RFK Jr. rips 'revolving door' as contributor to environmental damage

[Guest guest]

July 28, 2008 - 5:41pm

By Trey Pollard

Category: House, LocalTags: Kennedy Jr., Yarmuth

LOUISVILLE --

During remarks in Louisville on Saturday, F. Kennedy, Jr.,

framed the environmental movement in dramatic terms, arguing it was an

effort with motivations similar to those that inspired the foundation

of the United States.

" This is a battle for the values that define our country, " Kennedy told an

audience of about four hundred on Sunday afternoon.

Kennedy was the keynote speaker at Louisville's Forecastle Festival,

a three-day event centered on musical performances and environmental

activism. A noted activist against water pollution and an advocate for

alternative energy, Kennedy was well-received by the friendly crowd.

Louisville's Democratic U.S. representative, Yarmuth, was also

in attendance, and he lauded Kennedy in his brief introductory remarks.

" This is someone who really is at the forefront of every activist

movement in this country, " said Yarmuth. " He is someone who is an

example for all of us to follow. "

While the crowd listened in sweltering heat as Kennedy took the

stage previously host to a series of rock bands and rappers, Kennedy

spoke at length, linking topics as diverse as mountaintop removal,

mercury pollution, free market capitalism, and spirituality to the

efforts of the environmental movement.

Kennedy connected a significant amount of responsibility for

perceived environmental threats to political lobbying and campaign

contributions. Part of his speech was reserved for an assault on the

Bush administration, which he said created a " revolving door " system,

placing lobbyists from energy companies into high-level administrative

positions with significant domain over environmental policy.

Kennedy particularly targeted Philip Cooney as an example of this

practice. Though he is no longer in the position, Cooney served the

Bush administration as chief of staff for the Council on Environmental

Quality - the executive agency that which works closely with other

environmental agencies to coordinate policy.

In his speech, Kennedy suggested Cooney's previous employer provided

insight into where the motivations of Bush's environmental appointees

stands.

" His last job was as the chief lobbyist of the American Petroleum

Institute, " said Kennedy, referencing the group which advocates for

American petroleum companies.

Suggesting large contributions to President Bush's campaigns were

responsible, Kennedy said a series of lawsuits against coal-burning

power plants operating illegally were dropped as Bush took office.

Noting he had three children with asthma, Kennedy remarked " I'm

going to watch my children grasping for air because someone gave money

to a politician. "

The son of the former Presidential candidate and attorney general,

Kennedy, Sr., the younger Kennedy also tailored his remarks for

the Kentucky audience. He spoke at length about the coal mining

practice of mountaintop removal - a controversial extraction technique

that extensively alters the geography and environment of the

surrounding areas.

Paraphrasing his father, Kennedy predicted the impact of mountaintop removal

would be permanent.

" They are not just destroying the environment, they are permanently

impoverishing these communities, " said Kennedy.

Touching on a specific topic presently dominating the state's

political landscape, Kennedy also addressed American oil consumption

and calls for extended oil production.

" You don't get rid of addiction by giving a crack addict more crack, " remarked

Kennedy to the cheers of the crowd.

Noting economic progress in nations that plan to ban petroleum, such

as Sweden and Iceland, Kennedy said " decarbonization " and a switch from

petroleum reliance could provide an economic boon to the United States.

" Entrepreneurs will rush into that space to create new forms of

energy, " said Kennedy. " It will happen more quickly than any pundits

expect. "

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