League of Conservation Voters SILENT On HILLARY'S SILENCE On KEYSTONE XL

[Segami]

Here's a lesson in how to have zero impact as an advocate for the environment. When a journalist asks you why Hillary Clinton hasn't yet taken a stand on one of your top issues—the Keystone XL pipeline—don't answer with this:

"We were thrilled to have Sec. Clinton speak at our dinner in New York City on Monday night."

http://www.msnbc.com/the-ed-show/watch/clinton-gives-climate-policy-the-silent-treatment-367918147851

That's Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior VP of government affairs for the League of Conservation Voters, and those were truly the first words out of her mouth last week during an MSNBC interview with Ed Schultz. For a little background, Hillary Clinton has attracted some negative headlines of late for failing to take a position on the Keystone XL pipeline and whether it should be approved or scrapped. MSNBC's Schultz was giving LCV a chance to weigh in on that silence. In fact, Schultz asked Sittenfeld three different times why Hillary's been so dodgy on the topic. All three times, Sittenfeld failed to pressure Clinton. At one point, Schultz, sensing Tiernan's hesitation, nearly apologized, saying, "Well, I'm not trying to get your organization to pick a fight with Hillary Clinton, but I think it needs to be profoundly pointed out that if you're concerned about the environment, how can you be for Keystone?"


This is a lesson in inside-the-Beltway groups and what I call access advocacy—when access comes first and advocacy comes second. All Beltway groups do it: the Human Rights Campaign for LGBTs, the National Council of La Raza for immigration, LCV for the environment. All of them are prone to sacrificing advocacy in pursuit of access. Because having the president of the United States (or perhaps the next president) come speak at your fundraiser pays off big. Literally. It's great for an organization's bottom line. HRC, for instance, welcomed Obama to their annual gala in both 2009 and 2011. NCLR did the same in 2011. LCV did it earlier this year.


And so it starts all over again with Hillary. This is a real problem because it's not at all clear that Clinton will have formidable primary opponents to mitigate her centrist tendencies. So getting Clinton to make progressive policy pronouncements for which she could be held accountable if elected president will be up to the progressive groups. The DREAMers are currently doing this better than just about any other activists right now. They confronted Clinton on the 2014 campaign trail several times, pressuring her on her commitment to taking executive action on immigration. She never answered. But she's been put on notice and that is certainly generating conversation among her and her aides.





cont'


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/10/1350613/-League-of-Conservation-Voters-silent-on-Hillary-s-silence-on-Keystone-XL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I would think that the LCV would be well aware of her position on this horror.

She is behind it. She has pushed it and helped it along.

Her attitude towards it is one of the big reasons I oppose her candidacy.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Surely, there's a Politifact link somewhere showing how Hillary is so very pro-environment.

http://www.wavlist.com/soundfx/014/cricket-1.wav

[Segami]

3. LOL! ..Just trust her....

It will all be made crystal clear after she's elected....


Then expect to be reading DU posts starting with the header ' But, but...everyone knew what she stood for.....so don't cry & complain now after the fact.'

[NYC_SKP]

4. "Dead Broke!"

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/jun/10/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-says-she-and-bill-were-dead-broke/

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5. Whaaa,...I can't hear you...

with all the overhead gunfire......keep your head down!.........

[Ink Man]

6. If

she stays silent see can get money from both sides.

[AtomicKitten]

7. No worries. They can refer here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023022353

This is exactly why I posted this a few months ago. I KNEW they would try to duck any responsibility.