Green Movement and Clinton

* Alexander Cockburn is flat wrong in labeling national environmental groups as “hucksters” for the Democrats (“The Tainting of the Green Movement,” Column Left, Sept. 12). The League of Conservation Voters takes pride in judging public officials by their actions, not their labels. We aim to elect a pro-environment Congress, not a Republican or Democratic one.

Republicans are under fire from many environmentalists, but we didn’t make the environment a partisan issue. Newt Gingrich and the new majority in Congress did--by ignoring the broad public consensus in support of our nation’s basic health and environmental safeguards and launching an all-out assault against them.

Cockburn omits any mention of the anti-environmental record of the 104th Congress and instead pinpoints blame on the administration. Yet, President Clinton and Vice President Gore stood tall and fought off a series of proposals from the new majority in Congress to pollute our water, to limit the public’s right to know about toxic chemicals released in their neighborhoods and to cripple the government’s ability to enforce environmental and health laws.

The League of Conservation Voters is well aware of the current administration’s shortcoming, but we’re not blind to its accomplishments as well.

Cockburn should open his eyes.

DEB CALLAHAN

President

League of Conservation Voters

Washington