Inside Elections: Democratic Sen. David Vasquez deleted tweets condemning the oil and gas industry, rationalizing rioting and the Ku Klux Klan
A Democratic House candidate in New Mexico, campaigning as a moderate in a tightly contested race, deleted tweets attacking the oil and gas industry, rationalizing rioting in summer 2020, and comparing the Trump administration to the Ku Klux Klan.
It was previously called “toxic” and “irresponsible” by the candidate that promoted himself in interviews as a supporter of the region’s fossil fuel industry.
According to Inside Elections the race is one of 19 that could decide control of the House of Representatives this November.
In another deleted tweet from August 2020, Vasquez criticized the criminal justice system again after the Justice Department charged the leaders of the “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign with defrauding hundreds of thousands of Trump supporters.
“We’re seeing the monster that is white nationalism physically manifesting on the steps of the nation’s capitol It is said [sic]. It has always been there, but it’s been hidden in legislation, in Congressional offices, and in court rooms. We’ve always known it’s there. Today we see its many faces,” Vasquez tweeted at 3:50 p.m.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/14/politics/kfile-gabe-vasquez-new-mexico-deleted-progressive-tweets/index.html
The Oil and Gas Industry in New Mexico: A Disgusting Demonstration of the MAGA Criminal Justice System in the Era of Progressivism
“I think the oil and gas industry is incredibly important to New Mexico,” Vasquez told the local Carlsbad Current-Argus in August. It is important to this district because it supports an economy that is both fossil fuel based and small business supported by this industry.
To my fellow Democrats, let’s not play to the R’s talking points! It is permissible to support the Green New Deal and Medicare for all and to speak about immigration reform. #StayStrong,” the since-removed tweet from November 2020 reads.
Another since-deleted tweet added, “Investing in oil and gas is irresponsible,” linking to an opinion article calling fossil fuels a “moribund industry.”
The pardoning of white, wealthy men who should be locked up is a stark example of how the justice system is treated in this country. The white & privileged escape justice, while the poor, black, Indigenous & people of color are disproportionately targeted, sentenced & jailed #AmeriKKKa,” he wrote.
Pendejos. MAGA racists defrauded, Trump’s army of con men will likely get pardoned, miles of private border wall will fall from erosion, and racial tensions will continue to escalate. No one will take responsibility. Trump’s AmeriKKKa. What a disgusting mess.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/14/politics/kfile-gabe-vasquez-new-mexico-deleted-progressive-tweets/index.html
What Can We Do About It? A Brief Introduction to Big Oil Profiteering, Greenwashing, and the AICPA Inflation Report
Then-President Donald Trump did pardon one of the defendants – his ally and former adviser Steve Bannon – but two other defendants pleaded guilty and another had a mistrial.
A commentator was attacked for being against student loan forgiveness, and in other deleted statements, he wrote, “Oh you mean this American economy is not fair for white man?” What will you ever do?”
In another, he attacked electing people of color who did not “think like us,” saying they were “vendidos out there clamoring to be part of the white establishment.” The Spanish term for a sell out is called vendidos.
Last week, a House investigation into Big Oil profiteering and greenwashing released its latest report — the result of more than a year of research, subpoenas and hearings. The report makes clear that whatever the members of the AICPA may say about their climate policies, it’s clear they intend to keep producing and selling oil and gas deep into the future.
But what can be done about that? On Dec. 12, I spoke to the subcommittee chair Rep. Ro Khanna of California about the continuing intransigence of Big Oil, what tools could be used to bring those companies to account and the landscape for climate action after the Inflation Reduction Act.
There is a controversial tactic for slowing climate change that is picking up steam in Texas. While that might reduce CO2 emissions heating up the planet, it could pose new problems for communities already saddled with industrial pollution.
If there are carbon capture hubs in the US, more communities might have to navigate these potential dangers. $12 billion was earmarked for capturing and storing carbon dioxide in the infrastructure law. Occidental is gunning to make itself a leader in this arena. Bluebonnet, the Texas hub, will be able to store 1.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by the end of the century, the company says.
In other words, carbon capture becomes a way for companies to cast themselves as environmentally friendly because they say they’re dealing with their greenhouse gas emissions. The caveat is that they’re not necessarily tackling other kinds of pollutants that affect air quality and public health. New carbon capture infrastructure might have additional risks.
That concentration of polluters also means that residents nearby have to live with a lot of soot and smog. The Houston area has poor air quality according to a 2020 report commissioned by two environmental organizations.
Pollution in the region affects poor households and neighborhoods of color more than others, the report found. Residents of color were exposed to twice as much pollution burden as white residents. Poverty is exposed to 50 percent more pollution burdens than affluent households, which is a reason for us to stop using fossil fuels and petrochemicals. Carbon capture might not do the opposite by prolonging the life of facilities.
There can be added risk due to the lines that are for CO2. The majority-Black community of Satartia, Mississippi, was the scene of a carbon dioxide burst in 2020. The rupture sent at least 45 people to the hospital after enveloping the town in a haze. The high concentrations of CO2 can choke the lungs and cause stalling of the engines of cars as people try to escape.