Joe Biden Debate Pledge To Transition Away From Fossil Fuels Could Cost Him Pennsylvania and Other Energy States
The Biden team is trying to explain his remarks and even some vulnerable Democrats are distancing themselves from his position.
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Saying the United States should transition away from fossil fuels is a popular idea on the left. It’s not workable in real life, however. Millions of people depend on fossil fuels not only to heat and light their homes, but for their jobs.
During the final debate last night, Joe Biden said the United States should transition away from the oil industry. This was red meat for his base and the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, but it won’t play with millions of voters who live in the real world.
It’s easy to say you support the idea of abandoning fossil fuels, but if you want to know how that works out, look no further than California, where their green energy policy has led to rolling blackouts.
You can tell Biden’s comments were damaging, because the media has already moved to the ‘conservatives pounce’ stage of the issue.
From Politico:
Conservatives pounce on Biden’s desire to move away from oil
Conservatives pummeled former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday for saying he wanted to transition away from the oil industry, accusing the Democratic nominee of being callous with the economy in his proposals for tackling climate change.
“I would transition from the oil industry, yes,” Biden said during the final presidential debate.
“Oh. There’s a big statement,” President Donald Trump responded.
“It is a big statement,” Biden shot back.
Here’s the exchange, if you missed it:
Reagan once said that if you’re explaining, you’re losing. Biden’s team is now explaining:
Biden's team seeks to clarify Biden's remarks on the oil industry, with @KBeds saying that Biden was referring to ending oil subsidies.
— Annie Linskey (@AnnieLinskey) October 23, 2020
Reactions came swiftly:
Biden spent four days practicing just to say that he’ll end the oil industry?
— Katya Sedgwick (@KatyaSedgwick) October 23, 2020
Biden said he is shutting down the oil industry as his closing argument for the race. He just told 10 million Americans he will take their jobs away.
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 23, 2020
Solar and wind are doing great things for blackout California.
— Jon Gabriel (@exjon) October 23, 2020
Biden challenged Trump to post his previous comments on fracking. Naturally, Trump accepted the challenge:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1319466667676749824
Even some Democrats recognize the mistake Biden made here and know they are vulnerable on this issue.
Andrew Solender writes at Forbes:
Vulnerable Democrats Break With Biden Over ‘Transition’ From Oil Industry
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s remark during the final presidential debate that he would “transition” away from the fossil fuel industry was met with heavy pushback not only from Republicans – who instantly identified the remark as Biden’s weak point of the night – but vulnerable Democrats as well…
Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), one of the most endangered House Democrats, affirmed Trump’s reaction, calling Biden’s stated position “one of the places Biden and I disagree,” and declaring: “We must stand up for our oil and gas industry.”
Another vulnerable freshman Democrat, Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-M.N.) warned against “demonizing” the industry and stated she would “continue to stand up to my party when they’re out of touch with the reality on the ground.”
Energy policy is not just about jobs and convenience.
During one of the debates in the 2012 Republican primary, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that energy independence is a national security issue. This point is not repeated nearly enough. As long as the United States can produce energy on its own, we are not beholden to potentially hostile nations for such a vital resource.
Like many people on the left, Biden is so comfortable with the talking points on fossil fuels that when Trump opened the door in the debate, Biden walked right through it.
Last night was a really good debate but the craziest part was when Trump asked Biden if he wanted to get rid of the oil industry and then Biden was like as a matter of fact I totally want to do that, in detail. And then Trump was like 'uhhhhhh did everyone get that?'
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 23, 2020
Many people are noting the impact this could have on Biden in states like Pennsylvania and Texas, but at the end of the day, this is an issue that affects every single American.
When the lights go out, all bets are off.
Featured image via YouTube.
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Comments
Kamala Harris is saying that what Joe Biden meant was that it’s not true that he is going to ban fracking.
If Biden wins, Kamala Harris will be president.
Sundowner Joe is all in the Global Warming church so of course he will shut down all fossil fuels he can ( or his handlers tell him to) I hope this is right but remember %90 of the people in Pennsylvania could care less not working in that industry.
If you spill gasoline and ignite it, it will release 10,000 BTU/min/square foot. If you know what a BTU is, then you will see this is an incredible amount of energy stored in that little can of less than one cubic foot. Put is another way, how far can you push your car? One gallon of gas will push it thirty miles or so in an engine that is less than 20% efficient. In other words, over eighty per cent of the energy used in a gasoline engine disappears as waste heat that is not used in as work energy.
Now name some other energy source that contains as much energy, is so easily transportable, and so safe to use? There simply is nothing else. There is no substitute. People have been searching for many decades looking for a replacement and none has yet to be found. Joe’s platform says let’s get rid of fossil fuels and hope for a miracle which is simply irresponsible on many levels.
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