A United Front

[H2O Man]

I want t take a minute to talk about the need for unity within the democratic party, and our allies on the progressive left. It is a topic that I gave a lot of thought this weekend. I am a "Kennedy democrat" who supports Senator Barack Obama. But I am aware that one of the most honorable people in our country, Robert Kennedy, Jr., has endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton.

I have the greatest respect for Robert. He is the best environmental attorney in the country. I had the opportunity to get to know him in the early 1990s, when I contacted him for advice on a case that involved the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy) attempting to put teeth into the federal Native American Burial Protection and Repatriation Act.

One day at work, when I returned to my office from a "community-based crisis," my supervisor gave me a phone message. She said, "This guy’s parents must have loved Bobby Kennedy." I asked, "Why?" She said, "Because they named him after Kennedy," and then realized who she had spoken to.

I remember Robert telling me that he recognizes that Traditional Native American and environmental issues are one in the same.

In the mid-1990s, Robert helped me on a case involving two EPA Superfund Sites that were poisoning a rural hamlet in upstate New York. He helped us get $200,000 in grants, and to hire the two top environmental consultants in the nation. When a bureaucrat from the EPA was giving us a hard time, I said that I was going to call Robert. I remembr her laughing at me, and making a joke, because she assumed that it was unlikely that I knew him. Surprise, surprise: I got the last laugh on that one.

With the case, we were able to re-open communications with RiverKeeper and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Robert was always interested in creating unity among people. Common ground.

This past weekend marked the ten year anniversary of a racist hate gang attacking and seriously injuring my nephew. They were mad that a brown-skinned high school student was getting state-wide media attention for his skills in sports. Their savage attack almost killed my nephew. He lost the hearing in one ear, and has injuries that will be with him for the rest of his life.

Robert provided support to my extended family. He wrote to NYS Attorney General Dennis Vacco, and requested that he try the case. Vacco refused. The gang leader, who punched and kicked my unconscious nephew at least 12 times, ended up with a $50 fine for having an open beer during the attack. When I thought about that this weekend, I was reminded of how much Robert’s support meant to our family, and to the hundreds of people in the area who attended the court cases of the gang members, hoping for justice.

Those people included members of two chapters of the NAACP, high school students, social workers, and a wonderful group of elderly white women. There were Christians, Jews, and Muslims. We had common concerns, common values, and we were on common ground.

Those who have read Robert’s first book, "The RiverKeepers," know that he is friends with Onondaga Chief Oren Lyons. I remember in the 1970s, when Oren told classes of white students to look closely how the government treated Indians today, because it was how the government would treat them tomorrow. People living near SuperFund Sites know that is true.

In the past seven years, the Bush-Cheney administration has attacked our Constitution in what should be prosecuted as a "hate crime." We need to present a united front in November, and vote for justice.

I am going to include part of an interview I did in October, 2000 with Robert Kennedy, Jr., for newspapers in upstate New York. I think that his answers can be applied to our situation today. While I support Barack Obama, and am confident that he will be our nominee, I think that supporters of all of the candidates from our primaries will enjoy it.

One request: rather than me saying how I think it applies to today, I am hoping that DUers will share their thoughts with the DU community. I appreciate your contributions.

Your friend,
H2O Man


Q: In an August 10 editorial in the New York Times, you wrote that while you respect Ralph Nader, his candidacy could siphon votes from Al Gore, and "torpedo efforts to address the nation’s most important environmental challenges." What environmental issues should be of greatest concern for central New York voters?

A: The contrast between Bush and Gore is enormous. People in New York need to look closely at Bush’s environmental record in Texas. Every appointee he has put in environmental regulatory positions comes from his business links to the oil industry. The result is that Texas ranks 49th in environmental issues, and has the highest levels of pollution in the most important areas.

For example, 700,000 children in Texas go to school every day where the EPA says the air is not safe to breathe.

Gore, on the other hand, is a spokesman for the environment. His record on environmental issues is the best of any politician in this nation. Al Gore wrote the book. People in this state need to think about which of these two men they want to make policies about the quality of the air, land, and water in our state.

Q: On what issues would Hillary Clinton better represent our families than Rick Lazio?

A: Rick Lazio is a decent man, and has a decent record in many areas. But he has never challenged the Republican leadership on important environmental issues. He was part of the 1995 vote to eviscerate the most important environmental legislation in the country. He even voted to cut funding for vital sewage treatment for the Long Island Sound. His votes have consistently been supportive of the Republican stealth attack on environmental legislation.

Hillary is a strong voice. She told me that she intends to be the #1 spokesman on environmental issues on Capital Hill. We need her to be there, because the other strong leaders, like Mitchell and Gore, are gone from the Hill. So, there are many issues that Hillary will give us strong representation on, but none more important than her being our champion on environmental issues.

Q: Your uncle and your father inspired a generation of young people to become involved in politics in the 1960s. What do you say to young people today, specifically about the power of the "Youth Vote"?

A: It’s critical in this election. This presidential election will be the closest in a generation. Young people play an essential role. I urge them not to throw away their ability to decide this election. A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. A vote for Gore is a vote for their generation.






(Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and H2O Man, Jr.)

[LiberalAndProud]

1. One of these things is not like the others.

Two of these things belong together
Two of these things are kind of the same
Can you guess which one of these doesn't belong here?
Now it's time to play our game.

http://www.lcv.org/voterguide/

In his own words
Obama’s first 100 days priorities on energy and global warming:

“Putting a price on carbon is the most important step we can to take to reduce emissions. As president, my first priority to combat global warming will be enacting an economy-wide cap on U.S. carbon emissions that will reduce U.S. emissions by the amount scientists agree is necessary (80%) for the U.S. to bear an equitable share of the global emissions reduction burden. I will devote significant resources from a permit auction toward accelerating the development and deployment of low carbon technologies, addressing the economic challenges imposed on key industrial sectors, and providing meaningful incentives for action by developing countries. Another top priority for my energy and global warming agenda will be changing the cars we drive and the fossil fuels we burn. I will increase fuel efficiency standards to the limits of technological and economic feasibility, introduce legislation to lift the 60,000-per-manufacturer cap on buyer tax credits to encourage more Americans to buy ultraefficient vehicles and encourage automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by helping them shoulder the health care costs of their retirees. Domestic automakers will get health care assistance in exchange for investing 50 percent of the savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, I will provide automakers with generous tax incentives for retooling assembly plants. To change the fuels we burn, I introduced legislation to enact a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard that will reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of passenger vehicle fuels sold in the U.S. by 10 percent in 2020 and require additional reductions of 1% annually thereafter.”

LCV Lifetime Score: 96



In her own words
Clinton’s first 100 days priorities on energy and global warming:

“Energy independence and global warming are top priorities that I continually discuss on the campaign trail, and I will focus on them in my first months in office. I will use executive orders to restore federal leadership in energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. I will realign budget priorities to bolster research and development programs that can help to reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. I will nominate committed, highly qualified people to run the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and other related Departments. I will promote legislation to promote alternative energy, and I will personally act to restore American leadership in international discussions about global warming.”8

LCV Lifetime Score: 90


In his own words
McCain’s first 100 days priorities on energy and global warming:

“Among my priorities will be working with Congress, national, state, and local leaders, and the full range of stakeholders to promote U.S. energy security and implement a national market-based cap and trade system tailored to protect the nation’s economic, environmental, and national security. As part of this initiative, I will use the powers of the presidency to see that the international community, including China and India, fulfill its obligations to address climate change in a manner that will effectively protect the global environment and our economy. I will institute federal policies to help achieve an energy mix that is far more diverse, dependable, economical, clean, and sustainable. I would refer you and the LCV membership to the speech I delivered on energy security to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) this past April which outlines a number of these initiatives and priorities. Another of my top objectives will be to draw into my administration the most qualified individuals in our country to fill key cabinet and other positions in these vital policy areas.”

LCV Lifetime Score: 26

[H2O Man]

4. One of the things

that makes me sure that democrats should unite behind Obama in November is his promise to put Al Gore in a special position in his administration. That is important for all of us.

[DemReadingDU]

43. I would like to see this also

great essay, thank you

[Me.]

2. He Was Prophetic About *

As we've seen he has done everything he could to eviscerate the environment and hand it over to corporate interests. Just recently one of his appointees found himself having to, unfortunately as he termed it, put polar bears on the endangered list.

I liked how, when taking about Lazio, he said he was a descent man, misguided but decent. Bob Herbert, on Mourning Joe, said how he wished that the campaigns would focus on issues rather than trying to win by divide and conquer, referencing the way McSame is going about things. That is what you do when you have no other argument to make. The dems are divided now but will come together, will the country be able to do so after a scorched earth campaign by McSame & his lobbyists?

[H2O Man]

5. Roberts second book,

"Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy" is a "must read." Let me quote one paragraph:

"While communism is the control of business by government, fascism is the control of government by business. My American Heritage Dictionary defines fascism as 'a system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through a merging of state and business leadership together with belligerent nationalism.' Sound familiar?" (page 193)

[Me.]

33. Sounds Like A Shadow Government

to Me.

[K Gardner]

3. Darnit, you've made me cry again. That's just beautiful and I thank you for

sharing the story, your thoughts, your memories.. and the picture. :cry:

[H2O Man]

6. Thank you.

I am hoping that DUers will find this OP worthwhile. We need to be united in order to fight the Good Fight.

[Stephanie]

7. I would like to see RFK Jr. in his father's Senate seat.

Very soon. And you know I will work hard to make it happen, should he agree to pursue it.

[H2O Man]

8. That's a topic

that I feel strongly about. I was among the many people who wanted Robert to run in 2000. When he didn't, and Hillary Clinton ran, I worked hard for her campaign. And this past year, when Senator Clinton was campaigning for the democratic nomination for president, one of the things I found encouraging was that there was talk of Robert taking the Senate seat of his father, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Hillary Clinton.

Some Obama supporters on DU have said his endorsement of Clinton was based on his wanting that seat. This is, in my opinion, an error in thinking. Robert endorsed Clinton because he is convinced that she was the best advocate for the environmental issues that are important to all of us. Should he ever run for the Senate, it would not be for selfish purposes, but rather, to serve this country. He is dedicated to helping the people at the grass roots level.

I would work very hard for his campaign, too.

[Tatiana]

9. RFK Jr. is a good man.

I have really enjoyed these recent posts of yours reminding us of the great Democrats who have paved the way.

We need to join hands and stand up for the principles this country was founded upon.

There is no room for ego or bitterness or retribution. We all need to practice the art and spirit of forgiveness.

:toast:

[H2O Man]

11. Right.

We have clear choices in November. We can make huge gains : the White House, the Congress, and in state and local elections. This is an opportunity that we will not have again. We need to unite and make the most of it.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. Are you sure of his reasons for endorsing Clinton?

"Robert endorsed Clinton because he is convinced that she was the best advocate for the environmental issues that are important to all of us. "

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/robert-kennedy.html

Robert Kennedy Jr. Says Family Members Are Wrong in Supporting Obama
May 01, 2008 6:41 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Introducing Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Jeffersonville, IN, Robert Kennedy Jr. had some pretty harsh words for his family members who are backing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president.
"There are some members of my family who've decided to do the wrong thing, support Senator Obama," he said of the Democratic presidential fight.
Kennedy continued, "Part of our family is divided and our Party is divided and the reason we are divided is because we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president both who will make unbelievable presidents of this country."
Continuing his argument, Kennedy said, "but let me tell you why they’re wrong and I’m right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barack Obama," said Kennedy to a loud applause

[H2O Man]

12. Yes, I am.

I addressed this in post #8.

Also, I think it is wrong to refer to what he said as "pretty harsh words to his family members..." He made that statement in good humor. There are no harsh feelings between family members of the Kennedy Clan who back Clinton and Obama. Differences of opinion are not a problem in democratic politics. They help make our party stronger, as long as we have respect for one another.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. I didn't think they were harsh words either.

He praised both candidates highly, and there was little or nothing divisive about his remarks. What is harsh about "We have two extraordinary candidates ... who will mak unbelievable presidents of this country."

From this speech though, I surmised that more than policy differences, he chose to support the candidate he knew to be tough enough to weather the GOP storm.

[H2O Man]

21. Right.

While I support Obama, I respect the fact that people like Robert are just as sincere in their belief that Hillary Clinton is the best candidate for president. And there are other people who believed that John Edwards, Joe Biden, or another candidate was the best choice.

As we unite in the coming weeks, we will find that the platform we reach at the Democratic National Convention will have room to represent all of us.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. "we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president"

That sums up his bottom line. Personally, I loved the last comment by RFK Jr.quoted here:

"but let me tell you why they’re wrong and I’m right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barack Obama."

First off, I see the Kennedy wry humor radiating through it, and that old family tradition of gentle but spirited infra family rivalry. They always play politics the way they play touch football; wholeheartedly and to win.

Beyond that though is a very literal statement. Bobby does know Hillary personally fairly well, and he has for a number of years. So when he says that he believes in her potential to be a great president, he is speaking from his own prolonged personal experience of her. That doesn't mean that Obama might not inspire the same degree of confidence in Bobby or anyone else after years of prolonged close personal association with him. But for Bobby, he's already had that association with Hillary while his kin have not yet had that same type of prolonged close contact with Barack Obama. So RFK Jr.s faith in her ability is grounded in his own first hand knowledge of her, and he is glad to point that out. He gave Hillary a job recommendation. He is letting her cite him as a personal reference. That is what that comment means.

[grantcart]

19. it would have been interesting to see what the result was if he had the opportunity to know

Senator Obama better.

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. I've never seen him say anything negative about Senator Obama

And I have a hunch that over the next four and more years we will find RFK Jr. saying many positive things about Senator soon to be President Obama. I fully expect them to work very well togehter. The so called split inside the Kennedy family regarding this primary season will hopefully be a good role model for all of us as to how shallow that split should always have been seen. The Kennedys will pull together behind Obama pointing the way for us all as we work together to advance the Democratic Party and what is best for America and our world.

[grantcart]

24. Excellent point

Mr. Kenndy could have a dramatic impact on party unity in this campaign.

[scarletwoman]

14. Beautiful, moving post -- thank you so much for this.

I really appreciate the opportunity to see RFK, Jr. through your eyes.

And, as always, your efforts to move the discussion here out of the lizard brain realm is appreciated beyond measure.

Peace,
sw

[H2O Man]

31. Thank you.

It's important to remember that we are all working towards common goals.

[scarletwoman]

38. I posted to someone else in another thread that we need to tend to our wounded.

We need EVERYONE at full strength for the tasks ahead of us.

Peace,
sw

[Annces]

15. Thanks for your posts

I always enjoy them.

[H2O Man]

32. I'm glad that

you enjoy them. Thank you.

[myrna minx]

17. Thank you so much for this essay.

I am horrified by what happened to your nephew. I can't imagine what that poor kid endured.

Thank you for sharing your personal experiences with Bobby Kennedy. He is a person that I greatly admire.

[H2O Man]

40. Thank you.

Sometimes I think about all of the innocent people killed in the violence in Iraq. My nephew was left for dead in a dark parking lot, but he survived. Our family is, in that sense, lucky compared to many other families.

That makes me determined to work for the democratic victories needed to insure that we have the best chance of ending that war, and the other Bush-Cheney policies that promote violence.

[scarletwoman]

18. Kick -- I'd love to see this on the Home page. (nt)

[berni_mccoy]

20. Thank you H2O Man.

:kick:

[H2O Man]

41. Thank you. n/t

[grantcart]

23. This is the kind of post that is so valuable and so heart warming you read it over and over

again and wish there was more.

1) How is your nephew?


2) Mr. Kennedy's open statement of interest in the Senate seat has unfortunately colored how he is perceived and not in a good way, unfortunately. This has been exacerbated by the fact that he hasn't been able (atleast as far as I can see) to articulate a compelling reason why she should be President beyond, "I know her". Well we don't know her personally and we have to judge on what we see. In a way his "just trust me I know she is great" undermine Senator Clinton's message. Now we have to balance this personal assessment against the personal assessments of the Senators and Governors who have endorsed Senator Obama by a considerable margin.

The point here is not to point out who wins an endorsement war. It points out rather that because Senator Clinton's message has been so mangled and gaffe prone that it has put her supporters in the unenviable postion of having to explain and apologize for her. Mr. Kennedy was put in the excrutiatingly bizarre position of having to explain comments about his father's murder.

And why would I bring this up on a unity thread with a sublime and compelling story?

Because Clinton supporters here and elsewhere have been put into a similar bizarre position. Let us pretend that Senator Clinton had come out with a proposal for multi lateral negotiations and Senator McCain had responded with a get tough policy that included thermonuclear response and 'obliteration'. Not a single poster would have supported that position or those words. But Clinton supporters are left with what they have; her message.

They cannot make her message for her. Just like Mr. Kennedy they end up having to support a message they naturally would not support. We should then understand Mr. Kennedy's unenviable position and realize that many people here are in the same unfortunate boat. We should extend the restraint you project to Mr. Kennedy to all of the reasonable Clinton supporters who now have to carry water for positions and a candidate they don't recognize but remain loyal to.

Of course we have to be unrelenting on issues that have a harmful effect the General Election campaign.

[Tom Rinaldo]

25. We all have our own role in this we need to reflect on

Because we are all part of the electoral echo chamber in which candidate messages get repeated and shifted and distorted and twisted sometimes, in an elaborate version of the childhood game of "telephone".

I will cite one simple example that relates to what you commented on. Even though emotions on this and other matters are highly charged, I will try to avoid stepping on any of the emotional and political land mines we all have strewn regarding it: Obliterategegate. Whatever any of us feel about the horror of nuclear war, or about the possible dangers inherent in using certain words within a quasi diplomatic context, here is something I found disturbing on DU. I found it disturbing how many posters were willing to graphically convey the horror of what a nuclear attack on Iran would look like without any mention of what the horror of a nuclear attack on Israel would look like, since Clinton's use of the word "obliterate" was specific to and conditioned upon a scenario in which the tiny land mass which is Israel had already been attacked with nuclear weapons. Clinton's comment was on the subject of retaliation and minimally needed to be addressed within that context.

Personally I think Clinton erred, at the very least in the use of that word, others may feel it conveyed the exactly right warning, but we here on the internet, no less so than the Main Stream Media, have our own role to play in shaping the public political dialog. We have our own responsibility to be accurate, and to be fair. We too have the capacity to poison the well of public discourse. That power is not restricted to our candidates, or to the NY Times, Drudge, MSNBC, or FOX News.

That is all I wanted to say. I hope no one feels a need to argue about Iran or any other specific issue here on this positive thread from H20 Man. My point is only that how we ourselves conduct ourselves matters, regardless of whether we approve or disapprove of how one or another candidate conducts him or herself.

[grantcart]

26. I understand your opinion and that is the point of my reply.

And that reinforces the important message the OP has laid at our doorstep.

The campaign has put us into uncomfortable positions.

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. Yes, it has. May it fall into that great category;

That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. We can all keep learning and growing, no matter where any of us has come down so far on any given issue or person. There is too much that is too important that unites us, to allow ourselves long to be divided.

Peace to you grantcart. I very much appreciate what you bring to this board.

[H2O Man]

30. That is a key point.

In terms of Senator Clinton, for example, the difficulties she has encountered in this primary may be the exact thing that was required to make her a stronger leader. When we think of Ted Kennedy's losing in his 1980 attempt to become president, it resulted in his becoming a better Senator. He has had more long-lasting positive impact on this country than almost any president has. This experience will not be the end of Hillary Clinton's career; it may well be the beginning of her best chapter in public serice.

[grantcart]

34. Its free of charge and that is its worth lol

[H2O Man]

29. Thank you for asking

about my nephew. Although I have spoken about the incident on DU a few times, this weekend's anniversary really brought it back. He has always been a special person. I took a great deal of pride in watching him grow from a little boy who loved sports, to a scholar-athlete who his high school teachers nicknamed "the Gentle Giant." He led his high school basketball team to a state championship, and a highlight was when they played a private school from NYC.

That team's captain was from Europe, and Sports Illustrated had done a story about his being recruited by a lot of top universities. My nephew held him to 2 points. A newspaper called him the type of leader that you would want if you were in the military. That was around the time the gang of thugs targeted him.

His favorite sport was football, and he had the option of several universities, and would surely have had a career in professional ball. But that was stolen from him. His injuries took that chance from him.

Instead, he went and got a degree from a good university, and now works in human services. As much as I would have enjoyed watching him play ball, I think he has found his true calling.

[Swamp Rat]

27. Let's keep posts like this kicked to the top.

I am going to start hiding negative, divisive threads.

edit: :applause: :thumbsup: :patriot:

[bleever]

35. I second that.

Let's get together and feel alright.

:applause:

[Swamp Rat]

36. kick for your kick

Too many anti-Dem, negative posts.

FOCUS PEOPLE! :D

[crickets]

37. Another excellent post, H2O Man - complete with thoughtful, respectful discussion. K&R -nt

:dem:

[rosesaylavee]

39. A true hero...

Here is a link to his very rousing speech given last summer at Live Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Heku9oTLysg&eurl=http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/5198-robert-f-kennedy-jr-at-live-earth

"... and I will see all of you on the barricade."

I am very hopeful that Mr. Kennedy has a prominant place in the next administration too.

[bulldogge]

42. Speaking of the environment

did any one see this in the news today?

Environmentally Friendly Bombs Planned

"New explosives could be more powerful and safer to handle than TNT and other conventional explosives and would also be more environmentally friendly.


TNT, RDX and other explosives commonly used in military and industrial applications often generate toxic gases upon detonation that pollute the environment. Moreover, the explosives themselves are toxic and can find their way into the environment due to incomplete detonation and as unexploded ordnance. They are also extremely dangerous to handle, as they are highly sensitive to physical shock, such as hard impacts and electric sparks.


To make safer, more environmentally friendly explosives, scientists in Germany turned to a recently explored class of materials called tetrazoles. These derive most of their explosive energy from nitrogen instead of carbon as TNT and others do.


Tiny bombs were made from two promising tetrazoles with the alphabet-soup names of HBT and G2ZT. These materials proved less apt to explode accidentally than conventional explosives.


After the bombs were detonated in the laboratory, G2ZT also proved as powerful than TNT, and HBT more powerful than TNT and comparable to RDX, said researcher Thomas Klapötke, a chemist at the University of Munich in Germany.


In initial experiments, G2ZT and HBT produced fewer toxic byproducts than common explosives. Still, they did generate some dangerous hydrogen cyanide gas. But mixing these compounds with oxidizers not only avoids making hydrogen cyanide, but also improved performance, Klapötke said.


These compounds have great potential, "especially for large caliber naval and tank guns," Klapötke added.


Klapötke and his colleague Carles Miró Sabate are scheduled to detail their findings in the June 24 issue of the journal Chemistry of Materials.


The research was financially supported by the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, the European Research Office of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the U.S. Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, and the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Materials, Explosives, Fuels and Lubricants."

Charles Q. Choi
Special to LiveScience
LiveScience.com

Is this the republicans idea of saving the environment?

[Me.]

45. So They'll Still Kill People

But not harm the trees?

[mmonk]

44. Great picture of Jr (both)

My son Robert (my sons are named Robert and John by the way) is currently seeking an internship with a Riverkeepers organization involving the Neuse River. Thanks for the post and call for unity. We aren't as divided as our politics suggest and I hope people keep that in mind.