Melinda Tuhus Photo
Sen. Joe Lieberman predicted Friday afternoon that Connecticut Attorney General and Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal will survive the “fuss” over the statements he made regarding his service in Vietnam. And he declined to endorse any candidate from any party running for either Connecticut governor or senator.
Lieberman (pictured) spoke to the press after a 45-minute session in a room packed with students at the Sound School, where he promoted the Kerry-Lieberman energy bill, also known as the American Power Act. The legislation would provide funding for all kinds of energy, including nuclear, so-called “clean coal,” natural gas (using the controversial method of “fracking”) and offshore oil drilling, along with renewables like solar and wind. It would also put a price as well as limits on carbon emissions as a way to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuels that causes climate change.
Ushered into the school library after the event with the students, Lieberman held a mini-press conference, where the talk focused on Connecticut politics. Both major parties hold conventions for state offices tonight.
Lieberman was asked about this week’s controversy surrounding Blumenthal, whom the New York Times accused of misleading the public about his service in the marine reserves during Vietnam.
“He’s done a very good job as attorney general,” said Lieberman (who held the job before Blumenthal did). “To me, he offered an apology and now the campaign goes on. He — like everyone — ought to be judged on his entire career of service. There’s a long way from now to election day in November.”
He chuckled and added, “Connecticut used to be known as the Land of Steady Habits, but we’ve seen an awful lot of changes [in the political landscape] in the past week or so. I would say it’s not a fatal blow, but it’s up to the voters.”
Regarding the other key races in the state, Lieberman said, “I made a decision that I’m going to approach this year’s elections as the independent I was privileged to be elected as in 2006, which is to say I’m going to wait and see who each party nominates or if there’s a third party candidate, and then decide who to endorse.”
In his sessions with the students, Lieberman said “it ought to be a slam-dunk” to get his energy bill passed “because I think it’s so good for the country in so many ways. But it’s also politics, and that’s the way laws are adopted, so we’re fighting in the trenches. But I think we have a decent chance of getting it passed this year. And I think it will make your future not only safer but fuller of opportunities for really good jobs.” One estimate is two million jobs over the first ten years.
Students had prepared questions and read them off as they were called on. The first question concerned nuclear power. A student asked how it could be considered clean energy when it produces toxic nuclear waste. Lieberman responded that it’s “clean” in the sense it doesn’t generate greenhouse gas emissions (though it does in other phases of production). Another student asked about offshore oil drilling. The bill allows states to opt out of drilling off their shores, and also includes a federal/state revenue sharing plan.
Lieberman barely mentioned coal, which provides almost half the electricity in the U.S. He didn’t mention energy conservation at all in his prepared remarks. Asked about it later, he acknowledged that conservation and efficiency together are the low-hanging fruit in the energy mix — the easiest to accomplish for the quickest results, while providing “green” jobs. He said coal must be part of the energy mix because it’s an abundant source of domestic supply; some senators support it because it provides jobs in their states, while others support it because coal is the main source of energy burned in their states.