Clinton fights belly aching, global warming

Published December 8, 2004 12:13AM (EST)

Less bellyaching, more fire in the belly: That's former President Clinton's prescription for actually getting something done about global warming, even with Bush in the White House for four more years, and more Republicans in Congress.

At a symposium at New York University on Tuesday, Clinton urged supporters to quit "bellyaching and whining" about the administration's do-nothing global warming policy, and take up the fight. From the the Washington Post:

"Clinton said the argument that global warming does not exist is now so discredited that it is no longer acceptable 'in polite society' to make that case, but that it is still 'okay if you don't do anything about it.'"

The former President, according to the Post, said he was "distressed that the energy issue's link with both national security and environmental degradation received 'almost no serious discussion' among the candidates or the media in the just-ended presidential campaign, even though this 'may have a bigger impact on America and the world than virtually all the things that were debated.'"

Maybe Clinton can do a better job making the connections between global warming, energy independence and our troubles in the Middle East than candidate Kerry did during the campaign. It's probably an easier task after leaving the Oval Office than while trying to fight your way into it.


By Katharine Mieszkowski

Katharine Mieszkowski is a senior writer for Salon.

MORE FROM Katharine Mieszkowski


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