Normal Green: How Green are the Presidential Candidates?

For many people committed to living a greener lifestyle, John McCain and Barack Obama's views on environmental issues may very well be the most important factor in deciding who gets their vote. Which candidate is the greener candidate? Who has a better environmental policy? Who has a better plan for creating more green jobs while reducing our addiction to fossil fuels? Both candidates outline their plans on their websites, but if you want to run their plans through the thoughtful and critical analysis of the best eco-/green-focused writers on the internet, read on. Today we take a closer look.

If you are the kind of person who likes easy-to-read charts, check out this Green Tech article which compares the candidates on six key issues including biofuels, nuclear power, coal, and emissions. Writes Martin LaMonica, "In sharp contrast to McCain, Obama's voting record has been solidly behind the renewable energy industry. A Senate effort last year to extend an investment tax credit around solar and wind energy projects failed to pass by one vote; McCain did not vote." Hmmmmm.

Next up is Matthew McDermott of TreeHugger who presents a series of posts comparing Obama and McCain's policies on energy and the environment. McDermott begins his series by stating, "In politics everyone has their bottom line issue: The issue for them which is the ultimate deciding factor when comparing candidates running for office. For me, and I suspect many TreeHugger readers, that issue is the environment." I would venture to say that the same goes for Tonic News readers as well. If you are doing all you can to green your life don't you want a president who will support your efforts? The next president will have a historic role in guiding our country into a new environmentally-focused economy. He will oversee the creation of millions of green jobs and training programs. He will be at the helm of the renewable energy revolution. He will need to have the vision to create policies that will do no more harm to this planet. But what does that mean to everyday, hardworking Americans? Can the candidates do everything they promise without raising our taxes?

This clear analysis by Brian Dumaine follows the money. If you cringe everytime Obama says he supports clean coal or every time McCain talking about building more nuclear plants, read up on why the candidates support the policies they do, then make sure you to everything you can to help elect the candidate whose views align with yours. In other words, get educated on their green policies then: vote, baby vote!