Speaker Pelosi: Democratic National Convention To Feature "Survivor: Carbon Offsets" Delegate Challenge

"It is an environmental issue and a health issue . . . It's not about P.R. It's about substance"--House Speaker Nancy Pelosi



**Update: so who profits--and how much do carbon offsets cost?

Delegates can purchase an offset from Native Energy for about $7.50. Offsets are a way for a person to figure how much carbon they would put in the air and, by purchasing it from a company, that company promises to eliminate the equivalent amount emitted somewhere down the line.

Native Energy is a firm based in Oregon and Colorado that calculates carbon footprints.

Native Energy apparently offers a slew of options for those who want to expiate their climate change sins. Carbon offset companies will like this one will be the ones with all the "green," as environmental moonbattery drives the DNC delegates into a Denver "green" rush.

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"As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition "green" prize to be announced at a later date. Progress will be tracked on DemConvention.com, with the winning state or states recognized on the website in August. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable "green item" for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com"--DNCC

I'm not kidding. The party big-wigs--Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Bill Ritter, Mayor John Hickenlooper, and Congresswoman Diana DeGette--have turned the DNC into a challenge to see who can out-moonbat the other in climate change hysteria.

From the DNCC press release:

As part of an ongoing effort to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention the most environmentally-sustainable Democratic Convention in history, House Speaker and Permanent Convention Chair Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Convention organizers today announced the "Green Delegate Challenge," offering special rewards for the delegation or delegations that demonstrate the highest level of commitment to offsetting their carbon footprint from attending the Convention, to be held August 25-28, 2008. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) CEO Leah D. Daughtry joined Pelosi at the Pepsi Center in Denver to unveil the challenge and mark the first in a series of greening announcements the DNCC will make throughout April in recognition of Earth Day.

"The 2008 Democratic National Convention, like our great party, is about the future--the future of our country and the future of our planet," said Speaker Pelosi. "That is why we are ensuring that this Convention will be the greenest, most sustainable, most successful political Convention in history - and the Green Delegate Challenge is a critical part of that effort."

As part of the challenge, delegations with the highest percentage of members offsetting their carbon will be recognized in their seating section on the floor of the Pepsi Center during the Convention. Each delegate, alternate and super delegate from that state will also receive a limited edition "green" prize to be announced at a later date. Progress will be tracked on DemConvention.com, with the winning state or states recognized on the website in August. Any delegate who offsets their travel will receive a unique wearable "green item" for Convention week, available only to these delegates, and be recognized individually on DemConvention.com.

Gov. Ritter, Mayor Hickenlooper, and Congresswoman DeGette were quick to add their green bona fides, and chimed in on this "historic" development:

"Colorado is going green in ways both large and small, and I'm proud to be a part of the effort to provide Colorado citizens and Convention delegates alike the opportunity to offset our carbon footprint," said Governor Ritter. "Between the delegate challenge and its comprehensive greening initiatives, the Democratic National Convention can make an important contribution to our New Energy Economy."

"All of us involved in organizing the Convention have pledged to make it the greenest in history, and we are well on our way," said Mayor Hickenlooper. "The Green Delegate Challenge is a perfect tool to increase awareness of how carbon offsets can help us reduce our impact on the environment. In addition, this competition gives Convention delegates a fun way to lead by example."

"The 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver will be historic and will reflect the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West," said Rep. DeGette. "The 'greening' initiatives of the Convention are a trademark of the innovation and prosperity Democrats will offer America. While we will leave our mark on Denver in nominating the next President of the United States, we will do so by reducing our carbon footprint."

The Drunkablog nails it--"A bloody carbon-offset contest," and has another roundup of "green" quotes.

To "increase awareness" and demonstrate a "trademark of the innovation and prosperity" of the party hosting their convention in Denver, the best solution they could come up with was a game?

I thought climate change was a serious issue. The thought of delegates running around with their "green" merit badges at the convention is in itself quite humorous--I can't wait to see what the "green" prize will be.

Perhaps a Toyota Pius (no, it's not misspelled).

There should be a new name for this--like "green preening."

And somehow "Survivor: Carbon Offsets" doesn't have the right ring to it.

And the fun won't end with the DNC:

Hickenlooper's teams have held day-long workshops with hotel and restaurant managers on such things as water conservation and energy efficiency. The workshops are meant to instill practices that continue after the parties are over.

And when the convention does arrive, Hickenlooper promises recycling opportunities on every corner, local foods highlighted at restaurants, bikes and alternative transportation opportunities and overall "saturation" of greening education.

Heh, "opportunities." Just another code word for "restrictions."