Released Friday:
> 
> 
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2008
> CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2348
>                  David Willett, 202.675.6698
> 
> 
> 
> Real Question: Where Has McCain Been for Two Years of Congressional Debates
>                         on Energy, Economic Crises?
> 
> 
> For reference for the debate, please consult the Sierra Club's recently
> released Presidential Clean Energy Scorecard:
> http://www.sierraclub.org/politics/downloads/Presidential-Scorecard.pdf
> 
> 
>     Statement of Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club National Political Director
> 
> 
> "While John McCain's political gamesmanship over tonight's presidential
> debate has been notable, it comes after nearly two years of refusing to
> show up for Congressional debates on America's most pressing problems.
> John McCain's absenteeism is unparalleled in this Congress.  Perhaps McCain
> could be asked tonight how he thinks his failure to vote on anything since
> April and missing every single key vote on energy for almost the past two
> years has impacted our economy?  Was the energy crisis over the last two
> years not important enough for Senator McCain to come back to Washington to
> 'get to work'?
> 
> 
> "During his 26 years in Congress, John McCain twice chaired the powerful
> Senate Commerce Committee, yet he did nothing to help raise fuel economy
> standards -- an issue over which the Commerce Committee has jurisdiction.
> And now instead of a real plan for energy independence, he wants to run the
> economy like a game show with gimmicks like a $300 million prize for car
> batteries and a gas tax holiday.
> 
> 
> "When new leadership took over Congress and began the process of righting
> our energy policy and putting us on the road toward the clean energy
> future, John McCain couldn't find time to make any of the 23 Senate votes
> cast over a 6-month period of time on last year's landmark energy bill.
> When every single other senator voted and a provision to repeal billions in
> government giveaways to Big Oil in order to fund clean energy lost by a
> single vote, John McCain was nowhere to be found.
> 
> 
> "And during February's important debate over the economic stimulus bill,
> John McCain sat on his campaign plane at Dulles Airport instead of showing
> up to vote.  He was the only senator not to vote when clean energy lost by
> just a single vote.  Thanks to Senator McCain's lack of leadership, these
> vital incentives for clean energy remain unpassed and 116,000 hardworking
> Americans in the wind and solar industries stand to lose their jobs as a
> result.
> 
> 
> "While he's not found time to vote in Congress, he's made plenty of
> promises out on the campaign trail.  Unfortunately, his rhetoric bears
> almost no resemblance to his long record of saying thanks, but no thanks to
> clean energy while pushing an agenda that has benefited Big Oil and other
> special interests time and time again.
> 
> 
> "We hope Senator McCain will take the opportunity tonight and in the
> debates ahead to finally be honest with the American people about his real
> record on the issues voters care about.  And if he continues his campaign
> of outright deception, we hope that the debate moderators and the voting
> public will hold him accountable."
> 
> 
>                                    # # #
> 


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/