joining the Progressive Caucus, passing the President’s American Jobs Act, fighting for education, proving environmental stewardship and economic development are not mutually exclusive, preserving Medicare and Social Security, promoting equality, and upholding a woman’s right to choose.

This cause is greater than any one of us. We need each other to be successful, and I hope we can count on one another. The road is long. I’ve been at this for 20 years in elected office and decades prior as an activist. We have achieved much more than many people would have thought when I first moved to California.

UPDATE Blue America has endorsed Sen. Lowenthal and he'll be our live guest at Crooks and Liars a week from today (11am, PT). Meanwhile, if you'd like to help his campaign against GOP hack Gary DeLong, you can do that on the main Blue America page.

Gary DeLong, Another Lockstep Republican Making Believe He's A "Moderate"

There's a fight going on in the new 47th House District in California. In one corner is Democrat Alan Lowenthal, a respected state Senator with a solid progressive record. In the other corner is Republican Long Beach City Councilman Gary DeLong and his U.S. Chamber of Commerce attack dogs, who just recently dropped $300,000 in negative TV ads against Lowenthal, part of a multimillion dollar effort to defeat California progressives and even moderate Democrats. Nearly all the Chamber money is going to help reactionary Republicans, although they managed to find themselves two reactionary Blue Dog Democrats to fund as well, John Barrow (GA) and Jim Matheson (UT). Their attack on Lowenthal was especially vicious and Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association reacted angrily. "The U.S. Chamber certainly doesn't speak for me and they obviously don't know Alan," she told the L.A. Times, recounting Lowenthal's efforts over the years to meet with business owners and respond to their concerns.

Alan is a solid progressive with a decades-long history of fighting for consumers and his community. He’s always been there on the legislation that counts and he's the newest candidate endorsed by Blue America.

The Chamber doesn’t like that, and they’re scared of having Lowenthal in Congress. So they’re trying to knock him down and get their chosen Republican Big Business shill elected in his place.

So who is the Chamber’s chosen candidate?

Gary DeLong is the hand-picked candidate of the far-right GOP; he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He claims to be "mainstream" and a "moderate," but in reality he’s just another garden variety Republican puppet for the Chamber, the Koch Brothers and the entire toxic, obstructionist agenda being pushed by Boehner, Ryan and Cantor. And that’s why he’s one of Ryan’s and Cantor's hand-picked “Young Guns,” a stable of Republican candidates chosen for their ability to move the Republican leadership's agenda forward. There are no "moderate" Young Guns, only mindless zombies  who agree with every awful proposal Ryan and Cantor ever make.

And, really, how much influence have the so-called “moderate Republicans” in Congress had lately? Moderates in the Republican Party still vote in total lockstep with their leadership. That’s why their candidates, like DeLong, have to avoid taking a stand or explaining their beliefs too much. How on Earth can they obey their overlords if they’re actually accountable to the folks back home?

He will join Republicans in trying to privatize Medicare, to repeal Obamacare, threaten to shut down the federal government by highlighting the “failures” of the President ahead of the success of the Republic.

Gary DeLong isn’t a “moderate.” He’s a foot soldier in the most right-wing, radical, and partisan Republican party in memory.

DeLong has taken almost $100,000 from some of the most conservative members of Congress and some of the most right wing PACs who deny climate change, want to roll back clean air and water laws, and spent tens of millions to oppose healthcare reform.

All there is to know about this telecomm executive is that he is a self-proclaimed small business owner and job creator (of a whopping two jobs), he is endorsed by Paul Ryan, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor, and refuses to take a specific public position on any substantial issue.

Sound like a certain Republican Presidential candidate you know?

When asked about his GOP endorsers and “Young Guns” status, he said “they endorsed me... I didn’t endorse them. They endorsed my campaign.”

Why run away from your friends, Gary? They have handed you personal checks, and the U.S. Chamber has spent over $300,000 trying to spread lies to voters. DeLong has also made thousands of out-of-pocket expenses to the Romney campaign and other Republican causes; being a Republican is fine, but don’t try to confuse the voters with your rhetoric. Call it as it is.

A vote for Gary DeLong is a vote for Mitt Romney, a vote for Paul Ryan, a vote for the extremist GOP House leadership team and a vote for the most radical, right wing, and partisan Republican Congress in memory.