May 03, 2008 12:18 AM UTC

Udall Takes Up the Challenge & Shows How It's Done

•  
• by: davidsirota

(Moderate Mark has emerged from the witness protection program – and he’s kicking ass & taking names – promoted by DavidThi808)

Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate in the energy-producing state of Colorado, issued this scathing statement in response to Hillary Clinton’s demand yesterday that all lawmakers support her pathetic, McCain-style gas-tax pander:

“Senator Clinton claimed yesterday that I either stand with her on this proposal or stand with the oil companies. To that I say: I stand with the families of Colorado, who aren’t looking for bumper sticker fixes that don’t fix anything, but for meaningful change that brings real relief and a new direction for our energy policy. We can’t afford more Washington-style pandering while families keep getting squeezed.

“It is exactly the kind of short-sighted Washington game that keeps us from getting real results to our energy problem. Experts across the ideological spectrum agree that it will increase the deficit, drain money away from Colorado roads and bridges, and hurt the environment, all without actually making prices lower for drivers.”

Udall, to date, is an undeclared superdelegate, and – to my knowledge – has not endorsed in the presidential race.

To understand why this is such an important statement, don’t bother confirming that it supports exactly what most economists say. Understand that Colorado is a major oil and gas state, with a politically aggressive energy industry. So here we have one of the state’s highest-profile politicians running for higher office, and taking courageous step to confront a major politician of his own party (and, by extension, her donors) and to challenge one of the most ruthless industries in his state. And he’s doing it for three damn good reasons: Because the gas-tax holiday will do nothing to solve the energy crisis (and probably exacerbate it), and because his state’s infrastructure funding – which gas tax revenues contribute to – have already been gutted by the right-wing’s so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Udall, in other words, is taking a side. He had to choose between taking the side of Clinton panderers and the oil industry in his state, or taking the side of the rest of his state’s population that has been suffering through crappy infrastructure thanks to Republican policies. He chose the side of the people.

Kudos to Udall – this is about the toughest statement he’s issued so far in his campaign, and it’s a great step.