Where Senator Lugar was yesterday and why the attacks are unwarranted

[karynnj]

Yesterday, there was a Huffington Post article (posted on DU) and criticism from people like Rachel Maddow of the fact that Senator Lugar, who was invited to fly on air force one chose to decline. The spin was that he was being partisan. This in spite of the fact that he worked closely with Obama on the bill to control nuclear proliferation which was Obama's main Senate accomplishment - and a continuation of Nunn/Lugar. Lugar has also almost always shown respect for the Democrats on the SFRC committee.

So, where was he? He and Senator Kerry were at a meeting in DC on the role of forests in global warming. This is important as the SFRC will lead the effort on global warming in the Senate. This was likely scheduled long before the invitation was issued. It would be nice if people like the author of the Huffington Post or Rachel Maddow had bothered to ask Senator Lugar's office for a reason or his schedule - assuming a sitting Senator has no potential conflicts is silly. ( The following article is stolen from a Tay Tay post on DU JK - thanks Tay Tay)

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0209-avoided_deforestation.html

Kerry, Lugar: U.S. has opportunity to lead on climate, forest conservation


February 10, 2009

Bipartisan support for including forest protection as a solution to climate change

The United States can reassert itself as a global leader on the environment by supporting an initiative to fight climate change by protecting forests, said leaders from a broad range of political, environmental, development and business communities at a meeting on Capitol Hill Monday. Joined by senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar, the "Avoided Deforestation Partners" coalition called for Congress to include "strong tropical forest protection measures in U.S. climate change legislation" ahead of this December's climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Deforestation is a critical national security challenge because of its connections with threats from climate change and food security," said Lugar (R-Indiana), the senior-most Republican in the United States Senate. "I hope the United States will show leadership in elevating these issues during the upcoming international climate negotiations."

"Tropical deforestation must be a part of the debate on both climate change and national security," added Kerry (D-Massachusetts), who currently serves as the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. "Around the globe, millions of people have seen their land and livelihoods degraded by deforestation, increasing instability in already troubled regions. At the same time, deforestation continues to release billions of tons of carbon dioxide, accelerating the worldwide climate changes already occurring. America must set the tone for the rest of the world by including smart, effective forest protections in our own climate legislation this year and working to include international forestry provisions in the next international climate change agreement."

Now, there are PLENTY of Republicans that deserve every brickbat thrown at them and you can criticize Lugar for his vote - but the fact is that he did not "diss" Obama and he was not likely being rude turning down the flight on air force one.