DNC Support for Al Gore...Hmmmmmmm

JoAnne received the following email this morning from Howard Dean and the Democratic National Commmittee. The email encourages Progressives to support Al Gore and his pledge to work to combat global warming. Thats rather a no-brainer - its something everyone should do be they Democratic, Progressive, Liberal, Independent, Green, or a member of the Republic Party.

Whats curious is the wording. Note the references encouraging us to "support" Al Gore. Maybe I'm getting extra hopeful, but it seems like the DNC is sending out a message here to prepare us to get ready to support Al on more than just global warming.

In ten weeks or so Al will be in Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. Its then that I predict he will be announcing his candidacy to win the White House a second time. It can't hurt to get on his bandwagon now. Why not beat the rush to supporting Al and just commit to him today?

Here's the email from the DNC

Dear JoAnne

A hundred years from now, school children will read about Al Gore and his leadership to address global climate change. No one has worked harder or inspired more Americans to tackle the greatest threat the world has ever faced.

Now it's time to add your name to the history books.

Stand with Al and pledge to live a life that will protect our environment for generations to come:

http://www.democrats.org/LiveEarth

Last Saturday, thousands of Democrats planted seeds for a cleaner planet at events across the country. We had a great weekend, rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty -- but there's even more we can do clean up the planet.

Here's the pledge that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and I have all taken:

To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;

To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"

To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;

To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;

To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

This pledge is an easy way to show that the political will exists to stop global warming -- no matter how hard President Bush tries to deny the problem or delay the solution.

I've signed it. Now it's your turn:

http://www.democrats.org/LiveEarth

Despite the recent attention on global climate change, we're still fighting an uphill battle. Over the past few years, Republicans have done everything in their power to silence Al, the scientific community, and anyone else who tells the truth about what's happening. In 2004, one NASA scientist claimed that in "three decades in government, I have never seen anything approaching the degree to which information flow from scientists to the public has been screened and controlled as it is now."
But despite this opposition, we've won the debate. As Al Gore said during the recent Live Earth concerts, we're now presented with a choice: "Do we use this unprecedented opportunity to organize a global movement that will last beyond the concerts themselves? Or do we let the moment pass?"

It's time to answer Al's question with the grassroots organizing and commitment that powers the Democratic Party. Sign the pledge and then tell every Democrat you know to do the same:

http://www.democrats.org/LiveEarth

Sincerely,

Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.