My possible conversation with President Barack Obama
By: Anthony Baratta
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Features
Item #655 of "Things to do Before I Die:" have a meaningful conversation with a famous politician. Status: incomplete.
After standing for five hours in Akron, Ohio in 2004, I took an awkward picture with presidential candidate John Kerry, but he didn't have time to talk. Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh simply smiled and nodded at my environmental policy questions last year, and I foolishly missed out on a chance to ask Karl Rove in September what it felt like to be the most powerful man in the world for eight years.
But not to worry. President Obama recently announced that he would travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 for the United Nations conference on a climate change treaty, the same conference I will be attending with students from the International Climate Policy class. While he's probably never heard of DePauw or gotten a chance to read my blog, I have a few plans to get in touch with him. If, by some coincidence, we get onto the same elevator at the Bella Center, our conversation may go something like this:
Anthony Baratta: President Obama! My name is Anthony Baratta and I'm a student at DePauw University. Do you have a second to talk? Have the delegates of other countries treated you well?
Barack Obama: No problem young man. Well, yes and no. Canada won't leave me alone, and Nigeria said our emission reduction targets weren't strong enough.
AB: They aren't, are they?
BO: Compared to what the scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophe? No, they're not. But look, this as good as the U.S. Congress is allowing.
AB: Well, it sure isn't allowing for much. The legislation moving through Congress barely reduces our greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. It also includes billions of dollars for coal companies, even though burning coal is one of the leading causes of global warming. Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia even said it "strengthens the case for utilities to continue to use coal." And he was giving the bill a compliment.
BO: Now just one second. I had to make a lot of phone calls and a lot of speeches just to get that legislation through the House. If we can get this through, we can get started on a transition towards a green economy that will not only provide more jobs for young people like you, but also seriously reduce our C02 emissions.
AB: I guess...
BO: Now, I'm going to be accused of pandering to the world by Republican leadership just for attending these negotiations. I'm here because I care - about my daughters and about your generation.
AB: So why did you push for healthcare reform over climate change legislation?
BO: This is my floor. But I'll answer that question. Now look, Americans care more about healthcare reform. And it's an important issue I care about and you should too. If I didn't commit to it, the Republicans win in 2012.
AB: And then?
BO: And then Sarah Palin puts an oil refinery in every American's backyard. Where would we be on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after that?
AB: I suppose you're right.
BO: If you want a stronger bill, and I agree we need one, then you need stronger grassroots efforts to demand change from your elected officials, especially in your state of Illinois.
AB: Yeah. In Illinois. Hey, is that Joe Biden over there?
BO: Yes it is. Looks like he offended the wife of India's prime minister with another one of his jokes. OK, I'm going to go play the Chinese in a basketball game. See you around, young man. DePaul's a great school. I've visited there several times.
AB: It's not DePa - OK, thanks! See you later.
- Baratta is a junior from Findlay, Ohio majoring in political science and is a former president of DePauw Environmental Club. He is a sustainability columnist for The DePauw.
features@thedepauw.com
After standing for five hours in Akron, Ohio in 2004, I took an awkward picture with presidential candidate John Kerry, but he didn't have time to talk. Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh simply smiled and nodded at my environmental policy questions last year, and I foolishly missed out on a chance to ask Karl Rove in September what it felt like to be the most powerful man in the world for eight years.
But not to worry. President Obama recently announced that he would travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 for the United Nations conference on a climate change treaty, the same conference I will be attending with students from the International Climate Policy class. While he's probably never heard of DePauw or gotten a chance to read my blog, I have a few plans to get in touch with him. If, by some coincidence, we get onto the same elevator at the Bella Center, our conversation may go something like this:
Anthony Baratta: President Obama! My name is Anthony Baratta and I'm a student at DePauw University. Do you have a second to talk? Have the delegates of other countries treated you well?
Barack Obama: No problem young man. Well, yes and no. Canada won't leave me alone, and Nigeria said our emission reduction targets weren't strong enough.
AB: They aren't, are they?
BO: Compared to what the scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophe? No, they're not. But look, this as good as the U.S. Congress is allowing.
AB: Well, it sure isn't allowing for much. The legislation moving through Congress barely reduces our greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. It also includes billions of dollars for coal companies, even though burning coal is one of the leading causes of global warming. Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia even said it "strengthens the case for utilities to continue to use coal." And he was giving the bill a compliment.
BO: Now just one second. I had to make a lot of phone calls and a lot of speeches just to get that legislation through the House. If we can get this through, we can get started on a transition towards a green economy that will not only provide more jobs for young people like you, but also seriously reduce our C02 emissions.
AB: I guess...
BO: Now, I'm going to be accused of pandering to the world by Republican leadership just for attending these negotiations. I'm here because I care - about my daughters and about your generation.
AB: So why did you push for healthcare reform over climate change legislation?
BO: This is my floor. But I'll answer that question. Now look, Americans care more about healthcare reform. And it's an important issue I care about and you should too. If I didn't commit to it, the Republicans win in 2012.
AB: And then?
BO: And then Sarah Palin puts an oil refinery in every American's backyard. Where would we be on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after that?
AB: I suppose you're right.
BO: If you want a stronger bill, and I agree we need one, then you need stronger grassroots efforts to demand change from your elected officials, especially in your state of Illinois.
AB: Yeah. In Illinois. Hey, is that Joe Biden over there?
BO: Yes it is. Looks like he offended the wife of India's prime minister with another one of his jokes. OK, I'm going to go play the Chinese in a basketball game. See you around, young man. DePaul's a great school. I've visited there several times.
AB: It's not DePa - OK, thanks! See you later.
- Baratta is a junior from Findlay, Ohio majoring in political science and is a former president of DePauw Environmental Club. He is a sustainability columnist for The DePauw.
features@thedepauw.com
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