Republican Senate candidates may or may not agree on the science behind witchcraft, but they are united in disbelief in the overwhelming science that demonstrates manmade causes to global climate change. Increasingly, these candidates are doing their best to boil a witch’s stew of doubt by attacking the veracity of science and scientists.



Emerging from the campaign trail is the notion that vulnerable House Democrats are “losing” their races due mostly to their vote in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES). Let’s ignore the fact that the election isn’t over yet and drill down on the false pretense that the ACES vote or support for addressing our energy security and climate change is unpopular with voters.



More and more, Americans are viewing climate change as a matter of national security. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense declared climate change a “threat multiplier,” and just this week The New York Times reported on Department of Defense efforts to develop biofuels for our ships, tanks and planes to reduce our dependence on oil. According to an Army report cited by the Times, in Iraq and Afghanistan, “for every 24 fuel convoys that set out, one soldier of civilian engaged in fuel transport was killed.” (If you have a minute, check out “The Daily Show’s” hilarious send-up of the great irony of the military leading the way on clean energy — segments starts at 3:35.)



Yet, inexplicably, Republican leaders — and many Democrats in Washington — continue to block action on clean energy and climate legislation. Their excuse is that the American people don’t want action. Nothing could be further from the truth.



Without exception, every credible public poll on the issue has demonstrated overwhelming public support for Congress to address climate change and to create a national energy policy that creates jobs, reduces our dependence on oil and cuts pollution. Some examples:



· An ABC News/Washington Post poll (conducted June 3-6, 2010) reported that 71 percent of adults think the federal government should regulate the release of greenhouse gases in an effort to reduce global warming, and just 26 percent thinks it should not.



· A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll (conducted June 17-21, 2010) found 63 percent supported and just 31 percent opposed an energy proposal “designed to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, even if it means an increase in the cost of energy.”



· A USA Today/Gallup poll (conducted June 11-13, 2010) found that 56 percent of adults favored Congress regulating “energy output from private companies in an attempt to reduce global warming,” and just 40 percent opposed it.



· An August poll released by the Benenson Strategy Group found that 63 percent of likely 2010 voters support a bill that would “limit pollution, invest in domestic energy sources and encourage companies to use and develop clean energy. It would do this in part by charging energy companies for carbon pollution in electricity or fuels like gas.”



That’s right. American voters would support a policy that holds polluters accountable by charging them for the pollution they create. Shadowy front groups supported by the oil industry and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are doing their best to scare voters over energy policy. But the reality is the American people want action on clean energy and climate change. The Republican leadership is ignoring this support and ignoring the action of the Department of Defense and has no plan to secure energy sources in the future other than maybe the wiggle of a nose or the wave of a magic wand to make it all go away.