Gore turns down climate czar post
By Michael W. Jones
President-elect Obama began talking about a “climate czar” post clear back in April, when the Democratic nomination was still being hotly contested. He specifically mentioned that he would offer ex-vice president (and winner of a Nobel Prize) Al Gore the job if he were elected. Gore, however, has said that he had no interest in taking any government job, including that one.
According to the Washington Times, Gore spokesperson Kalee Kreider said on Thursday, “Former Vice President Gore does not intend to seek or accept any formal position in government. He feels very strong right now that the best thing for him to do is to build support for the bold changes that we have to make to solve the climate crisis.”
It would seem that the Obama transition team is still very interested in the creation of such a position, although the team would not comment on specific plans. Gore would seem to be ideal for the job, of course, given his high visibility role as a supporter of environmental issues, his Nobel Prize based on that support, and his Washington experience.
During the campaign, Obama was very vocal about the need to change America’s energy policy, especially its dependence on foreign oil. The President-elect has said that better polices and environmental research could ween the U.S. from foreign oil and create millions of what he called “green jobs.” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki recently said, “Obama has outlined an aggressive energy and climate agenda and will put the resources in place in his administration to achieve those goals.”
Obama receently told Time, “Finding the new driver of our economy is going to be critical. There´s no better driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy. That´s going to be my number one priority when I get into office.” Now that Al Gore will not be leading this charge for his administration, who will? Rumors are currently focusing on former EPA chief Carol M. Browner, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, among others.
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