Papantonio discusses climate change fraud

by: heath_harrison

Tue Dec 01, 2009 at 06:51:06 AM EST

Whether it's the failed rock DJs on rightwing radio screaming, Don Blankenship twittering or their fanboys at the Charleston Daily Mail blogging, chances are you've heard the conservative attempts to distort allegedly hacked e-mails and spin them into an imaginary scandal called "Climategate."

Rush Limbaugh, for instance, is now bizarrely comparing climate scientists to tobacco executives.
(Nevermind the fact that Rush, always on the wrong side of science, used to regularly claim cigarettes didn't cause cancer.)

Needless to say, the non-story has been debunked and the right is full of it as usual.

This projection attempt by conservatives to paint the world's scientific community as agents of disinformation is just the latest in a lengthy effort to reframe the discussion of climate change.

Mike Papantonio of Air America Radio's "Ring of Fire" recently interviewed James Hoggan, a public relations expert and author of the book "Climate Cover-Up."  Hoggan outlined how the stated goal of those in the coal and oil industries (allied with the folks who brought you tobacco scientists), was not to convince the public that climate change doesn't exist, but to simply create confusion that a debate still exists among legitimate scientists.

Ultimately, this confusion would lead to inaction.

Hoggan and Papantonio tell how this effort, with the help of a complicit media, is succeeding and making an impact in public perception of the issue.

Listen for a special mention of Don-a-pollute-za entertainer Lord Monckton's contribution to this ongoing campaign of fraud.

Be sure to attend when Kennedy joins local activists on Monday at the rally to save Coal River Mountain.