MoveOn.org: Edwards Wins Straw Poll on Climate Change

[jsamuel]

Source: MoveOn.org

Largest MoveOn Event Since 2004; Over 100,000 People Joined at 1,300 House Parties and Online to Watch Virtual Town Hall

Former Senator John Edwards won MoveOn.org Political Action’s poll on the climate crisis which asked, “Which candidate’s position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?” Of the field of eight Democratic hopefuls, Edwards received 33% of the total votes cast–more than twice the support of the next two candidates, Rep. Kucinich and Senator Clinton, who each garnered 15.7%.

MoveOn member vote results:

Edwards 33.10%
Kucinich 15.73%
Clinton 15.71%
Obama 15.03%
Richardson 12.60%
Biden 3.06%
Dodd 3.01%
Gravel 1.78%

MoveOn will run print ads in newspapers in early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire next week, announcing the results of the straw poll on the climate crisis. Fundraising for the ads begins today.

“The enormous response we got from our members on this issue emphasizes how important it will be for our next president to make solving the climate crisis a top priority in 2008,” said Eli Pariser, Executive Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

“MoveOn members want leaders who will take on the oil and coal industry and create a clean energy economy. That’s probably why Sen. Edwards’ support of cap and auction systems – which force polluters to pay citizens—and his call for more green collar jobs received such strong backing,” added Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

The membership vote began immediately after the organization’s Saturday night Virtual Town Hall and concluded on Tuesday, at midnight PST. The Virtual Town Hall, at which, the candidates answered members’ questions about climate change and global warming, coincided with the Live Earth concerts around the world.

Read more: http://www.moveon.org/press/pr/release071107.html

---

Edwards got twice as many votes as any other candidate.

For more: http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/energy/new-energy-economy/

[be inspired]

1. Glad to see MoveOn members got it!

I thought that MoveOn edited Edwards's answers that were shown on the DVD at the party atrociously, so I'm glad that MoveOn members still thought he was the best, even those who attended the parties.

[Catchawave]

2. Great news !

MoveOn does have the pulse of the Progressives :)

[be inspired]

3. Link to Edwards's responses

http://pol.moveon.org/townhall/climate/questions/edwards.html

[pioneer111]

4. Edwards is the BEST on climate change policies

:yourock: Edwards has the best policies in all areas. His environmental commitment is really evident and more and more people are seeing that. WTG JRE.

[jsamuel]

5. your right!

Welcome to DU!!!

:toast: :bounce: :beer: :hi: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[Catchawave]

9. Hi pioneer111!!!

Welcome to DU :toast:

[benny05]

10. Welcome to the DU, Pioneer

:hi:

I agree, Edwards seems to be the most aggressive in moving towards Al Gore's Pledge.

[pioneer111]

17. Thanks for the welcome

This was a great issue on which to join the conversation. :-)

[PoconoPragmatist]

28. As One Newb To Another...

Welcome to DU!!

[Carolina Voice]

6. Moving on up and

leaving dust in his path. ;-)

[waiting for hope]

7. This is fantastic -

Now, is Gore going to endorse the Good Senator from North Carolina?

K&R!!

[Divine Discontent]

24. exactly! I hope so if he ain't running

it's only right, Gore should back the strongest environmentalist of the bunch and that could be one of only a couple choices

Go Edwards!

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<--- top '08 items & antib*sh stickers!

[bettync]

8. People are listening!

It is great to see how many people were listening to the candidates on this issue. MoveOn's format was much more informative on the specifics of each candidate than the typical "debate" format. When Edwards has the opportunity to present his plans and his vision, people respond!

[Sapphire Blue]

11. K&R

Transformational Change For America And The World - JOHN EDWARDS for PRESIDENT 2008

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

A true revolution of values

"I'm proposing we set a national goal of eliminating poverty in the next 30 years." - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Silence is Betrayal - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Moral Leadership - JOHN EDWARDS 08

Ending Poverty in America - edited by Senator John Edwards

[usregimechange]

12. I voted for the man.

[usregimechange]

13. Did anyone happen to see his answers to their questions?

[jsamuel]

14. Here they are:

http://pol.moveon.org/townhall/climate/questions/edwards.html

[usregimechange]

15. Thanks bunches.

[lovuian]

16. Awesome Edwards and look at Kucinich

that would be a great ticket also

[penguin7]

18. It is incredible that Edwards won the Moveon.org poll

I listened to Edwards on the Moveon.org forum. He suggests that bio-fuels are the answer to the energy problem. It is clear that bio-fuels at best have some rather serious problems. An important one being the cost of food. He didn't bother to address any of these problems.

Edwards said, "Bio fuels which is where the transition will have to lead to."

Further, now that I listened to him again, he is talking about the price of oil dropping.

The only possible way to interpret his spiel is that the price of oil will drop because of the use of bio fuels. And this will enrich the economies of Africa and America because they have land to grow bio fuels, and force the opec countries to change their policy because of the dropping price of oil.

This strikes me as a typical politicians and a typical Edward's speech, promising the impossible to pander to the electorate. He was clearly in LaLa land when he was talking about the price of oil dropping.

[ashlarah]

36. Biofuels ARE part of the solution

and ethanol isn't the only one. Celulosic (not sure on the spelling) fuels are biomass and don't cut into the food supply:

start clip

"Biomass is plant matter such as trees, grasses, agricultural crops or other biological material. It can be used as a solid fuel, or converted into liquid or gaseous forms, for the production of electric power, heat, chemicals, or fuels. By integrating a variety of biomass conversion processes, all of these products can be made in one facility, called a biorefinery." http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/


The use of biomass energy has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago—an essentially "new" greenhouse gas. Biomass, on the other hand, releases carbon dioxide that is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured in its own growth (depending how much energy was used to grow, harvest, and process the fuel).

The use of biomass can reduce dependence on foreign oil because biofuels are the only renewable liquid transportation fuels available. . .

Biomass energy supports U.S. agricultural and forest-product industries. The main biomass feedstocks for power are paper mill residue, lumber mill scrap, and municipal waste. For biomass fuels, the feedstocks are corn (for ethanol) and soybeans (for biodiesel), both surplus crops. In the near future—and with NREL-developed technology—agricultural residues such as corn stover (the stalks, leaves, and husks of the plant) and wheat straw will also be used. Long-term plans include growing and using dedicated energy crops, such as fast-growing trees and grasses, that can grow sustainably on land that will not support intensive food crops."

http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biomass.html

end clip

And, yes, bringing down the demand for oil will lead to the price of oil dropping. And again, yes, that will force otherwise underdevelped oil producing countries to focus on cooperation and education.

[RestoreGore]

19. Edwards understands that climate change and poverty go hand in hand

And that is why I voted for him in this poll.

[jsamuel]

20. True, Gore understands that too.

I hope Gore endorses Edwards.

[RestoreGore]

22. He said he would probably endorse someone...

At this point I too hope it is Edwards should he do so. But I have to edit to state that I need to hear more from him regarding biofuels as far as making it from cellulosic sources in order to preserve water and food resources.

[iamjoy]

31. Edwards Has Talked About Cellulose

for biofuels. I have some concerns about corn ethanol too - supposedly it isn't very efficient. Some politicians from Florida have talked about sugar ethanol, which supposedly is more efficient than corn ethanol, but of course, sugar growers haven't exactly been good to the environment.

[jsamuel]

34. Gore says biofuels are ok, we just need to be careful about them

http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2007/5/15/215113/163

[LaPera]

21. More cheers to Edwards!

[AllyCat]

23. I'm an LCVer and really was torn between Richardson and Edwards

I'm glad to see one of the two I liked won it.

That said, I have to admit I'm astonished at the rankings of Clinton and Obama considering they support liquid coal.

Oh well, it's good to see Edwards at the top of the list.

[ultraist]

25. K&R for a greener planet!

:kick:

[Mugsy]

26. I voted for Biden's plan, and I'm not even a supporter.

I have a feeling that too many people just voted for "their candidate" rather than the plan that made the most sense.

I voted for Biden's plan and I'm not even a Biden supporter. I was listening for two phrases: "national security" and "economic opportunity", to me the greatest two factors in the Global Warming debate. Of all the candidates, only Biden came close to addressing those two factors.

[PoconoPragmatist]

27. As An Edwards Supporter...

This is totally awesome fucking news!!

EDWARDS '08!!!

[usregimechange]

29. Kick!

[eden]

30. big mistake

i'm disappointed by the result...but i'm glad kucinich came in second.
the people who voted for this man...or who are considering voting for obama
and clinton...you don't realize they have already failed to show their leadership
and do not deserve to be president

[Catchawave]

32. Did you go to a House Party.....?

Those are so great to discuss *live* the issues. Also, you can see the videos of the responses online.

Welcome to DU eden :toast:

[usregimechange]

33. Kick!

[Alexander]

35. Well so far, Edwards is the #1 candidate on climate change.

He might get my primary vote, if he keeps this up.

Unless Gore runs.