What exactly happened to Tom Campbell?
Ok, so I've "only" been following California politics (well, politics in general) for the last 8 years. That being said, I'm hoping that someone out there can help explain what happened to Tom Campbell.
If you look at his first couple of years in Congress, his voting record on the environment is impeccable - 100% in LCV's 1989 and 1990 Scorecards. Most Democrats didn't even come close to touching him! But as the years progress, his scores regress with an all-time low of 37% in 2000.
Campbell served in the House of Representatives in two stints – once representing the Peninsula/South Bay Area and later the Silicon Valley. At the beginning of his time with each of those districts, he started out with solid pro-environmental scores ranging from an A to a B. As his terms progressed in each district, his support for the environment plummeted.
So, what exactly happened to Tom Campbell? Here's a Republican that at one time understood that environmental issues really are non-partisan. Yet, somewhere along the line, he sided more and more with polluting interests.
Should we expect similar from Campbell as the governor of California? Will he start off on a strong foot and then have us watch as his support dries up when we need it most?
(2 votes)
2 Comments
noodle
How can we break through to the Republican candidates on environmental issues? It seems like they are all trying to show how non-environmental they are so they can get their parties nomination, but isn't such a strategy going to back fire in the general election. Maybe we should ask the Republican's about energy independence. Isn't that something their base supports. Doesn't everybody think renewable energy is a good idea? What about water conservation. Even the agricultural industires support water conservation, at least for everybody except themselves. And what about coastlines? What about state parks? Why do the republican candidates need to try to be so anti-environmental. Ironically it may be disingenuous since at least Whitman and Campbell have been involved with conservation efforts throughout their lives.
JenesseMiller
I've been wondering the same thing. I'd love to hear from Mr. Campbell himself. Any environmental champs going to an upcoming town hall should ask this question (and take a video camera so you can record the answer and post it here!)