Politics
and Plutonium Shipments
South
Carolina's Governor and U.S. Department of Energy in battle over plutonium
shipments
May
10, 2002
The politics of plutonium kicked into high gear this week
as, South Carolina's Governor Jim Hodges was criticized by the U.S.
DOE's spokesman, Jim Davis for using campaign money to pay for ads opposing
the shipments of tons of plutonium from Colorado to South Carolina.
The 30 second ads show the governor at a practice blockade that may
be used in an effort to turn back the shipments that are scheduled to
begin on May 15. It asks for residents of the state to "stand with
Governor Hodges" and to call Washington and tell federal bureaucrats
"no plutonium dumping in South Carolina."
$100,000 from the governor's re-election fund has been spent to run
the ads that takes energy officials to task for "breaking their
promise" not to make South Carolina a nuclear dumping ground.
"It is a well-established tradition in this country that matters
of national security and foreign policy are viewed as nonpartisan and
certainly should never be politicized for personal gain," said
Joe Davis, energy spokesman.
Continuing, Davis said that, "Against that backdrop, it is irresponsible
for Governor Hodges to use the plutonium disposition program in political
television advertisements for his re-election campaign. We hope that
other responsible leaders in South Carolina would disassociate themselves
with this unprecedented move by the governor."
In rapid response, Hodges spokeswoman Cortney Owings had this to say;
"This is not a national security issue. There is ample evidence
that DOE's motive behind shipping plutonium from Colorado to South Carolina
now is to help Sen. (Wayne) Allard's (Republican) re-election bid."
Hodges and fellow Democrats have accused DOE secretary Spencer Abraham,
of helping Allard's re-election chances by moving the radioactive material
from Rocky Flats to SRS in South Carolina.
Political scientist say the ads are a politically smart move. And it
is a strong message. Neal Thigpen, a political scientist for Francis
Marion University in South Carolina said, "You Can't go wrong in
South Carolina standing up to the federal government."
Even Sen. Stron Thurmond (Rep. S.C.) has joined the fight. He has introduced
legislation that would require DOE to establish a schedule for the construction
and operation of a site to convert the plutonium into reactor fuel.
