The Media’s Modus Operandi On Global Warming
By K. Daniel Glover | June 3, 2009
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher knows a thing or two about media bias when it comes to the debate over global warming because he was a victim of the arrogant "settled science" argument recently on "Hardball" with Chris Matthews. Rohrabacher, R-Calif., appeared on the show with fellow Rep. James Moran, D-Va., and was immediately attacked by both the host and his House colleague.
"I'm inclined to ask him how he feels about the Earth revolving around the sun or whether, you know, smoking causes cancer," Moran needled Rohrabacher at the end of his introductory comments. "These things have been resolved, Dana, by the best experts."
Matthews took the condescension cue from Moran and posed his first question to Rohrabacher this way: "Congressman Rohrabacher, are you a Luddite, a Troglodyte? Are you a part of the "Planet Of The Apes" that doesn't want science?"
That's just the way I remember them teaching us to ask questions in journalism school. And it only got worse after that, with Matthews desperately trying to turn the discussion into a debate about Rohrabacher's religious views on evolution.
Rohrabacher reflected on that experience yesterday at the Heartland Institute's Third International Conference on Climate Change. "I brought very serious scientific issues, and they called me names," he said of their "dishonest approach."
That's par for the "faulty science" course in the global warming debate, Rohrabacher said. Former Vice President Al Gore and others who warn that humans are causing the globe to get dangerously warm won't entertain questions from critics and won't give research money to scientists who disagree.
In an earlier presentation at the conference, University of Alabama at Huntsville research scientist Roy Spencer suggested that the media is complicit in pushing one perspective on global warming. He said he gets regular media calls for reaction to scientists espousing one view or another about global warming, but when his groundbreaking theory about cloud cover as a natural, cyclical cause of global warming was published in the Journal of Climate, no journalists called. No one covered the story.
He said colleagues have reported similar media silence when they find the rare outlet that will publish their work
"We have had a one-sided presentation being given to the American public" for 15 years, Rohrabacher said, and the result may be "draconian laws" that kill the American and global economies.
He called the push for costly regulations to cap carbon-dioxide emissions "the biggest power grab in the history of mankind" and the start to "an agenda that is just frightening." Rohrabacher warned that the next logical step would be global regulation, including the possibility of international rules against frequent-flier miles because of the global-warming alarmists' hostility toward air travel.
The last thing the world needs is for the United Nations to be given the power to regulate the climate, he said. "Half of their members are lunatics and crooks."
Rohrabacher lauded the scientific experts at the conference for challenging the climate hysteria in recent years. He said "the tide has turned" in terms of public opinion because of vocal skeptics offering sound and convincing scientific evidence that contradicts the prevailing views about global warming.
He cited the alarmists' intentional change in lingo from "global warming" to "climate change" as proof of success. "That is an admission that they were absolutely wrong."
Rohrabacher lamented that many of his colleagues on Capitol Hill who oppose "cap and trade" legislation won't fight it based on science and instead have opted to argue that the rules would be too costly. If global warming is a real threat, he said, then the country and the world should spend whatever money is necessary to combat it. But he said the science is wrong, and lawmakers need to make the case against cap and trade on those grounds.
He urged the experts who understand the science to continue speaking the truth loudly, "and eventually humankind will recognize it."
K. Daniel Glover is a project manager for Accuracy In Media. He has worked as an editor, writer and new media specialist in the Washington area since 1991, spending most of that time at National Journal and Congressional Quarterly.
4 Comments | Post a Comment
I am convinced that Al Gore knows just as well as so many of us do that there is no global warming, and that HE is just one of the many other greedy players involved in the master plan to help to create a One World Order. If anyone has not seen Alex Jones’ film (free to view on the internet) yet regarding The New World Order and The Obama Deception, I think that it’s very well worth the time,no matter what one’s political views are. Best regards.
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June 3 at 3:55 pm | #1 | Link
If there is a logical fallacy that Chris Matthews didn’t use, I can’t think of what it was. To borrow William Bennett’s classic explanation (circa 2000) of the Clintons’ boorish and often illegal behavior: “This is what these people do.”
Rohrabacher was “double-teamed” as Moran alternately waxed political and ignorant, while Matthews walked hand in hand with him in taking the low road.
Preposterous posturing award: “The debate is over.”
Al Gore refuses to debate the topic as he’s using the issue for financial gain, while his property is a toxic waste dump, and his jet’s “carbon footprint” shows his “integrity,” or lack thereof. GW “scientists” (the ones getting funding since Gore became veep) refuse to debate the topic as losing might end their funding. Lacking any serious debate, how can “the debate” be “over”?
Must be because a couple of back-to-back vicious winters are behind us. It would be more economical (especially with Obama robbing us blind) to wait a year or so, when we’ll have another “new Ice Age.” For a while…before the propaganda blows the other way again.
GW is a hoax based on taxing the air that we breathe. Can flatulence be far behind? (For humans, that is: cow flatulence is already being taxed or seriously discussed.)
And remember: after a hearty meal of hot, spicy Mexican food, only ONE sheet of toilet paper! (Those with a measurable IQ can ignore the previous caveat.)
“The Goode Family” (ABC, Wed, 9 PM EST) is a hilarious send-up of greenies gone wild. Mike Judge (“Beavis and Butthead” creator) came up with this animated series and is the voice of the father in the family. Enjoy while you can, as ABC is going to get a lot of hate mail over this one!