Law of the Sea on the Shoals

by: Matt Stoller

Fri Oct 26, 2007 at 12:50

Sens. John Sununu, Norm Coleman, and George Voinovich all voted for the Law of the Sea in 2004. According to sources in the Senate, all are now reconsidering their votes under heavy pressure from the likes of John Bolton, Frank Gaffney, and their most vocal black helicopter-fearing constituents. If you want to learn more about these opponents, by the way, read Elena Schor's news analysis piece in the Guardian, published yesterday.

The Law of the Sea convention should be a no-brainer. What's more, it should be an opportunity for moderate and old-school conservative Republicans to slam down those in their party who think that the threat of force alone can advance U.S. interests. The votes are still there to pass it on the floor, but now it is becoming a real fight.

These three senators, in particular, need to understand that there are consequences for so transparently choosing politics over principle. Men and women in the Navy and Coast Guard, shipbuilders, fishermen, and others are counting on them to do the right thing. I still think they each will -- but the fact that they are even on the fence speaks to how deeply misinformation about the treaty is taking hold.

The military, oil companies, and environmentalists want this to pass, it's just a matter of getting Harry Reid to schedule it and putting a bit of pressure on Coleman, Sununu, and Voinovich.  Remember, getting this treaty done is a precursor to doing anything on climate change.  If Reid wants to rebuild some of his shattered credibility, there are worse places to start than a complete marginalization of the black helicopter crowd.