REP’s 2007 Endorsement of Senator John McCain for President

Statement by REP President Martha Marks, Concord, New Hampshire, October 14, 2007

AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT: This was the second time that REP had endorsed Senator McCain. Each time, Martha gave the endorsement at a press conference attended by the McCain family and staff.

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My name is Martha Marks, and I am the president of Republicans for Environmental Protection. We call it REP for short. REP is a national grassroots organization that has been working for the last dozen years to restore the Republican Party’s great conservation tradition.Senator John McCain reacts to REP President Martha Marks' second-time-around endorsement.

Republicans for Environmental Protection’s trademarked slogan is “conservation is conservative,” but we weren’t the first to make that argument. Russell Kirk, one of America’s greatest conservative thinkers, said in 1970: “Nothing is more conservative than conservation.”

Early in 2000, I was pleased to stand beside Senator John McCain in New York City and announce that REP was endorsing him for president. Now, almost eight years later, I am very glad to have the opportunity to do the same once again here in Concord.

Senator McCain is the only GOP candidate in this year’s race who shows he understands the connection between conservative values and environmental stewardship. In REP’s opinion, he is the candidate best suited—by knowledge, experience, and conviction—to provide the strong environmental leadership that our country needs.

Senator McCain is also the only GOP candidate who fully comprehends the energy challenges facing our nation. As he said at a debate last week in Michigan, he recognizes the complex role that energy plays in our national security, our economic security, and the health of our environment.

Furthermore, in recent years Senator McCain has become an outstanding leader on the top environmental issue of our time: climate change.

  • He has held hearings as a committee chairman.
  • He has taken his colleagues to the ends of the earth, literally, to show them the impacts of climate change and convince them that the problem is real.
  • He has reached across the aisle to craft balanced, market-oriented legislation that will stimulate American ingenuity to solve the problem, keep costs down, and maximize benefits.
  • Senator McCain knows that reducing carbon pollution will improve our security, create jobs in profitable new industries, help farmers, and clean up the air in our cities.
  • More than any other GOP candidate ever, Senator McCain knows that the fight against climate change is a conservative cause.

Now, I realize that some may find that last statement peculiar. However…

It is truly conservative to take personal responsibility for our actions.

It is truly conservative to protect our nation from the dangerous risks of more extreme weather, water shortages, and coastal flooding.

It is truly conservative to look out for the well being of future generations.

Unfortunately, in today’s political world, for a conservative Republican to take bold positions on such issues as climate change and natural resource stewardship is also truly courageous.

One hundred years ago, another courageous conservative Republican occupied the White House. Theodore Roosevelt once said that conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of ensuring the safety and continuance of our nation.

We live in a different world today, but our stewardship challenges are just as great. We need a conservative Republican president who believes, as TR believed, that good stewardship can keep America strong and prosperous into the next century and beyond.

For all these reasons, Republicans for Environmental Protection proudly endorses Senator John McCain for President of the United States. We will work hard to help ensure his nomination and ultimate election.

Thank you… and please visit Republicans for Environmental Protection on the web: rep.org

Return to THINGS WE FIGHT FOR: “GREENING UP” THE GOP

Return to THINGS WE FIGHT FOR: CLEAN AIR, CLEAN ENERGY, AND A STABLE CLIMATE

Return to REP’S HISTORY: PART 3

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