So, regarding Clinton, or any politician, holding private and public positions, it appears that fracking can be added to the list. Clinton has been shielded by further questions regarding the latest Wikileaks dump due to Donald Trump dealing with alleged sexual harassment claims and crude remarks he has made about women, specifically Arianne Zucker and former Access Hollywood anchor Nancy O’Dell. That recording, which was released last weekend, set off a firestorm on the eve of the second presidential debate. Trump’s stronger than usual performance helped stopped the bleeding, but new allegations dug up by The New York Times, one of which alleges an assault occurred on an airplane, has the campaign battling narratives from the Left.
So, while the media is sifting through that sordid history, Clinton’s support of fracking, which is anathema to the environment Left goes unchallenged, as does her view that anti-fracking activism is…a Russian plot. Right now, the Clinton campaign is trying to cast the Wikileaks documents as nothing more than an attempt by Russia to influence the election, an accusation for which there is zero evidence. The pro-fracking portions were revealed through portions of her paid speeches to Wall Street firms that the former first lady has tried to keep a lid on throughout this campaign (via International Business Times):
In one excerpt of a speech to Deutsche Bank in April 2013, according to the document, Clinton boasted about the federal government’s support for fracking and her own work to promote the process across the globe.“Fracking was developed at the Department of Energy,” the document shows Clinton saying. “I mean, the whole idea of how fracking came to be available in the marketplace is because of research done by our government. And I've promoted fracking in other places around the world.”
In another excerpt of the same speech, Clinton outlines why she supports a continued push for fracking.
“The ability to extract both gas and oil from previously used places that didn't seem to have much more to offer, but now the technology gives us the chance to go in and recover oil and gas,” the document shows her saying. “Or with the new technology known as fracking, we are truly on a path -- and it's not just United States; it's all of North America -- that will be net energy exporters assuming we do it right."
She added: “We ought to be committed enough to ensure that we set the example for the world about how to do it with the minimal amount of environmental damage.”
In a purported excerpt of another speech in 2014, the document shows Clinton portraying some environmental groups’ opposition to fracking and pipeline construction as a Russian plot.
“We were up against Russia pushing oligarchs and others to buy media,” the document shows her saying. “We were even up against phony environmental groups, and I'm a big environmentalist, but these were funded by the Russians to stand against any effort, oh that pipeline, that fracking, that whatever will be a problem for you, and a lot of the money supporting that message was coming from Russia.”
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She’s moved to the Left on fracking and trade since the primaries to cater to the rabid supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who took a hard left stance on those issues. In these transcripts, Clinton also shows support for free trade, open borders, and those in the financial industry to fix the problems on Wall Street; something that is not shared by the progressive wing of the party.
*Speaking About The Importance Of Proper Regulation, Clinton Said “The People That Know The Industry Better Than Anybody Are The People Who Work In The Industry.”* “I mean, it's still happening, as you know. People are looking back and trying to, you know, get compensation for bad mortgages and all the rest of it in some of the agreements that are being reached. There's nothing magic about regulations, too much is bad, too little is bad. How do you get to the golden key, how do we figure out what works? And the people that know the industry better than anybody are the people who work in the industry.[…]
*Hillary Clinton Said Her Dream Is A Hemispheric Common Market, With Open Trade And Open Markets. *“My dream is a hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders, some time in the future with energy that is as green and sustainable as we can get it, powering growth and opportunity for every person in the hemisphere.” [05162013 Remarks to Banco Itau.doc, p. 28]
These differing views on public policy speak to Clinton’s character concerning trust and honesty. Voters already give her low marks on both traits.
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