FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

Only Friends Of Liberal Extremism

 

June 2003

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“Friends of the Earth, considered the most left-leaning of the three national environmental groups that endorse candidates, has in the past sharply criticized Mr. Gore and the Clinton administration on a variety of issues, including their support for fewer restrictions on global trade and their failure to do enough to slow global warming.”  (James Dao, “Friends Of The Earth Decides To Back Gore, Reluctantly,” The New York Times, 9/5/00)

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: WHO ARE THEY?

 

“Most Liberal” Friends Of The Earth (FOE) Founded By Former Sierra Club Executive Director.  “Friends of the Earth is considered the most liberal of the three main national environmental groups -- the others are the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters -- that make presidential endorsements. The group was formed by David Brower, who once was executive director of the Sierra Club and had turned it into a strong lobbying force.”  (Jeff Mapes, “Nader Regrets Group’s Endorsement,” The Oregonian [Portland, OR], 9/6/00)

 

Press Categorizes Friends Of The Earth With Other “Extremist Groups” And “Radical Greens” Such As Greenpeace And The Earth Liberation Front (ELF).  (Editorial, “Irrational Fears Of ‘Frankenfood,’” The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 9/16/02)

 

FOE Has Little Patience … Or Just Extremely Short, Liberal Fuse.  “On the extreme eco-front, Friends of the Earth is the first group to get fed up with the Bush administration. Just two months after former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman started her job as EPA administrator, the Friends of the Earth has called on her to resign.”  (John J. Monahan, “Festival Offers Hybrid Car Test Rides,” Sunday Telegram [Worcester, MA], 4/15/01)

 

Greens’ Ralph Nader Would Have Appointed FOE Head Brent Blackwelder EPA Administrator.  “‘Brent was always viewed as something special,’ said Nader, adding that he had considered Blackwelder someone he would have wanted to head the Environmental Protection Agency.”  (Jeff Mapes, “Nader Regrets Group’s Endorsement,” The Oregonian [Portland, OR], 9/6/00)

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SO LIBERAL IT EVEN CRITICIZED AL GORE

 

FOE And Blackwelder Endorsed Bill Bradley Over Gore.  “Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth, considered a more liberal environmental advocacy group, said his group endorses Bradley.  ‘I supported Gore in 1988 and in ‘92,’ Blackwelder said. ‘We’ve ended the decade with global warming emissions 13 percent higher than

it began.’”

 

And Agonized Over Choice Between Gore And Nader In 2000.  “Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth [FOE], said in an interview … that the organization’s political action committee had agonized over whether to support Mr. Nader, the Green Party candidate for president, because he shared their views on trade and many other major issues. By comparison, the group said in a statement, it ‘knows the environmental disappointments with Gore.’”  (James Dao, “Friends Of The Earth Decides To Back Gore, Reluctantly,” The New York Times, 9/5/00)

 

Ultimately Believing Support For Nader Would Help Bush, FOE Gave In To Gore Despite Complaints.  FOE president Blackwelder said “that Mr. Gore’s environmental positions were far better than those of Mr. Bush, which he asserted would ‘plunge us into a dark age’ of environmental policy.”  (James Dao, “Friends Of The Earth Decides To Back Gore, Reluctantly,” The New York Times, 9/5/00)

 

In The End, FOE And Others Sold Out On Beliefs To “Get Their Calls Returned.” “Nader said he thought all three environmental groups sided with Gore ‘because they all want to get their calls returned.’”  (Jeff Mapes, “Nader Regrets Group’s Endorsement,” The Oregonian [Portland, OR], 9/6/00)

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH PAC: NO FRIENDS OF GOP

 

During 2002 Cycle, The Friends Of The Earth PAC Contributed $39,724 To Democrat House And Senate Candidates. The PAC Gave A Mere $750 To One Republican House Candidate.  (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/03)

 

2000 Cycle Was Not Much Different.  Friends Of The Earth PAC Contributed $49,426 To Democrat House And Senate Candidates, And Only Gave $551 To Former Republican Jim Jeffords.  (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/03)

 

P      Friends Of The Earth PAC Contributed $2,949 To Bill Bradley’s Presidential Campaign. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/03)

 

P      Friends Of The Earth PAC Spent $4,249 In Support Of Al Gore.   (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/03)

 

During 1998 Cycle, Friends Of The Earth PAC Gave $8,087 To Democrats, And Nothing To Republicans.  (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/03)