Perriello, ACES, Response, Counter-Response (updated)

As you well know, Rep. Perriello voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), and the NRCC responded by cutting a television ad hitting Perriello for his vote (ad here). The Danville Register & Bee caught up with Perriello and asked his thoughts on the ad:

"I think it’s hogwash and cowardice,” Perriello said of the new television ad. “We have had an oil dependence probably since the day I was born and I think this bill is going to be a big winner for central and Southside Virginia. For biofuel, for our farmers.”

Perriello supported converting tobacco farms into future biomass producers and turning farm and municipal waste into power. The bill aims to create millions of green jobs through alternative energy sources, but Republicans claim the legislation would actually cut jobs and depress real estate prices.

“It’s just false,” Perriello said. “We’re already losing the jobs. This is what (critics) don’t get. We are hemorrhaging jobs in the energy sector. The status quo that they support is a job-loss strategy. We have a job-winning strategy by making investments in the future of technology.”

Not only does Perriello find the ad false, but one important non-profit group supports his claims. Importantly, FactCheck.org, ya know, checked the facts and declared, "[T]he NRCC is wrong," especially regarding the household costs. In light of these claims, one Roanoke television station, WDBJ-TV, decided that it won't run the attack ad, citing factual inaccuracies.

Other feedback has been positive for Perriello. The Environmental Defense Fund themselves made an ad, thanking Perriello for his vote (ad here). And, this morning, in the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne wrote a positive editorial on why Perriello and other vulnerable Democratic representatives voted for the bill. Money quote:

Hours before the House passed its cap-and-trade bill last week, freshman Democrats Tom Perriello and Frank Kratovil were pondering the political fallout of the votes they were about to cast in favor of a plan Republicans were denouncing as "cap-and-tax."

"Maybe we should be called the conscience caucus," said the 34-year-old Perriello ...

Update: Today's Roanoke Times editorial applauds Perriello for his principled stand. The Politico is also running a story in which Tom is selling his vote to Southside business leaders and farmers.