If you did not watch debate night for the VP’s this time you missed something on climate change and fracking. The debate was a better articulation of the Harris Bien position than Joe was able to present. The interaction was more professional than the first Presidential debate. There did seem to be a clear winner. I may be worth looking at the video if you are on the fence. Here are some highlights from the debate:
Climate Change and Fracking
Harris said a Biden administration would grow the economy through green energy, but she also denied past support for banning fracking. Harris said:
“Joe Biden will not ban fracking. That is a fact. I will repeat that Joe Biden has been very clear that he thinks about growing jobs … Part of those jobs that will be created by Joe Biden are going to be about clean energy and renewable energy, because Joe understands that the West Coast of our country is burning, including my home state of California.”
Harris also spoke about climate-related problems in the Southeast and in the Midwest. Harris said:
“Joe sees what is happening in the Gulf states, which are being battered by storms. Joe has seen and talked with the farmers in Iowa, whose entire crops have been destroyed because of floods … So, Joe believes again in science. … We have seen a pattern with this administration, which is, they don’t believe in science. Joe’s plan is about saying we are going to deal with it, but we are going to create jobs.”
Response
Pence addressed the issue of climate change, but also attacked the Biden campaign’s promises for the environment. Pence said:
“As I said, Susan, the climate is changing. We’ll follow the science … With regard to banning fracking; I just recommend people look at the record. You yourself said repeatedly you would ban fracking,”
Pence said of Harris: “You were the first Senate co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. While Joe Biden denied support for the Green New Deal, Susan, thank you for pointing out the Green New Deal is on [the Biden-Harris] website. As USA Today said, it’s essentially the same plan as you co-sponsored with AOC.”
That is a reference to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the main sponsor of the Green New Deal in the House.
Pence said: “You just heard the senator say she was going to resubmit America to the Paris Climate Accord. The American people have always cherished our environment, and we’ll continue to cherish it … We’ve made great progress reducing [carbon dioxide] emissions through American innovation and the development of natural gas through fracking … “We don’t need a massive $2 trillion Green New Deal that would impose all new mandates on American businesses and American families. … It makes no sense. It will cost jobs.”
