Sierra Club endorses Crist and Meek, and Meek says no thanks

Because Democrats aren't conflicted enough over Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist ... the Sierra Club said today it is endorsing both of them. (News release below.)

UPDATE: Meek says no thanks. Implies group has no backbone to back a candidate who once espoused "drill, baby, drill" and signed legislation, SB 360, that environmental groups said would cause more sprawl. Said Meek, "This election is about taking a stand and fighting for principles you believe in. Today's Sierra Club co-endorsement is an insult to Florida's environmental community."

The Sierra Club announced its endorsement today of both Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the 2010 Florida U.S. Senate race. The announcement comes after a detailed endorsement process, including questionnaires and interviews with the candidates and careful review of the candidates’ records on environmental issues.

“The Sierra Club’s number one priority is ensuring a clean energy economy to create jobs and solve the climate crisis,” said Frank Jackalone, Florida Staff Director for the Sierra Club. “With Crist and Meek we can count on two serious and accomplished candidates for the U.S. Senate who understand the urgency of environmental protection and the policies needed to accomplish that goal.”

The Sierra Club endorsement of Charlie Crist serves to highlight Gov. Crist’s advancement of important issues like clean, renewable energy and conservation, as well as his understanding of the urgency of climate disruption. Gov. Crist worked to cut Florida’s global warming pollution by fighting dirty coal plants and urging Florida utilities to use renewable energy sources.  He has also come out against offshore oil drilling in the wake of the BP Gulf disaster.  Crist has demonstrated his commitment to the environment through his service as governor of Florida, advancing a strong environmental agenda that included land acquisition and preservation in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Kendrick Meek, in addition to his 100 percent League of Conservation Voters environmental record in his last session as U.S. Rep. for Florida’s 17th District, has shown his clear understanding and commitment to conservation and environmental issues. Rep. Meek opposes offshore drilling in Florida and has promoted investment in alternative energy by introducing a biomass tax parity bill and a renewable energy tax bill in Congress.  He has also voiced his commitment to Everglades restoration.  The Sierra Club welcomes Rep. Meek’s strong leadership on environmental issues and his work to fight global warming.

“Our goal is to distinguish these two candidates as worthy of support from voters who care about the environment, based upon their environmental positions, priorities, and vision,” said Sierra Club volunteer and Political Committee Chair for Florida Cecilia Height.

With 30,000 members statewide, and as a trusted messenger to the broader public, the support of Sierra Club Florida plays a decisive role in state and local elections.

“The Sierra Club rarely makes dual endorsements, but in this case it was particularly appropriate. Florida, the public at large, and Sierra Club members who want to see environmental leaders in Washington will all be well served by either Charlie Crist or Kendrick Meek as their representative in the U.S. Senate,” said Cathy Duvall, National Political Director of the Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club also assessed the candidacy of former State Speaker Marco Rubio, despite his failure to fill out a written questionnaire.  Through his interactions with the media, it is clear that Rubio questions the science of climate disruption, supports offshore oil drilling, and is linked to the extremist Tea Party movement.  Rubio has also said that he is against holding polluters like BP fully accountable for their disasters, and has voiced his desire to handcuff the Environmental Protection Agency against cleaning up our air and water.  During a Wednesday night debate, Rubio came out against funding for high speed rail in Florida, a project supported by Crist and Meek, and to which federal funds have already been committed to create more than 20,000 clean energy jobs.  In short, a vote for Rubio would be a vote against the environment and new job creation in Florida.

Comments

[TRUE BLUE]

Sierra Club throughout the state and especially locally is one big joke. Trying to be all things to all people and fail stand for anything.

[Way to go Meek!]

Meek just secured my vote by doing this!!! WAY TO GO MEEK!

[LyleLangley]

And dems want to throw Meek away for Charlie Crist?!?! It is really amazing that here is a guy that shares their beliefs, who has a backbone, and who still stands today for the same things he stood for last year. Best of all, he won't pander to get an endorsement... Quite refreshing and entirely respectable.

Make all the cracks you want about tea party splitting the (R)s... when you fools can't even see you are trashing the true candidate.

Both Meek and Crist (now) stand for the same things... so why put your vote behind a guy that held opposite positions just a year ago and without Rubio entering the race, would be your public enemy number 1 right now???
Especially when you could have galvanized behind someone who has been a part of the current agenda - what you continue to support?

[buzzard.]

True Blue: Sort of like a candidate we know, eh?

[Michael]

I applaud meek for having some steel B-lls!

[XX]

Good for you, Meek. Charlie would NEVER have done that.

[Ben]

Although I am voting for Rubio, I greatly admire Meeks stance on this, my hat is off to you sir !

[bye bye Chuckles]

Agree with you 100% 257.

[MJ in Clearwater]

To be fair to Crist, he didn't expouse "drill, baby, drill." The most positive comment that he made during that short peak in Floridian's "supposed" positive polling for drilling was "if it's found safe enough, clean enough and kept far enough from our shores".

Actually, President Obama made similar comments about drilling.

[LEMIEUX=CRIST=SPECTER]

BANG-O-RANG, 2:35.

My respect for Kendrick has just jumped by about five levels. Sierra Club endorsing someone based only on polls and the perception that he's the only one able to defeat the guy they really don't like instead of his record proves they are just as slimy as the spray-tanned androgynous freak they endorsed today.

Kendrick, with disloyal friends like Sierra Club, who needs enemies? You did the right thing.

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

WAY TO GO KENDRICK!... the Sierra Club has been infiltrated by plants, and has become the developers puppet anyway. Their useless, and yes – they have NO backbone anymore. Now tell Slowbama and the rest of the Disloyal Closet Racist Democrap Potbaggers (who have thrown you under the bus in favor of the empty-suited fraud named Chuck) to kiss you’re a--!

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

that's "your" a--.... and tell them to kiss mine while you're at it!

[XX]

Meek, don't let them do this to you. Stay in the race!

Are the Dems about to throw over Meek for Crist?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704696304575538231382658298.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

[Sam]

It is critical now that Crist maximizes this endorsement by the Sierra Club using their manpower, resources and influence to get out the vote. Remember Bush won the Presidency by 526 votes from Florida. This thing is going to be close and a few votes may determine the winner. The Sierra Club may make the call.

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

Also, that's "They're useless," not "their useless"!

Down with the Sierra Club! More development means less open space for these damn hippies to plant pot! If I'm going to be a bitter, middle-aged man lamenting my country's inevitable progress, everyone else has to be miserable, too!

[GOP Voter]

It appears that the Senate race has come down to two men with principles (albeit very different ones) and one gutless weasel.

And the gutless weasel has been endorsed by an organization of gutless weasels.

[Charna]

Meek accepted a joint teacher endorsement yet refuses this joint endorsement. Seems hypocritical to me. Probably doing so to try to uplift his anemic and faltering campaign.

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

"If I'm going to be a bitter, middle-aged man lamenting my country's inevitable progress, everyone else has to be miserable, too!"

You shouldn't talk about Slowbama that way.

Sorry about my grammar… and leave her out of this anyway, ya doper

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

Oh my Palin, I must have taken so many pain pills that I'm arguing with myself! Pills yay, pot nay -- pot is for dirty hippies! Too bad the pills don't take away the misery.

Thank Palin, then, for the Tea Party! There is no better place in America for a white, middle-aged man rendered bitter and angry by "his" changing country than that carousel of violent angst! Around and around it goes -- going nowhere fast!

[Democrap Potbaggers Unite!... and bring some munchies]

I do appreciate the Sierra folks and their efforts to save the Florida Brown-spotted Cesspool Toad.

[Tea Baggers are Traitors. To Florida, to the USA, to the entire Planet.]

Like the majority of the people in Florida, the Sierra Club is divided between Meek and Crist but united in their dislike for the little corporate gestapo Rubio.

[Democratic Realist]

L/C/S @ 3:28...you only say nice stuff about Meek because you know he can't win...and the more votes he gets the greater likelihood Rubio wins.

I'm voting for Crist...and not throwing away my vote on Meek so that Rubio wins.

[MJ in Clearwater]

5:48,

You got that one right. These posters showing concern for Meek are all likely and ardent Rubio supporters.

I hope the Wall Street Journal article has it right about Meek dropping out. He would gain lots of respect with that choice since he's definitely in a losing position in the polls and Crist has a decent chance.

[Wall Street Journal: "Meek might drop out of the senate race and pave the path to victory for Crist]

Wall Street Journal: "Meek might drop out of the senate race and pave the path to victory for Crist."

http://bit.ly/cOTTtb

[LyleLangley]

Who writes that WSJ article? Steve Moore

Who founded Club for Growth? Steve Moore

Which candidate is Club for Growth behind ($$)? Marco Rubio

Whether the rumor is true or not, I think Steve Moore is trying to put a charge into the absentee and early voters so that people don't send in their ballots too early, or trust Crist to be anything but a liberal democrat. It is like SPTimes in reverse...lol.

If this came from a different source, I might give it more stock. And if it turns out to be true... Rubio still wins.

[Ben]

MJ....why doesn't Crist drop out?

[Meek has no class]

It is bad form for Meek to reject this endorsement. It is ungrateful and alienates people who are otherwise inclined to support him. Everyday life in politics involves decisions and outcomes like this- is pouting the way Meek will cope with pressure and dissent? Is this how he works in more sensitive diplomatic situations? Insulting people who endorse you? Then no thanks, my vote goes to Charlie Crist.

BTW, the Sierra Club can hardly be accused of standing with developers. Who do you think is behind the campaigning for Amendment 4 statewide? Perhaps Meek is bragging to his developer buddies that he told Sierra Club to go for a hike. When was the last time Meek told developers "no thanks" ?