Giuliani Touts 'Energy Independence' - For U.S. And Himself

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani gave an energy policy speech in Iowa that called for "energy independence" -- a buzzword of the campaign that links terrorism and national security to America's dependence on foreign oil.

Then, the Republican presidential candidate tried to assure the crowd of his own energy independence. He's accepted more money from the domestic energy industry -- that's oil, gas, coal and nuclear power brokers -- than any other in the crowded field of candidates on both sides of the aisle. He said his decision making -- to support nuclear power, clean coal technology and biofuels, for instance -- is free of influence.

A larger issue that environmentally concerned voters will have to contend with is this: "Energy independence" is a worthy goal, and has to be a part of any sound energy policy. But it is often used as a smokescreen by candidates who don't want to talk about other important energy issues -- pollution and global warming chief among them.

Giuliani, for his part, said he supports only voluntary restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. Maybe that proves he is making decisions independently of his energy company backers, because many of the nation's largest companies -- including several prominent players in the world of coal and nuclear power generation -- have called for government caps.

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