Hat Trick: Obama Speaks on Climate, Crowd Cheers, the 'Village' Notices

President Obama spoke directly to climate issues Thursday night in Charlotte. With a direct slap at Mitt Romney's sad climate joking to anti-science cheering, the President said:

And yes, my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet -- because climate change is not a hoax. More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They're a threat to our children's future. And in this election, you can do something about it.

While the Democratic Party platform had strong words on climate issues (although quite toned down from 2008), commentators were noticing a dearth of climate mentions during the convention. As we played "climate spotting," the references to climate or climate-related issues were few and far between. This changed yesterday with comments by Barney Frank and John Kerry. And then the clincher: the President's emphasis that "climate change is not a hoax" and that climate disruption / extreme weather event implications "are not a joke."

An item of note: those at the convention gave the climate change paragraph among the most positive reaction given to any part of the speech.

And, even more astounding, the "Village" seems to have noticed.

• Politico rated the speech's "best lines" and this was #5 of 15 -- and #2 in terms of policy-related quotations.


• MSNBC rated applause lines -- "And, in this election, you can do something it" was #6 with 17.2 seconds of applause.

At the presidential and congressional levels, 2012 is truly an election about science. Science is truly a differentiator between the parties -- with climate science being the most extreme example of this.  And on this, the American public (and America's scientists) are not sympathetic to the Republican Party.

Climate change is an issue that lends itself to coherent discussion.

And climate change is a winning political issue.

The Obama-Biden campaign seems to be waking to the power of climate as an issue.

The President showed this last night.

 

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Comments

[Jamtse]

08:59 AM on 09/10/2012

Let's never forget that politicians work for US. They are civil servants.
WE dictate the agenda. Contact your representatives to keep ecology front and center on capital hill where it should be. Put it in the agenda for the upcoming debates....use your civic power!

[PaulStewart]

11:25 PM on 09/07/2012

5. Believing Obama is incompetent because he can't handle the Armaggedon in a timely manner? Republicans are more quickly able to handle their own Armaggedon?
6. Believing Obama is too slow with job creation; because if Republicans can lose jobs at 750 thousand per month, Obama is a lesser being because he is only able to recover them much slower?
7. Believing you can stock pile thwarted jobs for after an election?
8. Believing that Mitt Believes in America?
9. Believing in the Republican's alternate reality and history. And that that single set of foot prints can only be your own; all as illustrated by the remaining set of footprints at the RNC?

Or is it all of the above? You decide!

If you are grounded in facts and reality, then no matter where in the world you are, when you look up - you will see Obama's vision, strength and leadership...

Obama believes in America, does Romney? Or is Mitt really just becoming the new definition of "pirate"?

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12903382-michele-obama-and-bill-clinton-lay-out-at-the-rnc-just-how-much-obama-believes-in-america-does-mitt-romney-believe-in-america-or-something-else?clear_cache=true

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/12889195-footprints-at-the-republican-national-convention-in-tampa-florida

[PaulStewart]

11:25 PM on 09/07/2012

Mitt today was lamenting the August jobs report, which is an increase in jobs, however, as all admit, not as much as one would like to see. However, as Bill Clinton so eloquently and forcefully explained, in any discussion of the unemployment rate, and job losses, you have to acknowledge America was losing 750,000 (yes, 750 thousand - you read that right) jobs per month during the first 18 months of Obama's term.

By the 19th month, Obama managed to put a floor under the free fall. However, it ultimately carpet bombed 4.5 million jobs out of the economy. In the 29 months since then, Obama's efforts show a consistent, albeit not rapid, recovery. Nearly all those lost jobs are recovered. This is not a bad thing, even if it is less than desired. And, those jobs were not originally lost by Obama.

So, what is the new definition of insanity?

1. Believing Republicans are helping Pres. Obama with getting America's recovery going?
2. Believing Republican shape shifting ideology trumps progress through working together?
3. Believing Obama should own Bush et al's Armageddon; all 4.5 million bombed out jobs?
4. Believing Republican propaganda that Obama failed and is the problem; whereas Mitt, and the Republicans, are a solution?

[ClimateHawk]

08:08 PM on 09/07/2012

It will be quite sad if the issue is not raised continually during the remaining few weeks of the campaign.

If the President will keep talking about it, I think he will find it's not just the young people who care about this issue.

Mr. President, now that you have broken the silence, CONTINUE talking about it.

Keep talking about it so you will have a mandate for the hard work that needs to be done over the next few years.

[samearl]

11:07 PM on 09/09/2012

I hope that it's not only the young people who care about climate change. There are a few of us old f**ts that are passionate about it. I certainly agree and hope that it becomes a primary focus of the election.

[Jamtse]

08:56 AM on 09/10/2012

Absolutely. And we can keep the issue up front by demanding that it is debated, nation-wide, televised between the two candidates.
Contact your representatives and demand it!