Why are John Kerry and His Wife Writing a Book on the Environment?
Monday December 4, 2006
During a Situation Room interview on CNN late last week, U.S. senator and presidential hopeful John Kerry revealed that he and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, are writing a book about the environment. "Teresa and I are writing a book right now on the environment,” Kerry said. “It's a book we look forward to bringing out in a few months. I'm excited about it. We deal, obviously, with the issue of global climate change, but with a lot of other issues. And we need to change the attitude of the United States Congress."
Photo courtesy of Kabir Bakie
So why have Kerry and his wife suddenly decided to place their environmental concerns and beliefs between the covers of a book?
Having a U.S. senator, or any other national elected official, make the environment a top priority is a step in the right direction, of course, but some bloggers are already accusing Kerry of showing little imagination in trying to re-energize his faltering political prospects by duplicating Al Gore’s success as an advocate for the environment. Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, the book and the movie, has become a rallying point for people who see the need for increased personal and political action to curb global warming and protect the environment.
Kerry Delays Decision on Running for President in 2008
Meanwhile, Kerry has announced that he will put off deciding whether to make another presidential bid in 2008 until spring 2007, about the same time his new book on the environment is scheduled to debut. Kerry has been re-evaluating his presidential prospects ever since an October 30 appearance where he told an ill-considered joke about underachieving students ending up “stuck in Iraq,” a comment that immediately drew angry denunciations from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Kerry has been a vocal and active leader on a number of key environmental issues throughout his long political career, from resisting Bush administration attempts to weaken the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts to defending the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) against companies that want to drill for oil in what many Americans consider the last pristine wilderness in the United States. He also has been an advocate for greater U.S. involvement in global environmental issues such as preserving rain forests, reversing ozone depletion, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. Given the timing, however, it is hard to see the upcoming book as something completely separate from Kerry's political ambitions.
Whether Kerry decides to run for the presidency in 2008 or not, let’s hope that his book on the environment comes across as a genuine effort by a concerned statesman to call public attention to some of the most important issues facing mankind, and not as an attempt to brighten his political spotlight.
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Comments
My vote is Kerry is trying to “out-Gore Gore” … especially since Gore seems to still get mentioned as a possible 2008 candidate. Hellsbells, Gore’s from TN … that alone gives him thumbs up over Kerry for the pragmatics who want to win in 2008.
You comments about why Senator Kerry should be writing a book about the environment are about as nonsensical as someone asking why Al Gore produced a movie about global warming. Both Kerry and Gore are lifelong environmental advocates. Unless you simply want to bash Kerry, it is very common for politicians who are seeking and have sought higher office to write books. Give me a break!
To quote the Sierra Club in 2004:
“”John Kerry has spent his entire career promoting real solutions aimed at ensuring that America’s air, water, and natural resources are protected for future generations.”
Kerry has demonstrated environmental leadership throughout his career in public service, from helping organize Massachusetts’ first Earth Day in 1970 to opposing the Bush administration’s efforts to dismantle environmental gains made over the last century. Highlights of Kerry’s environmental record include:
* Advocated strict enforcement of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, and opposed Bush administration efforts to weaken the laws in order to let polluters put more dangerous toxics into our air and water;
* Advocated restoration of Superfund’s “polluter pays” trust fund to ensure that polluters, not ordinary taxpayers, pay to clean up abandoned toxic waste sites;
* Led the charge against the Bush administration’s attempts to allow oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;
* Championed an energy plan that increases fuel economy to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil and supports the development of clean, energy-saving technologies and renewable energy to reduce our dependence on other polluting sources of energy;
* And, advocated for the United States to take the lead in international efforts to cut global warming pollution, reverse ozone depletion, protect tropical rain forests, preserve biological diversity and press for sustainable development.”
John Kerry has been right about many things including the environment. Your cute column does nothing but add to the sophomoric attacks on this Senator.
I agree with Robert Freedland’s comment. I do think Sen. Kerry is one of the most courageous people I am aware of. Not only did he willing go to Vietnam, but then he reported on the terrible things he saw there so that it wouldn’t get repeated. That took courage. For this he is vilified by some people. I am a big fan of John Kerry and think he would make a great President.
John Kerry is a reckless and very dangerious politician. He has devoted his alledged government career to undermining United States interests and protection. He is competely ego driven and cares only about his himself.
I suggest he move to Iran, they love him there.
Only if you go with him Moe.