Reality Check

McCain's Ad On Environment Gets A 'Reality Check'

DENVER (CBS4) ― The ad from Republican presidential candidate John McCain called "global" focuses on the environment and the economy. It's aimed at independent voters, and tries to put some distance between McCain and President Bush.

Ad: John McCain stood up to the president and sounded the alarm on global warming 5 years ago

The claim is true. McCain has been one of the leaders in the U.S. Senate to bang the drum of climate change. In 2003, he and Sen. Joe Lieberman teamed up in an unsuccessful attempt to impose carbon caps upon industry.

For a summary of McCain-Lieberman see: http://www.pewclimate.org/policy_center/analyses/s_139_summary.cfm

Ad: Today he has a realistic plan that will curb greenhouse gas emissions

That's a campaign promise. McCain's realistic plan to cut greenhouse emissions is a variation on the so-far unsuccessful cap-and-trade system being used in the European Union.

In Europe it's still a painful work in process. So far it's driven up the cost of energy while failing to effectively reduce carbon emissions. The Europeans predict that will eventually change. U.S. lawmakers are currently looking at ways to learn from the mistakes of Europe, but no one's figured out cap-and-trade just yet, including John McCain.

For more information on McCain's climate change plan see: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/da151a1c-733a-4dc1-9cd3-f9ca5caba1de.htm

Ad: a plan that will help grow our economy

According to his website, McCain's long term economic plan calls for middle class, corporate and entrepreneurial tax cuts. In the short run he wants to halt deposits to the strategic oil reserve to create more domestic fuel supply. He also wants a summer gas tax holiday, and he wants to end ethanol subsidies because of their impact on food prices.

For more information on McCain's economic plan see http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/4dbd2cc7-890e-47f1-882f-b8fc4cfecc78.htm

Ad: a plan that will help grow our economy and protect our environment

It's a promise upon which McCain has some credibility, but the environmentalists view the senator's record as wildly erratic on green issues. While he's a big supporter of combating carbon emissions, his 2007 voting record drew a zero rating from the League of Conservation Voters, because he skipped every vote the LCV cared about. Environmentalists are also critical of McCain's friendly relationship with oil and gas interests, and his desire to expand off-shore drilling.

For more information on criticism from environmental groups see League of Conservation Voters website http://www.lcv.org/

Ad: reform, prosperity, peace.. John McCain

Bottom line, John McCain is aiming for the independent. In this ad he tries to show he's not just a national security, war-on-terror candidate. He makes the case that he is also thinking about climate change, and the economy.

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