[Flynn’s Editorial: Maw and I were actually pleased that someone as sharp as Mr. Alford finally had the nerve to speak very straightforwardly to Barbara Boxer AND `on the record`. I agree with Mr. Alford’s point of view and understand how plainly the race card was played. I too would take offense to pit a powerful BLACK group like NAACP against the Black Chamber of Commerce. Truly, its all about energy. I’ve highlighted in red color why the oil companies appear to be behind the support of this environ-statism movement.]
Below is a downloaded copy of a video from YouTube.com:
National Black Chamber of Commerce President Takes on Chairman Boxer Over Global Warming Job Losses
Snippet from external source: (visit the link for the full article)
Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford’s heated exchange with Senator Boxer in a question and answer during today’s July 16, 2009 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing.
Senator Inhofe invited Mr. Alford to discuss a Charles River Associates study the Chamber commissioned to examine the devastating economic impact of global warming cap-and trade legislation. Learn more at http://epw.senate.gov/Inhofe
Below is an unofficial transcript completed to the best of my ability earlier this evening by replaying the video over and over again for about two hours:
Boxer: So here’s the thing. I’m going to place the record, a couple of reports and documents. Mr. Alford, we [gave} have your address as Washington D.C.
Alford: That’s right, Mam.
Boxer: You live in Washington D.C. or
Alford: Certainly.
Boxer: Ok, ok.
Alford: I live in … Maryland.
Boxer: Ok. Because you said you were from California.
Alford: I’m a native Californian, born and raised.
Boxer: Yeah, but right now.
Alford: I’ve been staying when you came.
Boxer: You don’t know when I came. Now…
Alford: Was that from ’62?
Boxer: Actually, you’re right on target. [eh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha]
Alford: It’s all in the manual, Mam.
Boxer: Actually, 1965. Here’s what I want to tell you. You don’t live there now.
Alford: I’m a property owner and I pay taxes in California.
Boxer: Sir, Sir, let me talk to you.
Alford: Yes, Mam.
Boxer: This is friendly. I want: I want us to go back there together. I want you to come with me and John and let’s go see these jobs you say don’t exist. So what we’re going to do…
Alford: Yes, Mam.
Boxer: [Good] put in the record, the few charitable trust reports, which says, and I’m reading one sentence: `Jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a faster rate than total jobs in the Golden State between 98 and 2007 and it talks about all of that and it’s written by Ventures Capital and the laws and so we’re going to put that into the record. Then we’re going to put the NAACP Resolution Pact, saying that the NAACP approved an historic resolution addressing climate change legislation for the first time in the organization’s history.
Alford: What does that mean?
Boxer: Sir? We’re going to put that in the record and you can read it because I don’t have to touch it. Sir..
Alford: What does that mean, though? NAACP has a resolution. What does that mean?
Boxer: Sir, that just says the same thing about `what do you mean`? I just telling you…
Alford: What’s that documentation?
Boxer: Sir, they passed it. Now, also, if that isn’t interesting to you, we’ll quote John Grant who is the CEO of a `100 Black Man of Atlanta`, quote: `Clean energy is the key that will unlock millions of jobs that the NAACP support is vital to ensuring that those jobs help to rebuild urban areas`. So clearly, there’s diversity…
Alford: Madam Chair!
Boxer: If I can… if I can…
Alford: That is condescending to me.
Boxer: If I … well…
Alford: I’m the National Black Chamber of Commerce and you are trying to put up some other black group to pit against me.
Boxer: If this gentleman, if this, if this, if this gentleman, if this gentleman were here, he would be proud that he was being quoted…
Alford: [Then] he should have been invited!
Boxer: Just he would have been proud.
Alford: It’s condescending to me!
Boxer: Just so you know, he would be proud that you were here. Be proud I’m sure…
Alford: Proud, proud…
Boxer: That I’m quoting…
ALFORD: That’s all condescending —
BOXER: Well, sir —
ALFORD: — and I don’t like it. It’s racial.
BOXER: What’s racial?
ALFORD: I don’t like it.
BOXER: Excuse me, sir —
ALFORD: I take, I take offense to it.
BOXER: Okay.
ALFORD: As an African American and a veteran of this country. I take offense to that.
BOXER: Offense at the fact that I would quote…?
ALFORD: You’re quoting some other black man. Why don’t you quote some other —
BOXER: No.
ALFORD: — Asian or somebody. [What]
BOXER: Well, let me be clear —
ALFORD: I mean, what… You are being racial, here.
BOXER: [Hey], let me be clear. Let me be clear.
ALFORD: And I think you’re getting to a path here that’s going to explode.
Boxer: I’m going to respond right now and I’m going to ask everyone to what listen to what I say. First I place in the record the few charitable trust study, very important study for our state, our home state of California.
Alford: Fine.
Boxer: Then I want you to make a point that the fact is there’s definitely differing opinions in the black community just as there are in my community.
Alford: You’re speaking on behalf of the black community?
Boxer: No, I am putting in the record a statement by the NAACP.
Alford: Why?
Boxer: As… because I think it is quite relevant.
Alford: I understand, I understand the charitable study but why are you doing NAACP: why are you doing the color people association study with the Black Chamber of Commerce?
Boxer: I am trying to show the diversity and support
Alford: Diversity?
Boxer: that we have… And I will go ahead and do one more diversity support – the oil company. The oil company, I think they’re an important part of this conversation. The oil companies are the ones who funded the very first DRA report that you support. I think it’s important to note.
Alford: I have no idea, Mam.
Boxer: I’m, I’m putting in the records, Sir. Exxon-Mobile gave hundreds of thousands of dollars for that report. So I think it’s important when we have a debate here that we look at the diversity of opinion and who agrees and disagree.
Inhofe: Note to Chair I have something to put into the record.
Boxer: So that is what I decided to do.
Inhofe: I have something to put into the record. Madam.
Boxer: Yeah.
Inhofe: Yeah, I, I, if we are going to put the NAACP paper in the record, I want to enter the actual resolution because
Boxer: Absolutely
Inhofe: It does not endorse it. And I would also say that, ah, TRA is well respected. It represents a broad group of whoever goes in and wants to study, they do it.
Alford: Senator, Senator, as I said, we’ve been looking at energy policies since 1996. And we are referring to the experts, regardless of their color. And for someone to tell me, an African-American, college-educated, veteran of the United States Army that I must contend with some other BLACK group and put aside everything else in here: It has NOTHING to do with the NAACP and really has nothing to with the National Black Chamber Commerce. We are talking energy. And that, that, road the Chair went down: I think it’s GOD-awful!
Boxer: Okay. Let me say like someone who is married to a veteran, does nothing to do with this conversation. I want to say to you, Sir, and to all of my panelists, how much I respect your views. I will put a number of other documents in the record from many other organizations because right now the whole point is to build support. I’m trying to build support. Your organization opposes. I am showing organization that support. And I will continue to do this. And they are a diverse: They represent America. This is what the opposition does. And that is what I will continue to do. And now we will move forward.
(6:12)
Copyright © FVDF. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply