Editorial: Spin isn’t going to aid a lost cause

Friday, June 29, 2001 | 4:24 a.m.

President Bush and Republican leaders in Congress are worried. Polls have shown a steady erosion in public support for the president. One area that has produced heartburn is the emerging view of the president's energy plan. The emphasis on drilling for oil and gas and the building of more nuclear power plants has created a backlash because of environmental concerns. A recent New York Times-CBS News poll found that just 33 percent of the public backed Bush's handling of the nation's energy problems.

When a politician is in trouble nowadays, the spin doctors are called in to provide a political makeover. Bush, in his public appearances, now soft-pedals oil exploration and nuclear power, emphasizing conservation instead. This newfound love for conservation looks contrived since Bush initially mocked conservation's importance.

Over on Capitol Hill, Republican leaders are giving fresh talking points to members of Congress in the hope that they can persuade the public of the need for the president's energy plan. It may help if the leaders first changed the hearts and minds of their own Republican colleagues. Don't forget that about a week ago 70 Republicans in the House joined with environmentally conscious Democrats in a rebuke to the president and GOP House leaders, passing legislation to ban drilling for oil and gas off the Florida coast. Closer to home, Bush's push for nuclear power -- and with it a nuclear waste repository -- isn't winning him friends in Nevada since this is the only state under consideration for a nuclear waste dump.

Quite simply, the president's energy policy is a case where repackaging a bad product won't make it better. The public is too savvy and understands that the policy benefits big energy producers at the expense of the environment.