Portrait of a Flip Flopper: Mitt Flips on Mercury

Yesterday, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney waded into the "current" Congressional battle to clean up power plants, taking the side of industry over public health.

It is a sad day on a number of levels. Not only is a presidential candidate turning his back on millions of children in favor of his dirty air backers, but he is also turning his back on his legacy as an environmental leader during his tenure as Massachusetts's governor from 2003 to 2007.

In 2003, then-Governor Mitt Romney stood in the shadow of a power plant and chastised the industry for their toxic emissions that were killing people. He stated in 2003, "Massachusetts has been a national leader in the effort to clean up our oldest and dirtiest power plants. The implementation of these new mercury standards, coupled with major reductions in other air pollutants now underway, will ensure that the citizens of the Commonwealth will breathe the cleanest air possible."

His campaign's statement shows that candidate Romney is willing to say anything, do anything, and promise anything to please his dirty air backers.