Pawlenty's Cap and Trade About-Face

Here is what I don't understand about Tim Pawlenty's reversal - not only on cap-and-trade - but also on any concern for climate change whatsoever:

It would make sense to say:

"Back in 2007, I supported cap-and-trade. That was before the recession. In these difficult times, our economy cannot support an additional burden. Let's get back to full employment and strong economic growth. Once our economy is prospering again, it will be time to decide what to do to protect our environment."

Or else:

"Cap-and-trade is a conservative idea, originating with free market economists, that was successfully used by the first Bush administration to stop acid raid. But the actual cap-and-trade bill that emerged from the Democratic House of Representatives was stuffed with gimmicks and giveaways to Democratic constituencies. I could not support that. So as president I'll be looking for other ideas to protect our environment."

But whoever is president after 2013 will inherit both an improving economy - and also an accelerating climate-change problem. Why put yourself on record now in ways that will inhibit responding to environmental challenges in the future?

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