Fracking Opponents Greet Cuomo at Convention

Obama's sudden support of fracking is excellent news to the gas industry in New York State.

As Gov. Andrew Cuomo journeyed to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last week, he was met by a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer, paid for by the national advocacy organization Food and Water Watch.

At the bottom of the ad, there is listed dozens of organizations that, by their inclusion, suggest they will not support Cuomo for president in the future if he doesn’t stop plans to allow fracking in New York State.

Ironically, almost all members of these groups strongly support Barack Obama, who is supporting fracking, especially in the swing state of Ohio where many believe the boom in shale gas drilling using "fracking" will lead to wealth, jobs and a reservoir of domestic energy that could boost the area's fortunes. In Ohio, fracking could mean 65,000 new jobs and $5 billion in investment in the state's economy by 2014.

The growth of fracking across the nation has raised concerns about contaminated groundwater, how to dispose of toxic waste and even whether fracking causes earthquakes.

But in Ohio and other states, Obama's chances of a second four-year term as president could hinge on how middle-class families feel about jobs and finances.

So Obama touts the potential of natural gas and maintains drilling, including fracking, could create 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade.

"We're taking every possible action (including fracking) to develop a near 100-year supply of natural gas," Obama said.

Obama's election-year leniency on fracking included a decision to give drillers two more years to invest in equipment that slashes unhealthy air emissions from fracking wells. And he has proposed rules for public lands that wouldn’t require companies to disclose chemicals they use in fracking until after they drill.

Obama’s opponent, Republican Mitt Romney also supports fracking.

While threatening Cuomo, environmentalists who want more safety rules or a moratorium on new drilling have not criticized Obama.

Dave Simons, former chairman of the Sierra Club’s Ohio panel on fracking, explained, "Economic times are tough. There is big money in this, and ... (people) are willing to take a chance on this." It is a position filled with hypocrisy when measured against the anti-Cuomo fracking stance.

If they opposed Obama on the same grounds, he would have to consider shifting his position.

But Obama knows he can get environmentalists’ support because he is still left of Romney. He gets a free pass on fracking and the nation gets fracking, while environmentalists hypocritically focus on a distant election.