Daily Rant: The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur shares his thoughts on President Barack Obama’s decision not to back away from nuclear energy despite the unfolding tragedy in Japan.

MSNBC TRANSCRIPT:

>>> “the daily rant.” hello, sir.

>> i’m really, really worried about what’s happening in japan. we’re going to talk about it at 6:00. i think there’s of course, some chance we’re on the brink of a massive catastrophe. i think that’s incredibly real. obviously i think the people in this country should be worried, because we have a lot of nuclear plants, but apparently the republicans aren’t wore, and the president doesn’t seem worried. let’s listen to what he had to say.

>> i instructed our nuclear regulatory agency to make sure that we take lessons learns and we are constantly upgrading how we approach or nuclear safety in this country.

>> that sounds good, but when energy secretary chu was it was, congressman barton asked him, hey, look, have you changed the policy at all? i don’t think barton wants to change the policy. the republicans love the policy — build more nuclear plants. let’s listen to chu’s answer.

>> in light of what’s happened in japan, i would like to hear what you believe president obama’s position is now on nuclear power in the united states.

>> the present budget is what it is, and we’re asking for loan guaranties. it’s also calling for small reactors, that position has not been changed.

>> so that’s a yes.

>> that’s a yes.

>> that’s a yes. we’re going to continue on the path where we build 20 new nuclear plants, we’ve got about $36 billion budgeted for it. when you return to the republicans, they think nuclear problems in japan, no problem whatsoever. here’s senator inhofe,publican from is i t oklahoma. once in 300 years a disaster occurs, and they’re all waiting for it, and the japanese are calm and ? collected. only the politicians over here are hysterical. as you get records from japan, they are significantly worried. they’re not sitting around there, oh, it’s no problem senator inhofe. that’s a ridiculous statement to make. once every 300 years? how about three mile island in ’79, chernobyl in ’86, and you can say, hey, no within got seriously hurt. chernobyl and now japan? that’s not one every 300 years. that’s absurd to say that. look at what our situation is. we get 20% of our energy in this country from nuclear reactors, which is a very high percentage. we have 104 reactors all throughout the country. here’s where it gets dangerous. 3 million americans live within 10 miles of an operating nuclear power plant. here’s one of the reasons why both sides of the aisle seem to be in favor of it. you’re going to be shocked — the money. the lobbyists pouring in money. of course, nuclear energy can almost not exist without subsidies. the nuclear centering institute has spent $23.76 million — $3.76 million. that’s $and money to candidates’ p.a.c.s as well. exelon, that’s specific money to candidates, but also in lobbying over $3 million as well. florida power and light dwlr 507,000, duke energy$475,000, so even though everybody in america and japan and aescrows the world has significant concerns, very justifiably so, our politicians aren’t worried at all. they’re still cashing their checks.

>> would you be hope to — what occurs to me is listen, there’s clearly risk with nuclear energy. not only that, there clearly are other way toss derive nuclear energy that don’t go to the systems developed in the ’50 z, ’60s and ’70s, as well as many of our other systems. all renovated for the benefit — well, it’s a different thing. is there some environment under this you think there could be a peace made.

>> yes.

>> understanding oil — extracting energy from the earth is dangerous.

>> i don’t want people to get me wrong. i’m not against nuclear energy. i don’t know what my stance is. i’d like to study it more, right? i’d like for people to go and say, my god, how can we avoid that? if we can do it safely, here’s how we avoid what happened in japan, let’s have a conversation, but to rush forward on plans to building all those plants, it’s crazy without that check first.

>> cenk, of course, tonight at 6:00 p.m. eastern.