Promises Made, Promises Broken*

The Obama administration, even before it officially takes office, continues to break from the rhetoric of the campaign. Steven Chu, Obama's nominee to run the Energy Department, said during his confirmation hearing that coal was a "great natural resource". Two years ago, he said expanding coal-fired power plants was his "worst nightmare". The nominee to head the EPS, Lisa Jackson, called coal a "vital resource".

While these current characterizations of the importance of coal to generating electricity for our country are correct, the change of heart suggest the nominees have calibrated their tune to ensure the Senate approves their appointments.

Obama and his administration can't have it both ways. Is coal a menace to our world because of global warming? Or is a great natural resource?

The fact that such flip-flops generate so little press indicates that Democratic politicians can get away with political posturing and games playing: appeal to the left wing base of the party to generate donations and votes during campaigns, then tilt to the center during appeals to the country as a whole.

The unwillingness of the press or the public to demand greater consistency from our public officials has added to our poisonous political culture, by exaggerating differences between the parties when either such differences aren't as great as they seem or by sweeping them under the rug at politically opportune times.

* An ongoing series that looks at how Barack Obama's campaign rhetoric matches with the reality of his administration's actions and policies.