Wadhams: Udall doesn't care about the environment because he supports the troops

by: johne

07/30/08 @ 01:34:55 PM MDT

[Schaffer] even blasted Udall for missing a key 2004 vote to extend a renewable energy tax credit. (Though the Wind Energy Association news release about the vote sent to reporters by the Schaffer campaign also called Udall "vital in gaining this extension" and Udall's campaign said he missed the vote while visiting troops in Iraq.)

Here's a part of that letter:

"Gaining the PTC extension became a reality through the cooperative leadership of Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA)," said AWEA Legislative Director Jaime Steve. "AWEA is also very appreciative of strong efforts by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Harry Reid (D-NV), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and many others," Steve said. "On the House side, Reps. Jim McCrery (R-LA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Bob Matsui (D-CA), Jerry Weller (R-IL), Ron Kind (D-WI), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Greg Walden (R-OR) were vital in gaining this extension."

Colorado Pols was quick to point out how stupid Wadhams must be for sending out an old press release meant to attack Udall, when it actually praises his work on renewable energy and specifically his work on this tax credit bill.  Maybe there's some secret plan here, and Wadhams is a genius...

Furthermore, wouldn't a line of attack in which your own candidate is very week, be kind of risky?  In the DPost article, Schaffer says:

"We've got to do it all,"

But, in 2001 Schaffer voted against the following bills concerning renewable energy:  HG 2646 (amendment to establish a renewable energy reserve program, HR 2217(amendment to increase funding for energy efficiency by $12 million), and HR 4(amendment promoting renewable and alternative energy).  Yet he voted for $13 Billion with B in tax breaks for oil companies

So, you notice who's not thanked in that letter for his work on wind energy?  Big Oil Bob Schaffer.

Another line from the debate (from Udall campaign email):
Udall: [To Schaffer] You came to this late.  You're a convert - I'm glad you're in the parade.  You mentioned renewable energy once in your entire career in the Congress.

Schaffer whined, but the proof is in the pudding:

"Schaffer mentioned renewable energy once in the Congressional Record during his six years in Congress; Udall mentioned it 53 times in his first three terms."  

It's easy to jump on the renewable energy bandwagon in 2008.  But guess who was working on this years and years ago.  He's listed in that letter Wadhams forwarded on.