Subject: MEMO: Jeb Bush & Marco Rubio’s Earth Day Dilemma
From: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
To: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:56:57 +0000

<http://factivists.democrats.org/memo-jeb-bush-marco-rubios-earth-day-dilemma/>

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Holly Shulman, DNC National Press Secretary
DATE: April 22, 2015
RE: Jeb Bush & Marco Rubio’s Earth Day Dilemma

Today is Earth Day, a time to reflect on environmental policies and increase awareness about the effects of climate change.

On one hand – you have scientists, the Pentagon, and the American people who are highly concerned about climate change and want a leader to take steps to address it. On the other hand, you have a team of Republican candidates who deny all the facts to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to address it.

Quite the predicament.

One thing is for certain: Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush are way out of touch with mainstream America as they continue to deny climate science.

But don’t just take our word for it – just look at their positions, and the scathing reviews:

Marco Rubio<http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121521/rubio-announces-presidential-campaign-drowning-miami>:  “I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it.”

  *   Washington Post: Rubio’s position on climate change is “not just cowardly but intellectually hollow<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/04/19/rubios-intellectually-hollow-position-on-climate-change/>” and “fails a basic test of leadership<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/04/19/rubios-intellectually-hollow-position-on-climate-change/>.”
  *    Politifact: “Not only is Rubio incorrect, but he’s ignoring a mountain of concrete, scientific research. We rate his claim False<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/may/13/marco-rubio/marco-rubio-says-humans-are-not-causing-climate-ch/>.”
  *   Washington Post: “Marco Rubio’s rhetoric on climate change casts questions about his judgment<http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marco-rubios-rhetoric-on-climate-change-casts-questions-about-his-judgment/2014/05/12/94f4e9c2-da19-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_story.html>”
Jeb Bush<http://grist.org/article/2009-jeb-bush-still-skeptical-about-clim/>: “I’m a skeptic. I’m not a scientist. I think the science has been politicized.”

  *   The Guardian: “When it comes to climate change, Jeb Bush is a lot more radical than his brother.”<http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/16/jeb-bush-climate-denier-republican-presidential-candidate-2016>
  *   Grist: “Category: Flat-Earther.<http://grist.org/politics/meet-the-climate-deniers-who-want-to-be-president/> While President George W. Bush never did anything about global warming, his brother goes further, by not even admitting it exists.”
  *    Tampa Bay Times: “Jeb Bush sounds sort of like Rubio <http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/jeb-bush-sounded-sort-of-like-rubio-on-climate-change/2179732> on climate change”
Sadly, the rest of the Republican Party’s presidential hopefuls are right there with them:

  *   Chris Christie<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/10/chris-christie-global-warming_n_781494.html>: “I’m a little skeptical” that global warming is caused by humans.
  *   Ted Cruz <http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/cruz-global-warming-gm-food-labeling-115857.html> not only denied climate science, but even said “in the last 17 years, satellite data shows there’s been no warming whatsoever.”
  *   Bobby Jindal<http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/bobby-jindal-s-soft-climate-change-skepticism-20140916> questioned the rele of humans in climate change “and what, if any, dangers that change presents for Americans.”
  *   Rand Paul<http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/15/1182056/us-senate-candidates-fighting.html> is skeptical of climate change, saying “There is some question as to the validity of the science.”
  *   Rick Perry <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/rick-perrys-made-up-facts-about-climate-change/2011/08/17/gIQApVF5LJ_blog.html> claimed scientists were doubting climate change and accused scientists “to be manipulating date.”
  *   Scott Walker <http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/scott-walker-among-signers-of-koch-backed-no-climate-tax/article_6b078010-1304-58a9-8e80-ea384a251c33.html> has actively worked against legislation addressing climate change in Wisconsin.
So on this Earth Day, the question remains: if scientists, activists, public opinion, and the devastating danger to their home state <http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article17281532.html> aren’t enough to convince them – what would it take for Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and the rest of the Republican candidates to acknowledge one of the most pressing issues facing the next President of the United States?

The answer: A less extreme Republican Party and some backbone from the GOP’s presidential candidates.  Too bad neither of those things are likely to show up anytime soon.

View this post on our Factivists site here<http://factivists.democrats.org/memo-jeb-bush-marco-rubios-earth-day-dilemma/>.