With the climate crisis becoming even more of a global emergency, some progressive Democrats have called for a complete overhaul of the United States' climate and energy policies, warning that sweeping change is needed to avoid irrevocable climate damage.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has proposed the Green New Deal, a legislation package that would help push the United States toward 100% clean renewable energy, as well as addressing the economic inequality foisted upon Americans across the country by environmentally harmful entities.
While the Green New Deal enjoys high support among Democrats, Democratic nominee Joe Biden has said he doesn't support it, one of the key differences between Biden and the Democrats to his left whose support he's sought since the Democratic primary.
In the disastrous Presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Biden on Tuesday night, Trump accused Biden of supporting the Green New Deal as a way to link him to so-called socialist wings of the Democratic party.
Biden said unequivocally that he doesn't support the Green New Deal.
Watch below.
Joe Biden: "The Green New Deal is not my plan ... No, I don't support the Green New Deal." #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/Dkq8Xcdj12
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 30, 2020
While Biden's website says that the urgency and boldness of the Green New Deal is a "crucial framework" for beating the threat of climate disaster, he emphasized at the debate that his plan is completely separate from the Green New Deal.
Former Presidential Counsellor Kellyanne Conway took to Twitter, where she tagged Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, another notable proponent of the Green New Deal.
"The Green New Deal Is Not My Plan" - @joebiden
"I don't support the Green New Deal"
cc: @AOC
cc: @EdMarkey
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) September 30, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez, a titan of Twitter clapbacks, didn't hesitate to set the record straight.
This isn't news, Kellyanne.
Our differences are exactly why I joined Biden's Climate Unity Task Force - so we could set aside our differences & figure out an aggressive climate plan to address the planetary crisis at our feet.
Trump doesn't even believe climate change is real. https://t.co/Bj8SMD9Syf
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 30, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez pointed out that Biden's stance on the Green New Deal is well-documented. She also reminded Conway that she worked with the former Vice President's team to help establish a plan that would combat the climate crisis.
Twitter applauded.
Lincoln was not an abolitionist, FDR not a socialist or trade unionist, and LBJ not a civil rights activist.
Three of the most transformative presidents never fully embraced the movements of their time and yet the movements won because they organized and shaped public opinion. https://t.co/E5U2XCvVAu
— Waleed Shahid (@_waleedshahid) September 30, 2020
Seeing speculation from Fox News pundits that Biden's resistance of the left will splinter the party, anger activists and depress Dem turnout. Based on conversations with activists tonight (and the tweet below), I'm not sure that take accounts for what a unifying force Trump is. https://t.co/oiLCiaXK9a
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 30, 2020
AOC's skill at affirming left positions in the very moment of embracing Dem unity, and of embracing Dem unity in the name of left positions (that's coalition politics!) is unequalled. https://t.co/C4yCPhSWYy
— Taniel (@Taniel) September 30, 2020
AOC with an important post-debate tweet as the Trump team sought to drive a wedge between Biden and the left https://t.co/mqK9QPZTu3
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) September 30, 2020
Well said, AOC. Well said. https://t.co/Rmp161cbKA
— DrJRestaino (@DrJRestainoJr) September 30, 2020
Just @AOC, owning it like a boss. https://t.co/WF3W5TMDEv
— Storm Faerywolf (@StormFaerywolf) September 30, 2020
People saw right through Conway's attempts to divide the left.
Yeah, now they will definitely vote for the climate denier. https://t.co/d4ZcLig2Yk
— Stephen Robinson (@SER1897) September 30, 2020
They already know.
We had a whole primary where we talked about it and Joes plans won. https://t.co/ciBtQUfORs
— JSapp_AR🍩🥀🥁 (@JSapp_AR) September 30, 2020
Imagine being dumb enough to tag @AOC on your bad tweet lol. https://t.co/lnbtAYtS6H
— Ken Copen 🦉 (@KenCopen) September 30, 2020
The next debate is on October 15.
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AMC