A few weeks ago, Jim Evans wrote about Meg Whitman telling the Earth to “Get Bent”.  Today she affirmed her commitment to being a worse environmental steward than the faux-environmentalist that currently occupies the Horseshoe:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman said in San Diego on Wednesday she would suspend Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature environmental initiative if elected.

The former eBay CEO told an audience at Gen-Probe Inc. in Mira Mesa she would issue an executive order suspending AB 32, that restricts emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, until its long-term economic consequences are better understood.

“As governor, I would work hard to protect our environment,” she said. “But the needs of our environment have to be balanced with the needs of our people and the needs of our economy.We have too many overreaching environmental regulations that have left us at an economic disadvantage to our neighboring states and AB 32 is a prime example.”(SDUT 9/23/09)

Of course, this is yet another example of Whitman not really knowing what she’s talking about, as most of the Western States are either participating in or “observing” the Western Climate Initiative. But beyond that, Whitman is perpetuating a false choice.

It is a false choice that we either address climate change or we grow our economy. Not only are these goals compatible, they are mutually beneficial.  As we aim to decrease our carbon emissions, we will develop new technology and build new business that will lead California into the new low-carbon growth era.

As much as Whitman and her other ostrich-headed friends like to claim, we should not and cannot ignore climate change. It is a greater threat than any temporary inconveniences that it causes the state. Yes, we will need some help during the transition period, but the question isn’t whether we are going to transition to a low-carbon economy, it’s whether we are going to do it the easy, business-smart way, or by being dragged kicking and screaming as others take the initiative.

California must be the leader.  Whitman intends to crush that leadership in a misguided attempt to revert to yesterday’s economy.