November 05, 2007
Dueling Iowa Addresses -- Edwards says HRC is "Voting Like a Hawk in Washington and Talking Like a Dove in Iowa," HRC Sticks to Clean Energy
John Edwards used his Iran strategy speech in Iowa City today to attack Hillary Clinton (again) for her vote declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, Hillary, in Cedar Rapids, avoided talk of her rivals, instead laying out proposals that she said would promote clean energy and create at least 5 million "green-collar" jobs.
After apologizing for his 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war and railing against the Bush administration for its “preventive war doctrine,” Edwards turned to Clinton’s stance on Iraq.
“With less than 60 days to go before the caucus, Sen. Clinton still has not given specific answers to specific questions,” he told the crowd at Richey Ballroom at the University of Iowa. “She will extend the war. I will end the war."
Edwards continued:
“Sen. Clinton is voting like a hawk in Washington and talking like a dove in Iowa and New Hampshire,” he said. “One of her advisors told the New York Times that was because she was shifting from primary mode to general election mode. Well, we only need one mode all the time, and that mode should be the same for the primary and general election, and that mode should be tell the truth mode.”
He used the remainder of the speech to run down his five-point strategy to contain Iran and force the country to give up its nuclear ambitions.
As outlined in the campaign's pre-speech release, Edwards supports: ending preventive war policies, partnering with western European nations to levy economic sanctions against Iran, enticing Iran to leave behind nuclear possibilities, using multi-pronged diplomacy to interact with Iran’s leaders and drawing other major nations into discussions with Iran.
In a press conference after the speech, Edwards opened the door to actions against Pakistan, reports NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller.
“Our leverage with Pakistan is the fact that we provide millions of dollars of assistance to them of all kinds, and we should use that leverage to push Musharraf and the Pakistani government in the right direction,” he said.
Clinton's first of several upcoming policy speeches, delivered at Clipper Turbine Works, Inc., is detailed after the jump ...
Clinton laid out proposals she said would promote clean energy and create at least 5 million "green-collar" jobs, reports NBC/NJ's Athena Jones.
Her wide-ranging speech was the first of a series she will deliver on the topic this week. In it she talked about the problems caused by climate change and pollution, like rising sea levels, water shortages and health problems and compared dealing with these issues to the great challenges of the last century.
"For this generation of Americans, climate change is our space race, it is our homefront mobilization during World War II and it is our response to the Great Depression," Clinton told the audience at Clipper Turbine Works, Inc., a factory that makes the giant wind turbines seen churning all over the Iowa countryside.
Clinton said she would push for a new post-Kyoto treaty on global warming and establish a group of the world's major carbon-emitting nations to tackle energy and environment issues.
The Democratic front-runner has been talking up parts of her energy policy for weeks, highlighting her plan for a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund to invest in alternative energy. This is the first time she has laid out a detailed proposal.
The senator said her policy would help combat global warming, reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, improve the country's national security and be a major engine for job growth.
"What does it mean to be a patriot in America in the 21st century? End our dependence on foreign oil," Clinton said under a green and yellow banner that read "Powering America's Future: New energy, new jobs."
The policy is centered on a cap and trade system for carbon emissions. Clinton said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, cut oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels and raise fuel efficiency standards to 55 mpg by 2030.
The plan sets a goal of reducing electricity consumption 20 percent from projected levels by 2020 through strict appliance efficiency standards and incentives. It would phase out incandescent light bulbs and replace them with compact flourescent ones -- a move Clinton said would save more than $10 billion over eight years.
Clinton said she would speed the production of hybrid gas-electric vehicles, promote biofuels and public transportation and require all new government buildings to be carbon-neutral under her presidency.
Posted at 01:52 PM
Comments
This is a good comparison and contrast on the messages of the candidates. Thanks.
Jan | 11.06.07 04:52 AM
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