The National Republican Congressional Committee has released Youtube footage of Oregon Congressman David Wu driving a huge GMC Yukon truck, despite promising to be a champion for the environment:
From Politico:
WTOP reports Wu’s camp defended their boss: “Wu, who is married and has two children, bought the black GMC Yukon eight years ago so that it could carry his dog, a couple of strollers and his family, spokeswoman Julia Louise Krahe said. The congressman and his family regularly practice recycling in their household,” she added. “He demonstrates his commitment to the environment in a number of ways, both personal and professional,” Krahe said.
Eager to find out the transformative impact this footage may have on Oregon’s political climate, the Mercury called Wu’s opponent in the 2010 primary, David Robinson.
Robinson drives a BMW that gets 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway, but “would prefer the story not be about the vehicle choice I have made.” “Obviously when I get the financial opportunity to purchase a more environmentally friendly vehicle I would do so,” he told the Mercury, adding, “it’s better than driving a GMC Yukon.”
Robinson says “Cash for Clunkers was Obama’s great program to get environmentally unfriendly vehicless off the road.” He thinks vehicle purchasing decisions are a matter of personal choice, and while some people need vehicles like a GMC Yukon “for the haulage capacity,” “the congressman made a choice not to take advantage of the financial incentives to purchase a more environmentally friendly vehicle.”
Robinson chose not to trade in his BMW, either, of course. But that’s a debate for the 2010 primary, I suppose. And to think, some say Oregon has grown complacent about its environmental protection reputation. “The congressman and his family regularly practice recycling in their household.” Nice.
Wu’s office and the NRCC are yet to return calls for comment.
“regularly practice recycling” is indeed a lame line. I mean, if he didn’t, I think that would automatically be grounds for a recall and it certainly takes more than that to impress me. That said, I know he rides MAX when he is town, (cause I’ve talked to him on it,) so it isn’t like regularly practicing recycling is the only thing he does…
I’m glad the Republicans are such champions of the environment now that they saw a Democrat in a Yukon.
Unfortunately for the Republicans and their Dear Leader Rush Limbaugh, there’s absolutely no bench in much of Oregon.
Many of the Republicans in the state legislature in the metro area have lost their seats – and these are the people who could be a credible challenge to Wu.
A politician like Wu should know that symbols are important and that symbolism is how politics work in this country. It doesn’t matter what he needs to haul. Plenty of people have kids, dogs, etc. and they’re not driving a car so big it has a step ladder to get into it.
Wu’s owning and driving the Yukon totally undermines any pro-environment argument he might make. It may only be a symbol, and certainly David Wu getting rid of his SUV won’t save the planet, but it’s ultimately important for people in power to practice what they preach – if only to give them rhetorical authority.
It may not matter to most of us but rhetorical authority is important when your job is to argue your and your constituents’ agendas.