Who is Tom Steyer, and why does he think he can bully Massachusetts politicians? The California hedge-fund mogul waded into the Commonwealth’s Senate race this week, sending Democratic candidate Stephen Lynch a letter instructing him to drop his support for a controversial pipeline project “by high noon on Friday, March 22,” or face an aggressive campaign paid for by the billionaire.
The Keystone XL pipeline, which Steyer and Lynch’s Democratic rival, Ed Markey, oppose but Lynch supports, is a serious issue deserving serious debate. But it shouldn’t be reduced to a litmus test, especially under the threat of an onslaught of unregulated campaign spending. Both Lynch and Markey have agreed to block outside groups from advertising in the race under the so-called “people’s pledge.” Steyer may seek to evade that pledge by focusing on other forms of political spending — such as “guerrilla marketing” and door-to-door campaigning — but his threat against Lynch surely violates the spirit of the pledge. Markey should tell Steyer to back off.
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After all the money big oil has spent to deny climate change and destroy our planet, it's good to see them getting a taste of their own medicine, however bitter that medicine is. Perhaps Steyer's bold move will help convince our legislatures and Congress that Citizens United needs to be overturned, and big money and corporate power need to be reined in. The Keystone XL pipeline is already a litmus test for many Americans, especially on our campuses, where students see their future is at stake and are supporting a growing 350.org campaign to divest university endowments from fossil fuel companies. Global warming is a bus that has already left the station. There is no fossil fuel bus that will save the Earth to wait for anymore.
Well said! The Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision was an affront to democracy. It's one thing that big business has gotten to our politicians but that it was able to get to the Supreme Court is a very scary thing.
why does he think he can bully Massachusetts politicians?
Because he can.... look at all the mass dems who are (or should have gone) to prison for accepting bribes.
The only difference here is that the public knows who is buying pols up front. Won't stop the sheeple for voting D anyway, but there you have it..
Are you serious? Dems are corrupt as hell....just read the paper. (But not this one).
Are you kidding? Democrats are corrupt as heck. Don't you read the papers? Blagoevich, Jesse Jackson's kid, Menendez, DiMasi, Corzine, etc, etc....
Typical Steve Lynch:
Invade Iraq to get a few-hundred military production jobs.
Destroy the environment to get 50 pipe-fitter jobs.
This is a man who always has the small picture.
Lynch, like so many state politicians, ran as a democrat because that's the only way he could possible get elected. For all intents and purposes he is a republican, like Bulger, Finneran, etc.
Why on earth shouldn't Lynch be held accountable for his unforgivable voting record on this issue? Apparently the Globe feels that environmental activists should not sully themselves by standing up to big-money corporate donors like Exxon. That approach does not lead to a "thoughtful, balanced debate". It leads to a government owned by corporations at the expense of the public interest. As long as Citizens' United stands, this sort of financial hardball is unavoidable.
Kosta - you've got a little dab of soros on your lip...ought to wipe that off...
It is no secret that multibillion dollar oil conglomerates are opposing the development of the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline. There is a lot riding on this project which is such close proximity to the U.S. The bottomless crude oil supply is tightening the purse-strings for other oil producing nations, which makes the stakes not only an environmental issue.
However, Canadians should hold onto their oil. There is no need for Canada to share or negotiate their resources with the U.S., unless they see drones coming across the border.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Even if nothing comes of this, it at least is shining a bright light on Lynch's disgraceful voting record on the environment.