President Obama has taken a lot of heat for not pushing through climate legislation during the last congressional term. I certainly share that frustration, but I don’t hold the President responsible so much as the radical anti-science wing of the Republican party, the Fox News/Talk Radio snake pit, and the chorus of disinformation on the internet that this video series is meant to counter.
On Thursday, the President made clear again his commitment to climate action, and understanding of the issue, during a speech at Penn State University. It’s significant that talk show pundits are calling this day the opening shot of his run for re-election in 2012. I hope this will be an indication that he is renewing his call for a national effort on the issue.
“But there’s got to be some give on their side as well. That’s true on health care. That’s true on energy. That’s true on financial reform.”, President Obama speaking to the press as reported in “Revival” by Richard Wolffe.
He is constrained by public apathy and by a loud group of “deniers”. I look forward to the day when Republicans can no longer preface every uncompromising energy policy demand with “What the American people want …” – and keep a straight face.
“Americans Get It”, The Daily Show
http://bit.ly/hfOPXA
Required reading for all Americans should be “Merchants of Doubt” by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway.
The same lies, distortions and misrepresentations of science, by the same conservative think tanks like George C Marshall Institute, Cato Institute, Heartland Insititute etc. and backed by the same conservative cold war warrior scientists, Singer, Seitz, Nierenberg etc., and Republican politicians, were used to delay or prevent action on acid rain, CFCs that damage the ozone layer, DDT, and global warming. These scientists used their politically powerful positions and role in government to claim the science was uncertain, just like they do now on climate change.