We're talking about policy. He's politicizing a tragedy.

Two days ago I called out Ken Calvert for his continual cheerleading of the misguided policies and empty rhetoric that has led to the oil spill disaster in the Gulf Coast.

A press release on his own website quotes Ken Calvert as saying,

“…Exploration off of California would provide the state with much-needed royalty revenue that could go towards bridging the deficit gap and putting California back on the road to fiscal responsibility. With new and emerging technologies, offshore energy development can be pursued with little to no visible impact on the coastline and in a way that protects the surrounding environment. That is why I introduced the MORE Act in 2008 to create jobs and increase coastal states’ share of royalties. The time has come to open up all of our country’s natural resources… ”

Instead of engaging in a real dialogue about the fundamental differences we have when it comes to energy policy and offshore drilling – me adamantly opposed to drilling California’s coast and Calvert adamantly for - **he wasted no time resorting the same dirty political tricks that desperate candidates use when they can’t run from their record.

While I was talking policy, he accused me of politicizing a tragedy and demanded I apologize.

Well, here’s my apology. I’m sorry, Ken Calvert, that the policies you’ve consistently supported for the last 18 years to secure more profits for your Big Oil buddies have put American workers and the environment at risk, and that we have tragically seen the consequences of the irresponsible and dangerous ‘drill, baby, drill’ mentality that has driven our energy policy for the last 50 years.

We should be looking at the policies that have led us to this point and fixing them so that something like the BP Deepwater Horizon accident doesn’t happen again, rather than sweeping the issue to the side and making wild accusations.

We deserve better.

Sincerely,

Bill

Sep 1 Iraq Aug 25 Yesterday's Press Conference Aug 19 Fight Back Aug 17 What's Ken Calvert Doing With Your Tax Dollars? Aug 14 Social Security's 75th Anniversary Read more updates.

Aug 26 Orange County Register: Taxpayer-Funded Mailers Draw Criticism Aug 24 Modesto Bee: Calif. congressman criticized for mass mailings Aug 24 89.3 KPCC FM: Democratic Congressional Candidate Bill Hedrick Blasts Rep. Calvert Aug 14 Press-Enterprise: Democratic Congressional Hopeful Criticizes Incumbent for "Franked" Mail Jul 27 The Orange County Register: Dean PAC to aid two O.C. challengers Jul 27 Times-Standard: PAC to support 2 Calif congressional candidates Read more news.