Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Ozs past positions on energy & the environment were liberal, which put him at odds to his pro-drilling campaign in the Republican nomination. He is from a state that is at forefront of natural gas fracking.
Dr. Oz supported the freedom to frack and the unleashing of domestic oil and natural gas production in his campaign for the Senate.
As the next US Senator for Pennsylvania, I will fight to stop heavy-handed regulations and protect PA’s energy sector! Dr. Oz tweeted February.
Biden, get off your back and allow us to Frack! He wrote it in a separate blog post last month.
Pennsylvania is a major producer of coal and natural gas, making it the third largest producer of electricity in the country and the third largest net supplier of energy to other States.
But the TV celebrity surgeon has a long history supporting stricter energy, chemical, and environmental regulations. He even supported Lisa Jackson (then-Obama EPA Administrator), who was a target of conservatives during her tenure.
As he enters the GOP primary, he is being scrutinized for his comments over the past 12 years on the small screen. Opponents claim it is evidence Dr. Oz has long supported Democratic policies.
David McCormick is a Republican rival and a former executive of a hedge fund. He and Dr. Oz argued about his anti-fracking past during a recent debate.
Dr. Oz was told by Mr. McCormick that you have advocated for more regulation in fracking. You’ve argued that fracking can have health consequences.
It’s a lie, and Dr. Oz replied.
Columns co-authored with Dr. Oz by Dr. Michael Roizen from the Cleveland Clinics Wellness Institute included statements that fracking can cause birth defects and unsafe water quality, as well as calling for a ban in coal tars. It was also asked how eager leaders of the natural gas industry would drink well water from a farm located near one of their drilling sites.
The Oz campaign, which didn’t respond to a request, stated that Dr. Oz & Dr. Roizen hold very different views on energy policy, fracking, as well as that Dr. Roizen was responsible for managing their daily column when Dr. Oz launched the show in 2009.
Dr. Roizen reached out to him by telephone and praised his longtime friend. He also repeated Dr. Oz’s claim that Dr. Oz was not properly consulted about certain columns before they were published under both of their names.
I don’t understand why anyone would be skeptical. It can be quite difficult to write seven columns per day, Dr. Roizen explained to The Washington Times. Some he would write, some I would. Only when the author of them believed they were controversial could we share them [with each other].
However, Dr. Oz encouraged more environmental regulations to protect people from potential health risks from oil companies during his television career. These comments have refuted claims that Dr. Roizen misrepresented Dr. Oz’s positions.
Dr. Oz advised supporters to contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their federal representatives to advocate for tougher government standards on pollution.
On the Moving Forward Network’s website, he stated that stricter guidelines for certain polluting particles (particles in a 2.5-to-10-micron range commonly produced by diesel fuel and coal plants), are reasonable goals for urban environments.
The group described itself as a national network of organizations that builds partnerships between … community leaders, academia, labor, big green organizations and others to protect communities from the impacts of freight.
Ms. Jackson was a frequent target of GOP criticism during her tenure at the helm the EPA. She appeared on Dr. Oz’s 2011 show. He praised Jackson for being the woman on the frontlines defending your rights to clean air, water, and land. He also criticized those who made repeated attacks.[s]As she tries to clean up the nation’s most important resources.
After obtaining more than 100,000 petition signatures in 2014 Dr. Oz reiterated the calls of congressional Democrats for the Obama Administration to block the approval a toxic herbicide.
One segment of Dr. Oz’s 2009 show featured West Virginia coal mines believed to have dumped toxic chemicals which led to contaminated waters.
Whos poisoning our water? Dr. Oz has spoken out for all kinds of businesses, from large chemical factories to power plants to local gas stations and dry cleaners.
In the same year, he called then-Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana toxic for setting back chemical safety in many areas. Dr. Oz cited Mr. Vitters holding on the confirmation by Yale professor Paul Anastas (known as the father of green chemistry and nominated by President Obama to be the EPAs researcher director).
Dr. Oz said at the time that if Vitter doesn’t agree with the EPA, it won’t get its new green chemistry guru. This is unacceptable for the EPA. The Senate should remove its most toxic member.
Dr. Oz spoke on Chinese state TV in 2018 and described reliance on fossil fuels only as a short-term strategy.
“You can spend money on oil. You can also spend it on renewables. Renewables are more expensive today, but they will last forever. Dr. Oz stated at the time that both give you a long term game plan and one doesn’t.
Last week’s financial disclosure form by Dr. Oz shows that he was being compensated for the column with Dr. Roizen through Jan. 11, 2018, just over one month after announcing and confirming his candidacy.
McCormick, the spouse of Dina Powell, ex-Trump Deputy Nat Security Adviser, is currently considered Dr. Oz’s most formidable opponent for this open Senate seat.
Trump’s endorsement of Dr. Oz over Mr. McCormick last Wednesday shocked GOP insiders, as well as supporters of the former president. They argue that McCormick has more conservative values and is a stronger candidate against Democrats.
McCormick’s campaign has reacted by trying to paint Dr. Oz, a GOP candidate, as someone who supports Democratic policies.
Trump has not stopped pledging his support.
Trump knows that Dr. Oz will represent Pennsylvania well at the U.S. Senate, and is proud of him, Taylor Budowich (Trump Communications Director) stated in an email.